xxi Preface not offer advice for selecting and using hair products or give advice on personal groom- ing, but it does cover the history of some major products and techniques as well as describe some of the leaders and leading companies in the hair care industry. In modern times, hair care has become a major industry, as hair care services and products used to color, cleanse, condition, and style hair reap annual sales measured in billions of dollars. While an exhaustive account of hairstyl- ing in every culture since prehistoric times is beyond the scope of this volume, the ency- clopedia notes some significant sociologi- cal, psychological, political, legal, religious, and economic aspects relating to hair on the head and body. An introduction gives an over- view of the book and discusses the scientific aspects of hair composition and growth. The broad topics in the volume include care and cleansing of hair and scalp, attitudes toward hair removal and practices in vari- ous cultures, hair arrangement and styling, business and commercial aspects, laws and legal matters, trends and trendsetters, hair care professions, organizations for hair care professionals, health and science, political importance, and spiritual/religious aspects. The Encyclopedia of Hair introduces readers to the diversity of various cultural perspec- tives but contains more detailed information The Encyclopedia of Hair, second edition, looks at the history of hair through the ages, revealing certain common threads as well as many differences among cultures around the world. Ideas about what constitutes attractive, stylish, or appropriate hair have varied from place to place and from one his- torical era to the next. Certain styles have come and gone, while others reappear with variations. Men’s and women’s hairstyles have reflected ideas about age, gender, reli- gious beliefs, marital status, occupation, group identity, politics, and other aspects of life. Hairstyling approaches also reflect practical considerations such as climate, occupation, economics, and the types of tools, materials, and services that are avail- able. Since the twentieth century, mass media and public figures have played an increasingly influential role in determining hairstyle trends and fashions. Mass media has played an even larger role during the twenty-first century, as more people learn about new styles and hair care methods on social media platforms, such as YouTube, and from various “influencers.” The focus of this book is on the care and appearance of the hair (both head and body) and on the social-historical, health-related, age-related, regulatory, and other nonutili- tarian aspects of grooming hair and dealing with facial and body hair. The book does
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