Hair in Myth and Legend

Our hair is important to us. It can often be the first thing you notice about a person, and bespoke styling can be a great way of expressing your attitude and personality. The power of hair is certainly used to great effect in fiction, with writers often describing a character’s hair in such a way that it tells us something about them. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books, after all, has lank, greasy locks that hint at his slippery reputation, whilst the golden hair of the Elf Queen Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings speaks of her origin in a heavenly realm across the sea. Folktales and traditional stories are no different, with all manner of odd and amazing hairdos being described and dramatized. Here are a couple of examples:

• Rapunzel is the most famous example of unusual hair as a defining character trait in a fairytale. In the original story collected by the Brothers Grimm, an enchantress traps a young girl in a tower without doors. In order to rescue her, a handsome prince who discovers the tower must climb up the girl’s long, blond hair. It could be suggested (with your tongue firmly in your cheek) that should this story have actually happened, the strain of allowing a full-grown man to regularly climb her hair may have lead Rapunzel to develop Traction Alopecia!


• According to Inuit belief, the goddess Sedna is the keeper of all sea mammals. All the sins of mankind drift down through the water, where they become lodged as dirt and grime in Sedna’s hair. When the hunting becomes particularly poor, a shaman is sent through trance to go down to the depths and cleanse Sedna’s hair for her.


• The Greek storyteller Aesop had a story about a man who had two wives, one older, one younger. Both wished for their husband to be more like them, so the older wife pulled out all his dark hairs, the younger pulled out all his grey ones. In the end, the man became completely bald proving that if you give in to everyone, sooner or later you will have nothing to give!

Hair loss treatment is no fairytale

With such amazing variety being possible with the humble hair, you may be disappointed if your own is thinning or receding. The good news is that, as our extensive archive of success stories from satisfied patients attests, the effectiveness of The Belgravia Centre’s range of hair loss treatments is anything but mythical.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of hair loss, you can message us online or contact us on 0800 077 6666 to organise a free, no obligation consultation at our central London clinic. Or, if you live outside of the city, you can complete a diagnostic form online. One of our hair loss experts will be able to assess your condition, and devise a bespoke treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.

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