Elizabethan Hair Quote

'Then followeth the trimming and tricking of their heads, in laying out their haire to the shewe, whiche of force must be curled, frisled, and crisped, laid out (a World to see!) on wreathes and borders, from one eare to an other. And least it should fall down, it is under propped with forks, wiers, and I cannot tell what, like grim sterne monsters, rather than chaste Christian matrons. Then, on the edges of their bolstered haire (for it standeth crested rounde about their frontiers, and hanging over their faces like pendices or vailes, with glass windowes on every side) there is laied great wreathes of gold and silver, curiously wrought, and cunningly applied to the temples of their heades. And for feare of lacking any thinge to set forthe their pride withall, at their haire, thus wreathed and crested, are hanged bugles (I dare not say bables), ouches, rynges, gold, silver, glasses and suche other childishe gewgawes, and foolish trinkets besides, which, for that they be innumerable, and I unskillful in women's terms, I cannot easily express... If curling and laying out their owne naturall haire were all (which is impious, and t no hande lawfull, being, as it is, an ensinge of pride, and the standerd of wantonnesse to all that behold it), it were the less matter; but thei are not simplie content with their owns haire, but buye other haire, either of horses, mares, or any other straunge beastes, dying it of what colour they list themselves.And if there be any poore women (as now and then, we see, God doth bless them with beautie as well as the riche) that hath faire haire, these nice dames will not rest till they have bought it, or if any children have faire haire, they will entice them into a secret place, and for a penie or two they will cut off their haire, as I heard that one did in the citie of London of late, who, meeting a little childe with very faire haire, inveigled her into a house, promised her a penie, and so cutte off her haire; and upon the other side, if any have haire of her own naturall growing, whiche is not faire ynough, then will they dye it in divers colours, almost chaunging the substance into accidentes by their devilish, and more then thrise cursed devises. So where as their haire was geven them as a signe of subjection, and therefore they were commaunded to cherish the same, now have they made it an ornament of pride, and destruction to themselves for ever, except they repent.' - Phillip Stubbes 1583