Native American hairstyles are a physical manifestation of thought and a connection to mother earth, who had long hair of grass. Combing of the hair is alignment of thought. Tying the hair is securing of thought. And the color of the hair is conviction of thought.

One traditional Native American hairstyle was a part of a ceremony to bring good fortune and health. Another indicated a person’s state of mind, such as mourning or merriment. Still, others represented a stage in life – for example, a right of passage or coming of age.

And other times, tribespeople chose a hairstyle simply because they thought it looked nice on them.

So, what were the traditional Native American hairstyles? Let’s have a look.

In this article:

• Male Native American Hairstyles
• Women’s Native American Hairstyles
• Why is Native American Hair Sacred?
• Why Do Native Americans Have Long Hair?
• Why Don’t Native Americans Have Facial Hair?

Male Native American Hairstyles

One of the most common male Native American hairstyles was simple, long, flowing hair. Braids and completely shaven hairstyles were also popular. However, each style had many variations.

Hair held great symbolic importance for men in many Native American tribes, especially in Western tribes like the Sioux and Blackfoot. Men in these tribes only cut their hair to show grief or shame. They often wore the front part of their hair in special styles:

• Pompadours – hair stiffened with grease or clay so that it stands up
• Forelocks – a strip of hair hanging down between the eyes
• Native braids – one side braid on either side of the head, or variations
• Topknots – a tuft of hair braided or arranged into a shape on top of the head

And many others. 

One traditional Native American hairstyle that many people today know about and still wear is the roach, often known as a Mohawk or Mohican. The name comes from the tribes that frequently wore it. A roach is a shaved head, except for a strip of hair that runs down the middle of the head, front to back. 

Many Native American men would also adorn their roaches with animal hair from deer or porcupines or wear a completely artificial roach made of feathers and other animal hairs. 

Other common tribal haircuts were the scalp lock, a shaved head with a lock of hair at the top, and the tonsure, a shaved head with a fringe that circles the head.

Other men wore a Native American hairstyle called the chongo, which was also common among women. This is similar to what we call a “bun”, today. The chongo hairstyle was common among the Pueblo tribe. 

By the 19th century, bandanas became a popular male Native American hairstyle. Many tribesmen started wearing bandanas around chongos and loose, shoulder-length hair.

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Some men, particularly those from the Southwest, rolled their hair into locks. These are now sometimes known as Native American dreadlocks (or Native American dreads). 

While some of the male Native American hairstyles were also worn by women, women had distinct styles of their own.

Women’s Native American Hairstyles

One of the most popular women’s Native American hairstyles was long, unbraided hair, with a part down the middle.

The second most common style for females was the Native American braid. The meaning behind the braided hairstyle differed from tribe to tribe. For example, in the Kiowa tribe, two braids meant a woman was single, while loose hair often meant a woman was married.

In some tribes, women would paint their hair in bright colors, as the color of hair was seen as a conviction of thought. 

Many women in the southeast tribes, such as the Chickasaw and Creek, wore buns or topknots (similar to the men).

In the Pueblo and Navajo tribes of the southwest, many women wore a chongo.

Other women from the southwest wore their hair at shoulder length. 

A distinctly Native American hairstyle is the Hopi squash blossom or butterfly whorl.

To make this hairstyle, a woman’s mother would wrap their daughter’s hair around a curved wooden frame, then remove the frame, leaving the hair standing. 

Another splendid women’s Native American hairstyle that lifted the hair off the head was the board (or bonnet). 

To make their hair into a disc-shaped fan, they would wrap their hair over a sheet of cardboard, which remained under the hair. This was popular among the Seminole tribe. However, modern women rarely wear this hairstyle.

Today, many Seminole dolls feature this traditional women’s Native American hairstyle. 

Do Native Americans still wear these hairstyles today?

Braids and long-flowing hairstyles are still common among both men and women of various tribes throughout North America. Some women in the southwest still wear the distinct chongo hairstyle. Many western and plains tribes still keep long hair, only cutting it when they’re mourning.

Unique hairstyles like squash blossoms, forelocks, and tribal haircuts like roaches are often only worn at cultural events. Artificial roaches are very common at powwows across North America. 

While many of the traditional Native American hairstyles aren’t still worn, many Native American beliefs and traditions are still alive. For example, touching another person’s hair can be disrespectful in the Native American community.  While it may seem personal to someone who isn’t from this community, it’s simply their way of protecting themselves from the energy of people they don’t know. 

Native American Hairstyles – FAQ

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Native American hairstyles.

Why is Native American Hair Sacred?

Native hairstyles are connected to a person’s identity or their tribe. Long Native American hair signifies a strong cultural identity and creates self-respect, self-esteem, and a sense of community. Native American hairstyles were also connected to certain events in a person or tribe’s life and expressed emotions, such as shame or mourning. 

Native American hairstyles had both sacred connections and practical uses:

• Sioux and Blackfoot tribesmen cut their hair to denote shame or mourning 
• A shaved head might have been a strategic decision for warriors, leaving nothing for others to grab onto
• Apache tribe members cut their hair in the spring as a ceremony to bring good fortune and health
• Seminole Indians believed their hair was sacred, wearing it in the board style, in a fan over their face, to protect it from those who may do them harm.  

Why Do Native Americans Have Long Hair?

Beliefs surrounding long hair vary from tribe to tribe. However, many see long hair as a symbol of virtue and a physical manifestation of their spirit. Long hair may represent strength and power and be a symbol of strong cultural identity. For some tribes, it connects them to mother earth, who has long grass as hair.

Can Native Americans Have Curly Hair?

Some tribes were known for having curly hair, but they were not known for having tightly curled hair. Most Native American tribes had straight or wavy hair. 

Why Don’t Native Americans Have Facial Hair?

Generally, Native Americans don’t have thick facial hair. Some tribes, for example, near Alaska, grew full beards. However, in other tribes, their facial hair was sparse and some men removed it altogether. 

Below is a tribesman from the Alaska region with a full beard. 

Learn more about Montana’s Native American cultures

• History of Montana’s Crow Indian Tribe [CONDENSED]
• Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation – Past, present, tourism
• History of Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Tribe [CONDENSED]
• History of the Bitterroot Salish Tribe [CONDENSED]
• 11 Native American Tribes that lived in Montana before colonists arrived
• Native American hairstyles
• Tasty Blackfoot foods – Five delicious meals
• Storied history of the Blackfeet Tribe [CONDENSED]
• Blackfeet Indian Reservation – Past, present, top things to do