Traditional Korean Hairstyles – Vintage Hairdos In Korean History!

Looks and beauty has always been a priority in Korea all throughout history. Back in the kingdom eras, someone’s hairstyle usually marks their position in life. If you are here, it means you want to know more about traditional Korean hairstyles throughout history, and you’ve come to the right place.

After surfing the internet and researching Korean history, I found some traditional Korean hairstyles used during Korean history. Keep on reading to take a look at each traditional Korean hairstyle!

Traditional Korean Hairstyles

All of us know that Korea places high priority in terms of appearance. Everything must look good and radiate beauty, from clothing and make-up to hairstyle and accessories.

Here are some of the traditional Korean hairstyles all throughout Korean history.

1. Daenggi Meori (댕기머리)

Credit to SBS

In Korean, daenggi means ‘pigtail ribbon‘, and more actually means ‘head/hair.‘

Daenggi Meori hairstyle is a long-braided hairstyle with a daenggi tied at the end of the braid. It’s a genderless hairstyle; both males and females can use it.

Male daenggi meori is called ttaeheun meori, while the female daenggi meori is called kwimit meori. The difference is that males wear hogeon while females wear baetssi daenggi on their hair.

Back then, this hairstyle was quite popular and special for unmarried people. Married people weren’t allowed to use this hairstyle. This makes it easy to spot a single person during that time.

2. Saeang Meori (새앙머리)

Credit to Glimja

Saeang Meori is a traditional Korean hairstyle of saenggaksi, a young court lady. If you are a K-drama lover, you might have already seen this hairstyle in some historical Korean dramas, especially Joseon eras K-drama.

The hair is parted into several parts based on the departments where saenggaksi worked, braided, folded upward and then downwards, or folded the long braid up twice and tied with daenggi.

3. Daesu meori (대수머리)

Daesu meori hairstyle is a royal traditional Korean hairstyle for queens and crown princesses where they put heavy jeokui on their heads.

Credit to royalcostume

They usually match this hairstyle with Jeokui, a formal and special costume for important events like wedding ceremonies.

4. Jjokjin Meori (쪽진 머리)

Credit to lovesouthkorea

JJokjin Meori is a traditional Korean hairstyle used by married women during the Joseon era. This low braided bun traditional Korean hairstyle is formed by first parting and holding down the front hair and tying it into a bun at the back end.

Usually, they use binyeo as the main ornament of this hairstyle. Binyeo is the large pin that holds the bun together. The size and materials of Binyeo are varied, from gold and silver to wood and even lotus flowers.

5. Cheopji Meori (첩지머리)

Credit to tvn

Cheopji Meori is another traditional Korean hairstyle for high-rank women and officials’ wives. This hairstyle is formed by pulling the hair to the lower back of the head in a bun and holding it together with ornamental hairpins called cheopji.

The shape of cheopji displays the person’s social rank. For example, during the Joseon eras, Queens wore a gilded dragon-shaped cheopji, concubines wore a gilded phoenix-shaped cheopji, and court ladies wore a frog-shaped cheopji.

6. Eoyeo Meori (어여머리)

Credit to pinterest

Eoyeo Meori (어여머리) is also a traditional Korean hairstyle for nobles and royals. It radiates prestige and elegant looks.

It is formed using a jokduri (coronet) and gache (braided wig) and decorated with jade plates and hairpins. This hairstyle is so heavy that all the ornament weighs up to 5 kilos, so it’s prone to neck injury.

7. Keun Meori (큰머리)

Credit to pinterest

Keun Meori is a high ranks traditional Korean hairstyle where they added tteoguji (huge wig) on top of eoyeo meori hairstyles, which makes it extravagant. Royals wear this hairstyle for special ceremonies.

8. Sangtu (상투)

Credit to Glimja

Sangtu is a traditional Korean hairstyle for men during the Joseon era. To make this hairstyle, simply pull your hair up and pin it with a manggeon. The top knot is a sign of manhood during that time.

9. Ko Meori (코머리)

Credit to pinterest

Ko Meori is a lower class hairstyles for married women. You can easily form this hairstyle by braid your hair into two pigtails, pull it to the top of your head and tie it with a red daenggi.

10. Badukpan Meori (바둑판머리)

Badukpan Meori is a traditional korean hairstyles for kids age 3-4 years old. You can easily form this hairstyle by creates a small braids on the sides and combine it into one big braid and adorn it with daenggi.

Sum Up

There are no end when it comes to beauty and appearance all through out South Korea history. Here are all I can share about traditional korean hairstyles and vintage hairdos during the three kingdom eras.

Which one of these hairstyles you love the most? Let me know in the comment sections below!

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