Hair is an indication of the times, a cultural weathervane for the overall mood of an era. Compare the decadent, ornamental forms of the late 18th century embellished with jewels and ships to the more austere, unadorned hair of the Victorian years. Men within the 60s and 70s showcased their insurrection against the established through each long hair and skinheads, while the 2020’s lockdown saw the rise of vibrant DIY dye jobs and shaved heads as people became desperate for control over something.

Now, a latest exhibition in Paris will explore the role hair has played in society for hundreds of years and have fun it as a vehicle for self-expression. Titled Des Cheveux et des Poils, the art show opens this week (April 5) on the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in partnership with beauty company Wella. It’ll feature over 600 artworks starting from the fifteenth century to the current day, including Andy Warhol’s wigs, the primary hair dryers with built-in motors, and historical marketing material.

“Hair serves as a mirrored image of culture and society, revealing rather more than simply personal style. From political protests to societal norms, hair has also at all times been a lens to view the state of our world,” Annie Young-Scrivner, CEO of Wella Company tells Dazed. “This show is a grand salute to this amazing industry, and we’re honoured to be the partner to make clear how hair has been such a magical influence through history.”

The exhibition will cover different themes, from the evolution of feminine hairstyles as a social indicator and marker of identity, to tracing the changing popularity of facial hair, to exploring the alternative of keeping or eliminating body hair. Through representation of nude bodies in visual arts and written testimonials, the show demonstrates how rare hairiness is in ancient paintings through to modern-day popular culture. 

Also explored within the exhibition will likely be the work and abilities of iconic figures within the industry like Léonard Autier, the favourite hairdresser of Marie Antoinette, Alexandre de Paris and Wella Company’s founder. “Franz Ströher was ahead of his time, commonly travelling to Paris to remain abreast of the most recent beauty trends and seek inspiration. One such trip resulted in the event of a well-liked wave-setting technique and product line, solidifying our place as a frontrunner within the hair care industry,” Young-Scrivner says.

When you are a hair history fanatic but can’t make it to Paris in time, the Baltimore Museum of Art is opening an exhibition to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of hip hop. As a part of the exhibition, a few of Lil Kim’s trademark wigs will likely be on display including the long-lasting turquoise wig emblazoned with the Chanel logo.

Des Cheveux et des Poils is open from April 5 to September 17 on the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Discover more information here.

Proudest moment of my curatorial profession to this point is finding Lil Kim’s former hairstylist Dionne Alexander and asking her to recreate these wigs for this exhibition. She left the industry 20 years ago and is making her comeback as hip hop celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this yr. https://t.co/4bfcx3UNdx

— Rikki Byrd (@RikkiByrd) April 1, 2023