Lock of hair

Symbolic value

Locks of hair often carry symbolic value and have been utilized throughout history in various religious, superstitious, sentimental and romantic contexts. Examples include:

• A traditional belief maintains that owning a lock of hair from an individual's head gives a person magical power over that individual.
• Historically, giving a lock of one's hair to someone has been considered a sign of love and devotion, especially before an impending parting. It is still a popular trope in fiction, particularly the romance genre. Such locks are intended to be kept by the recipient as a memento.
• During antiquity, Roman girls who were about to be married offered locks of hair to Jove (Jupiter) in his forest god aspect, Virbius (Virbio).
• A common superstition holds that a lock of hair from a baby's first haircut should be kept for good luck.
• An old Irish superstition holds that it is unlucky to accept a lock of hair (or a four-footed beast) from a lover.
• In Victorian times it was common for bereaved family members to keep locks of hair from deceased children or family members. These locks of hair were seen as mementos and served to comfort the surviving loved ones. These locks of hair were typically kept in lockets. Small jars, and other kinds of jewellery including bracelets, earrings, and brooches (see hair jewelry) were also used.

Use in hairstyles

The following hairstyles make use of lock(s) for symbolic or aesthetic reasons.

• Childhood lock:

• Scalp lock:

• Polish plait:

• Lovelock:

Notable Examples

The following locks of hair are notable for their cultural or historical significance:

• A lock of Beethoven's hair, cut from his head in 1827, was auctioned in 1994 through Sotheby's of London. Research on the hair determined that the composer's lifelong illness was caused by lead poisoning.

Notes

Sources

• The Golden Bough by James Frazer - Penguin Books,
• The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - Signet Classic,
• Armies of Medieval Russia 750-1250 by David Nicolle - Osprey Publishing,
• Daily Life in Ancient India From 200 BC to 700 AD by Jeannine Auboyer - Phoenix Press,
• The Cossacks by John Ure - The Overlook Press,
• Ancient Egyptian Hairstyles
• Ukrainian Cossack Display Group
• Common Superstitions
• Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland

References

1. Dictionary.com Unabridged. "the definition of lock".
2. El Maghreg: 1200 Miles' Ride Through Morocco, Hugh Edward Millington Stutfield
3. The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress, Mark Twain, 1869
4. "RCIN 612170 - Christianvs Qvartvs dei Gratia Daniae, Norwegiae".
5. Hall, James. "The sinister side: how left-right symbolism shaped Western art".
6. "Lock of hair makes its way through history". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.