Hair extensions discovered on the remains of a woman in Egypt who died 3,300 years ago

By Tenisha Mercer
www.HairNista.Blogspot.com

There's nothing new under the sun .... even, it seems, when it comes to hair "weaves."

Researchers recently found the remains of a woman who died 3,300 years ago in Egypt -- with intact hair extensions.

Source: The Grio

The primitive weave was, surprisingly, well-preserved after 3,300 years. The body was wrapped in a mat and not mummified, as traditions called for centuries ago. Perhaps because of the condition of her body, researchers from the Armana Project were able to piece together 70 extensions fastened in different layers and parts of her head - the first weave! -- according to an article in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology.

Jolanda Bos from the Armana project reports that the extensions were "complex." Very little is known about the woman, her name, age or even what she did for a living. But her hairstyle is evident -- and she's one of hundreds who died with their hairstyles seemingly untouched, buried in the same cemetery near an ancient city now known as Amarna, but was originally meant to be the capital of Egypt and was founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten (reign ca. 1353-1335 B.C.).

According to an email sent to LiveScience:

Whether or not the woman had her hair styled like this for her burial only is one of our main research questions. The hair was most likely styled after death, before a person was buried. It is also likely, however, that these hairstyles were used in everyday life as well and that the people in Amarna used hair extensions in their daily life.

But how did the hair stay intact for thousands of years? I know that's not Yaki or Malaysian! Well, apparently, the hairstyles were created with fat, which would have kept the hair intact after burial. Some women found in the graves had their hair hennaed.

Which just goes to show ... hair was celebrated, back then. Weaves/hair extensions are not new. And we greased our scalps/hair and used henna!