What did girls in medieval times do with their hair if it was about to their shoulders?

Answer 1

Hair fashions, like every aspect of life, changed considerably over the very long medieval period. This means that there is no such thing as a generic "medieval hairstyle" - you have to be specific and say "12th century hairstyle", 14th century hairstyle" and so on.

In the 12th century all women and girls grew their hair as long as they could - some had hair reaching their knees. This was parted in the middle and worn in two braids hanging in front - it was so common a style that it was said that all women looked exactly the same. If a noblewoman could not grow her hair fashionably long, she added horsehair or real human hair into the braids to give extra length. The personal seal of the noblewoman Alice Graindorge shows her with very long braids.

Sometimes coloured ribbons were woven into these braids, or they could be cased in expensive silk material.

The Church considered women's hair to be alluring and therefore sinful, so most adult women covered the head with a veil, barbette or some other kind of head covering - only young girls and unmarried teenagers might go bare-headed.

By the early 13th century the fashion was still for long, braided hair - but now it was coiled on each side of the head and pinned up. This continued well into the 14th century, but with different styles of veil or cap.

In the 15th century it became fashionable for women to shave the front hair, giving them very high foreheads - this period also saw the introduction of many strange and elaborate new hats and caps for women, generally completely covering the hair.

So the idea of shoulder-length hair for boys was normal - for girls it would be thought extremely odd, if not heretical.

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