Hairstyles and haircuts have profound cultural and religious significance in Jewish tradition. Payot, or sidelocks, are among the most identifiable characteristics worn by Jewish men, particularly in Orthodox societies. These sidelocks are a custom with roots in Jewish law and tradition, not just a fashion choice.
Hair customs are equally important to Jewish women. Certain communities have rules about modesty that specify how married women are expected to cover or wear their hair. These customs show a strong bond with identity, religion, and tradition even though they differ amongst groups.
Gaining knowledge of these distinctive hair customs demonstrates how even something as basic as a haircut can have deep cultural significance and provides insight into the rich cultural history of Jewish communities.
| Jewish Sidelocks (Payot) | Significance |
| Men"s Hairstyles | Jewish men grow sidelocks, or "payot," to follow religious teachings, specifically a commandment from the Torah that forbids shaving the sides of the head. This tradition is most common among Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. |
| Women"s Hairstyles | Jewish women, particularly in Orthodox communities, cover their hair after marriage. Some wear wigs, scarves, or hats as a sign of modesty and religious devotion. |
- Fashion and style: historical moments
- Characteristic features of hairstyles
- Justification of traditions
- Who is it suitable for
- General recommendations
- Popular variations
- Star examples
- Video on the topic
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- What do sidelocks mean for Jews, national characteristics of women"s and men"s hairstyles
- What do sidelocks mean for Jews, national characteristics of women"s and men"s hairstyles
Fashion and style: historical moments
Jews have been stereotyped as wearing solid, cozy, modest clothing since ancient times. Ladies wore subdued colored tunics and long dresses made of natural materials. Men wore caftans, loose shirts, and pants. Accessory presence is an uncommon occurrence.
The years under King Solomon brought about a significant change in the situation. There were a lot of clothing items that were borrowed. Costumes became ostentatious and vivid. The wearing of jewelry spread widely.
Men’s and women’s created appearances changed as the Jewish state broke up and people moved all over the world. While maintaining their customs, Jews made an effort to blend in with their surroundings.
The following guidelines apply to Jewish clothing:
- individuality. Jews have always sought to be different from other nations. This was reflected in their outfit, hairstyle, and behavior;
- cost. Outwardly, Jewish clothing is simple, old-fashioned. All elements of the costume are sewn from natural, “selected” fabrics. Each element of the wardrobe looks solid;
- convenience. Every item of clothing is thought out to the smallest detail. Outfits are hidden by figure, facilitating movements;
- compliance with customs. The appearance, functionality of the wardrobe elements are subordinated to faith, traditions.
A typical Jewish honor garment is regarded as an antiquated garment from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. A herald, a long frock coat or tailcoat, and a high hat with fields are distinguishing features. The women’s wardrobe includes a closed dress with dark hues that stretches from the waist. Large, narrowed cuffs that extend to the ankle are used, along with a collar-tppie stroke.
Characteristic features of hairstyles
It is not customary to cut hair in accordance with the ancient Jewish customs. Most women and believers have long hair. The so-called paces, or strands on the temples, at the very least, depart unharmed. This component is regarded as the most identifiable aspect of Judea the believer.
Men in the modern era don’t always follow traditions. Many people choose not to grow beards and have short hair. You can always use false sidelocks for special occasions; they are typically fastened to the brim of a traditional hat.
Women almost never have short hair. Almost all of the women have long, beautiful hair. Hair is gathered into various hairstyles and worn loose. A little scarf or hat often completes the look. Comparing the gathered hairstyle to men’s sidelocks, it is common to let loose strands on the sides.
Justification of traditions
Refusing to cut the peot, or strands on the temples, is not seen as a strictly forbidden act that must be followed by Jewish representatives. Keeping the curls long is one of the customs that Jews usually take great care to uphold. Why these silly curls are necessary is a question that many Europeans have. The goal of the option is to stand out as a Jew in a multicultural crowd from the outside.
