Roman Haircuts: Not All Short and Cropped
Every bust and movie shows Roman men with tight, military haircuts—so tidy, you could set a sundial by their part. But most Romans favored longer, styled hair, especially in the imperial era.
Francesco Salviati (Francesco de' Rossi) — "Carlo Rimbotti (1518–1591)" (1548), public domain
The myth of the Roman buzz-cut.
Every Roman man—at least in movies and marble busts—sports a short, no-nonsense crop. Legionaries, senators, even emperors supposedly kept it military tight, as if long hair was barbarian business. The real Roman street would look very different.
Hair, fashion, and imperial influence.
In reality, Romans prized a well-coiffed look. Emperors set trends—Nero and Hadrian wore their hair longer, and beards came back in style. Portraits from the era show tousled curls, ringlets, and full facial hair. Only soldiers, out of necessity, kept it cut close.
Blame the marble and the movies.
Many marble busts were cleaned and restored in ways that erased delicate hair detail. Hollywood loves a clean line—and a clean shave. But in ancient Rome, fashion shifted as fast as power did.
Roman fashion swung with the emperors' tastes—emperors like Nero and Hadrian made beards and longer locks the height of style. Only soldiers kept it strictly short.
