A study of more than a dozen mummies has found that ancient Egyptians used gels and other products to style elaborate hairdos, both in life and in death. The research, led by Natalie McCreesh at the University of Manchester in England, examined hair samples from 18 male and female mummies, many from the Dakhleh Oasis cemetery in Egypt’s Western Desert. Nine of the mummies had hair coated with a fatty substance, most likely a styling product, that contained palmitic and stearic acids. McCreesh also found evidence that some ancient Egyptians practiced hair curling, while others used hair extensions.
A study of more than a dozen mummies has found that ancient Egyptians used gels and other products to style elaborate hairdos, both in life and in death.
Read more about ancient Egyptian hairstyling.
Permalink: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/study-finds-ancient-egyptians-cared-about-hair/
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funny I thought most ancient Egyptians shaved their bodies including their hair.
I thought they shaved too. Anyway the Afar people who are just next to Egypt still use heavy butters in their hair as gel so that should give a good indication of what was used.