Throughout Korean history, looks have played an important role in style including the clothing Koreans wear to the makeup on their face. Hair styles have been important in how women and men have styled their hair to transform their looks and embrace good looks and beauty. Women’s hair, regardless of class, was styled with hair pieces also called gache to create ornate and intricate hairstyles. The hairstyles and head pieces were used throughout the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo Dynasty, and Joseon Dynasty.
Eoyeo Meori – This hairstyle was worn by women in the royal family that stayed in the palace such ass queen, consorts, and the queen mother. The hair arrangement was made exclusively with a wig to make a halo around the head, using accessories called tteoljam to adorn the wig and create a more lavish look for the hairstyle.
Cheopji Meori – High ranking women in court in the palace such as government officers’ wives and high-ranking ladies. With this hairstyle, the hair is pulled to the lower back of the head in a bun and held together by decorative pins depending on the social rank.
Saeng Meori – This hairstyle was designated for the younger ladies of the court. With this hairstyle, the hair was parted and braided in several parts and folded together and pinned. The number of parts defined the departments in which the ladies worked.
Tteoguji Meori – Worn by royalty such as queens, concubines, consorts, and high ranking ladies of the court, this hairstyle used a wig adorned atop the head similar to the Eoyeo Meori style. The tteoljam is also used in this hairstyle but only the royal women wore the ornament. This hairstyle is also commonly referred to as Keun meori.
Sangtu – The traditional hairstyle for the men in the Joseon Dynasty and used prominently among scholars and noblemen. Hair was pulled back into a topknot and a headband, or manggeon, was used to pin the hair in place. The topknot is significant in many Asian cultures and would signify manhood. For men of lower status, the topknot was still worn but the manggeon would not be used.
Eonjun Meori – This hairstyle was worn by married women to showoff their hair and beauty using extravagant wigs decorated with pins and ornaments called daenggi, jeonmo, and neoul. The bigger the wig, the better but with the weight of the wigs, it was dangerous to wear.
Badukpan Meori – For young girls around ages 3 to 4, this hairstyle was made up of small braids on the sides combined into one big braid that laid flat on the back of her head.
Ko Meori – The Ko Meori was worn by married women of lower class. The hair was braided into two pigtails and pulled onto the top of the head. A daenggi which is a ribbon was attached to the hair and most often was red.