attributed to Nicholas Hilliard Queen Elizabeth I circa 1575 Loan from the National Portait Gallery Image © Tate

William Hogarth The Painter and his Pug 1745 © Tate

William Hogarth Heads of Six of Hogarth's Servants circa 1750-5 © Tate John William Waterhouse The Lady of Shalott 1888 © Tate

Christopher Wood The Fisherman's Farewell 1928 © Tate Sir Jacob Epstein Portrait of Iris Beerbohm Tree 1915 © Estate of J. Epstein

Almost all societies have found it necessary to cut or confine hair in order to keep it out of the way. Hair fulfils humankind's basic desire for personal adornment, but also functions with specific roles in religious ritual, age, gender and marital status in different cultures. Today, the trend toward informality and individualism allow men and women in all classes to choose the style and colour of their own hair, either natural or synthetic.

Collection created by Niran Abbas