False strands are helpful for many religious Jews who leave or mimic sidelocks. Usually, long curls are curled. Short or long hair is paired with side locks. The element represents respect for the requirements of the Torah and a sense of belonging to the faith.
There is variation in the length of the strands on the sides. Leave curls down to the chin for some people. Others develop waist-length strands. Given that the side locks are a distinguishing characteristic and attribute of a Jew, they are meticulously maintained.
A Jewish person’s appearance is deemed lacking in something essential—a hat. A tiny yarmulke that hardly covers the crown, a larger black version with brims, or a shtreimel adorned with fur patterns. A distinctive head covering will clearly identify one as Jewish.
Who is it suitable for
Jews who are religious prefer to follow customs. Men still wear frock coats, side locks, and hats in daily life, despite current fashion trends. From the age of three, children are instilled with traditions, such as not cutting boys’ hair on their temples.
The characteristic elements of clothing, such as sidelocks, are independent of outside information. The choice pays homage to customs, the necessity of which each person must determine for themselves. Being a part of a particular community is crucial. Many modern men restrict their attire to a yarmulke, which they wear exclusively to synagogues.
Typical characteristics of an Orthodox Jew set them apart from a generally diverse background as a national representative. Conventional elements are versatile and can be worn on a daily basis. Many are able to combine modern clothing with an organic look.
In Jewish culture, sidelocks, or payot, have deep religious significance and represent a dedication to faith and tradition. Men wear them as a visible representation of Jewish law, while women’s hairstyles frequently express cultural identity and modesty. Jewish communities exhibit a rich diversity of hairstyles for both men and women, depending on personal expression, region, and religious interpretation.
General recommendations
It is actually possible to achieve a Jewish hairstyle with sidelocks without assistance. In the temple area, it is sufficient to grow strands of the required format. Curling long hair into curls is a custom. To achieve this, twist a wet strand onto a piece of fabric or thick paper using a curling iron.
Curling sidelocks that are too long is advised to a minimum. There are different ways to curl long strands. Strong, tightly curled strands that are split into multiple sections are present. Visit our website to learn how to curl long hair beautifully.
Take note! If you have short hair, baldness, or poor hair growth, don’t give up on dressing nicely for a special occasion. False strands, which are frequently fastened to a hat, are used for this.
Popular variations
Peyots go well with both long and short hairstyles. Europeans find the variation in the short execution of the main mass of hair to be absurd. Only when worn with a traditional hat do long strands and a short haircut look good.
Religious Jews are reluctant hairdressers. It appears natural to have long hair with peyots next to a full beard. While this is a common option in Israel, it is uncommon in European nations.
For a European, having sidelocks against a shaved head appears the most ridiculous. This is not a very popular choice. The traditional hat, which covers the entire head, is effectively counterbalanced by the bare skull.
Sidelocks are not worn by women. It is customary for them to decline having their hair cut. Conversely, some extremely devout married women choose to wear wigs or scarves to cover up their bald spots.
Star examples
Many well-known celebrities are of Jewish descent. Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, David Beckham, and Harrison Ford are a few of them. The majority of them honor customs and are proud of their heritage, but they disregard the Torah’s advice. On rare occasions, yarmulkes can be seen on famous men.
Jews’ peyots are an homage to custom. Men who incorporate such a feature into their hairstyle stand out from the "faceless" crowd in Europe and appear unique and captivating. Only Jews use this option; representatives of other ethnic groups do not use it.
Traditional medicine can accelerate hair growth.
Payot, or Jewish sidelocks, are deeply religious and culturally significant, particularly for Orthodox Jewish men. They are a tangible representation of faith, based on customs and biblical precepts that have been passed down through the ages.
In Jewish culture, women’s hairstyles also express their personal and religious convictions. In certain societies, modesty is highly valued, and married women frequently cover their hair as a sign of their commitment and faith.
In general, Jewish hairstyles—whether worn by men or women—serve as a link to identity, religious practices, and heritage in addition to being a matter of appearance.
