CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN HAIR TYPES AND SKIN CARE

IN CALIFORNIA MOST MEN LET THEIR HAIR GROW LONG. THE MEN OF THE MAIDU WORE THEIR HAIR LOOSE OR TUCKED UNDER A CAP.

THE WOMEN WORE THEIR HAIR LONG OR LOOSE OR TIED WITH A BAND OVER THE TOP OF THE HEAD. THE NORTHWEST MAIDU CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT. MANY BURNED OFF THE ENDS WITH A FIRE STICK.

SOUTHERN DIEGUENO ON THE OTHER HAND COMBED THEIR HAIR WITH THE HOOK SPINES ON A NETTLE POD.

THE MIWOK WORE THEIR HAIR LONG TIED AT THE NECK OR WITH A FEATHER ROPE. THEY WORE A
HEADBAND OF BEAVER SKIN. THE CHUMASH CHILDREN DID NOT CUT THEIR HAIR, NOR DID MOST OTHER CALIFORNIAN CHILDREN.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHILDREN WORE HAIR LONG WHICH EQUALLED THE MARK OF BEAUTY. CHUMASH WOMEN CUT THEIR BANGS. THE CHUMASH BOUND THEIR HAIR IN THE BACK WITH SEASHELLS. MEN TIED A CORD IN THEIR HAIR WITH A FEATHER WHICH WAS GATHERED ON THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD WITH A BONE OR WOOD ORNAMENT. WOMEN GATHERED THEIR HAIR IN THE BACK. MEN WORE FEATHERS AND WOMEN'S HAIR WAS BRAIDED IN A SINGLE BRAID OR PONYTAIL. THEY RUBBED OIL (WHALE OIL)IN THEIR HAIR. MOST INDIAN MEN IN PREHISTORY OR HISTORIC TIMES DID NOT SHAVE.

THE INDIANS ORIGINALLY DID NOT EAT SUGARS MUCH. THEY HAD NO TOOTHBRUSHES SAYS POWERS IN THE 1800'S.

THE NATIVES FOUND THEIR REFLECTION IN OTHERS AND DEVELOPED THEIR IDENTITY THAT WAY, VS. MIRRORS OR THEY LOOKED AT PONDS OR WATER. VANITY WAS UNKNOWN.

THEY CARED FOR THEIR SKIN AS THEY KNEW DARK SKIN EVEN BURNED IN THE SUN. THE SERI OF TIBURON ISLAND WORE A CORONET OF VINES AND SHRUBS TO SOLVE THEIR SHADE PROBLEMS. THEY HAD A CROWN WOVEN OF VARIOUS TREE PARTS AND PLANTS . THE YUROK USED AROMATIC BAY LAUREL LEAVES TO REPEL INSECTS. THE MIWOK USED WREATHS OF TIGER LILY AND MONKEY FLOWERS. THE TUBALULABEL WOMEN SHADED THEIR HAIR AND FACE BY STRINGING HAIR ABOVE THEIR FOREHEAD.

THE MOHAVE, A DESERT DWELLING GROUP, PAINTED THEIR SKIN WITH RED PIGMENT (HEMATITE) IN DEER FAT.

YUMANS WORE HATS OF WET MUD TO KEEP COOL. THEY APPLIED WHITE MANGANESE AS POWDER BELOW THE EYES TO REDUCE GLARE OF THE SUN.

OLD MOHAVE WOMEN HAD USE OF PUMPKIN JUICE TO PREVENT WRINKLES AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE COLD. IT PEELED OFF. THE PAIPAI USED THE CHARRED BASE OF AGAVE (MESCAL HEART) TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE SUN. IT WAS GROUND INTO A POWDER.

DURING MENSTRUATION WOMEN WORE TANNED BUCKSKIN BREECHCLOTH WITH THE SKIRT. IT WAS HELD BY A MILKWEED BELT. WOMEN PUT ON A COILED BASKETRY CAP THAT CAME DOWN TO THE EYES WHEN THEY TOTED A PACK. CHILDREN ONLY WORE CLOTHES DURING THE COLD WEATHER. MEN DID NOT WEAR HATS.

MOHAVE MEN AND WOMEN WORE LOIN CLOTHES OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW. THEY STRIPPED BARK FROM THE TREES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

LUISENO WOMEN MADE A BACK SKIRT OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW OR COTTONWOOD. IT HAD A FRONT PIECE AS WELL AS CORDED FIBER. COILED CAPS OF JUNCUS WERE WORN.

DIEGUENO MEN WORE NOTHING OR AN APRON OF WHITE SAGE TWIGS. WOMEN WORE TWO APRONS. THEY WORE RABBITSKIN BLANKETS IN THE WINTER.

KILIWA MEN WORE NOTHING IN SUMMER. WOMEN WORE APRONS OF DEER HIDE SOAKED IN WATER. MOST OF THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS WORE NO MOCCASINS, EXCEPT WHEN THEY WENT ON LONG TREKS. THEN THEY WORE SINGLE PIECE MOCCASINS. MUCH OF IT WAS TESTED FOR 1000'S OF YEARS AND WAS ANCIENT.

PAUL CAMPBEL