Big Hair and even Bigger Hair in Paris, France

“Blonde lips” by Charlie le Mindu,.Credit…Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Paris empties out in August as all Parisians forsake the city to go on their vacances so this is the perfect month to go visit ‘Des cheveux et des poils’ (Hair and Hair) to see the visually stunning new exhibit at the Museum of Decorative Arts

The exhibition takes up both floors of the museum’s main gallery space. It is billed as delving into “the hairy history of hair from the 15th century to the present day,” with over 600 objects and artworks gathered from museums around the world, exploring the evolution of women’s hairstyles, the question of removing facial and body hair for men and women, hairpieces, hair dye, razors, hair dryers, cultural attitudes to baldness, “the pixie and sauerkraut of the 1960s” and the “hurluberlu” of the mid-17th century. Hair, hair, hair.

This exhibition about hair is also an exhibition about self-presentation and self-perception, difference and hierarchy, race, religion, control, disgust, childhood, adulthood, masculinity and femininity.

A braided wig by Marisol Suarez.Credit…Katrin Backes; via Musée des Arts Décoratifs

“Too Black” (2020) by Laetitia Ky.Credit…Laetitia Ky; via Musée des Arts Décoratifs

‘Des cheveux et des poils’ explores through more than 600 works, from ^the15th century to the present day, the themes inherent in the history of hairdressing, but also questions related to facial and body hair. The professions and know-how of yesterday and today are highlighted with their emblematic figures: Léonard Autier (Marie-Antoinette’s favorite hairdresser), Monsieur Antoine, the Carita sisters, Alexandre de Paris and more recently the studio hairdressers. Big names in contemporary fashion such as Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela or Josephus Thimister are present with their spectacular creations made from the unique material of hair.

From April 5 to September 17, 2023, the Museum of Decorative Arts 107, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris