What is a guillotine haircut, or when long hair is no longer a trend
What is a guillotine haircut, or when long hair is no longer a trend

Video: What is a guillotine haircut, or when long hair is no longer a trend

Video: What is a guillotine haircut, or when long hair is no longer a trend
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In all ages and times, women have traditionally grown long hair. After all, this is a natural decoration for every lady. In all world cultures, long hair was associated not only with beauty, but also with female honor and dignity. Now it is no longer customary to talk about this, but nevertheless, long hair has always been a symbol of the very concept of femininity. But when did short hair become a fashion trend? The answer to this question will lead us to the post-revolutionary France of the 18th century.

At the time, the French nation was emerging from the turmoil of the Revolution. Then many young people, both boys and girls from the upper and middle classes, began to cut their hair short. Short-cropped hair was called Tit's haircut or Titus's hairstyle. This name refers to the personality of Titus Junius Brutus, the eldest son of Lucius Junius Brutus, who founded the Roman Republic in 509 BC, very famously overthrowing the Roman monarchy.

A woman with a Tit hairstyle
A woman with a Tit hairstyle

Such a strange connection between an ancient Roman nobleman and a fashionable French haircut of the late 18th century, originates in 1729 with the French writer of the Enlightenment, Voltaire. He had just finished his five-act play, "Brutus." They participated in a conspiracy to restore the monarchy. The conspirators planned to return the throne to the deposed King Tarquinius the Proud.

Charlotte Corday before execution
Charlotte Corday before execution

The Etruscan king was an ally of the Roman monarch and provided him with military assistance in the fight against the revolutionaries. The son of Lucius, Titus, was madly in love with the daughter of the Etruscan king Tully, and therefore he was drawn into a conspiracy. Brother Titus and several other noble youths also participated in this betrayal of the Roman republic. The conspiracy was uncovered and the criminals were handed over to the Senate. Lucius Brutus sentenced everyone, including his own sons, to death. He was even personally present at this. Brutus put the most precious thing on the altar of the Republic.

The government executed thousands of people during those terrible times of troubles
The government executed thousands of people during those terrible times of troubles

A play about this was the least successful work that came out from the pen of the great Voltaire. It was sharply criticized and staged for a short time. We returned to this tragedy during the French Revolution. In light of the events that took place, she became incredibly popular. People flocked to the show in droves. During the opening speech at the Comédie Française in Paris on November 17, 1790, the actor playing Brutus exclaimed: “Gods! Give us death, but not slavery! After that, a real pandemonium began in the theater.

The sentenced women had their hair cut short
The sentenced women had their hair cut short

The role of Titus was played by François-Joseph Talma. He had a short haircut according to the customs of the Romans. A few days after the premiere, all young people in Paris cut their hair a la Titus!

The hairstyle is related to the French Revolution for another reason, not so pleasant. This is a guillotine execution. After the terror, as a result of which the government executed thousands of people, it became fashionable to imitate their appearance. Young people cut their hair as short as the executioner of those unfortunates who had to be guillotined.

Women's hairstyles like Titus were rapidly becoming fashionable
Women's hairstyles like Titus were rapidly becoming fashionable

At that time, it became fashionable to organize balls and parties, which were even called "balls of the victims". These were some kind of holidays in honor of the fall of the old government. They also dressed appropriately for such events: like those sentenced to death. These were very simple dresses, which symbolized poverty. They wore sandals on their bare feet. After all, women often ascended the guillotine barefoot.

Modest dresses and short-cropped hair became a kind of symbols of the revolution
Modest dresses and short-cropped hair became a kind of symbols of the revolution

As Titus hairstyles became more and more popular, this fashion was supported by very different people. For example, one famous hairdresser in the 19th century wrote about it this way: “What could be more unpleasant than strands of long hair falling on your face ?! It impedes and hinders movement incredibly! Then, if you have a wide forehead and large temples, how much more graceful you will look with a hair like Titus! How many people have been deprived of looking graceful because of such defects in appearance!"

Wearing long hair or getting it cut short is a very personal matter. Just imitate someone? Or does it suit you better? Most importantly, in our world, where gender boundaries between the sexes are increasingly blurred, even such a small thing as long hair or a dress instead of pants can become very important.

Read about the contribution to fashion made by the 1917 revolution in Russia in our article. how the "red commissars" determined the fashion and customs of the socialist society.

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