A lock of hair is a piece or pieces of human hair that are usually bunched or tied together in some way. A lock of hair can be on a person's head, or have been cut from the head. Locks of hair often carry symbolic value and have been utilized throughout history in various religious, superstitious, sentimental and romantic contexts.
Historically, giving a lock of one's hair to someone has been considered a sign of love and devotion, especially before an impending parting. It is still a popular trope in fiction, particularly the romance genre. In Victorian times it was common for bereaved family members to keep locks of hair from deceased children or family members. These locks of hair were seen as mementos and served to comfort the surviving loved ones. These locks of hair were typically kept in lockets.
An ancient and worldwide pre-adolescent custom was to shave children's heads, leaving one lock (or sometimes several isolated locks) untouched. The scalp lock describes a hairstyle consisting of a single long lock of hair on an otherwise shaven head. According to Leo the Deacon, a Byzantine historian, Sviatoslav I of Kiev was reported to have worn a scalp lock.
A Polish plait (Koltun in Polish, meaning "Knot", but often referred to in English as an "Elf-Lock") is a lock of matted hair similar to a dreadlock. Due to a scalp disease (Plica polonica), King Christian IV of Denmark (1577-1648) had a Polish plait hanging from the left side of his head, which in an engraved portrait in the Royal Collection is adorned by a large pearl. His courtiers were said to have adopted the hairstyle in order to flatter the king. Due to superstitious beliefs, the Polish plait used to be particularly common in Poland (hence its name).
The lovelock was a popular hairstyle amongst European "men of fashion" from the end of the 16th century until well into the 17th century.
- Lock of hair as a token of affection and memory across cultures.
- Head shaving traditions with untouched locks in various regions.
- Specific historical examples: scalp lock, Polish plait, lovelock.
These examples illustrate how a single strand or a cluster of hair can carry meanings tied to love, mourning, fashion, or cultural practice. The term for a long singular strand, especially when it stands out from the rest of the hair or is styled prominently, can be described in various ways depending on context-scalp lock, lock, plait, or lovelock-each reflecting a particular tradition or interpretation.
In modern usage, a long lock of hair may simply describe a dramatic single strand styled to catch attention, or a sentimental keepsake kept in a pendant or locket as a reminder of someone special. The narratives surrounding such locks continue to appear in literature and media, often emphasizing romance, departure, or memory.
The History of Locs: Past and Present Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Meaning of Locs
Understanding these terms helps distinguish between stylistic hair practices and symbolic gestures associated with hair from different eras and regions. The study of locks of hair reveals how a simple strand can embody affection, bereavement, tradition, or fashion across civilizations.