Seeing a woman with her worn loose was an intimate act in times gone by, normally only reserved for a partner, family member or maid. Paintings capturing this very private act feel incredibly intimate – even when the hairbrushing looks painful!

A woman's hair was historically something to protect, grow and be proud of; the longer, the healthier and the more of a picture of womanhood its wearer – and its associated assumptions, like femininity and fertility.

Has anyone invented a combing machine yet? Hairdressing is often referred to as one of few jobs that can't be mechanised or replaced with a robot – but perhaps Alfred Elmore had other ideas...

Men's hairdressing has its own culture, with barbershops often being central to a community. A leisurely appointment at home with the hair being dressed and styled tells us this gentleman has the time and money to enjoy the process – and that being suitably coiffed was integral to his appearance.

The intimacy of hairdressing, personified – whether a family member, partner or friend or a paid professional, dressing and caring for the hair allows an unparalleled closeness.

Hair unites us across cultures, locations and timelines. From tools and accessories for hair found in the remains of earliest civilisations to the unparalleled interest in salon reopening dates during the Covid-19 crisis, hair and its care and preparation has always been an essential part of society.

I find the study of hair and hairdressing so fascinating because it's so central to everybody's lives. As much as we can uncover a huge amount about history through clothing, dress and design, hair provides us with an equally powerful insight into what was happening in society and culture.

A more modern interpretation of a salon. In the 1950s, getting your hair done in public became less of a taboo, and colouring your hair was no longer something to be kept secret – no more sneaking in the back door of the salon! Salons started to become closer to how we know them today, and more a place to be seen.

While looking at hairstyles is fascinating, so is studying the tools and accessories being used at specific times in history. Combs date back almost as long as humans do – originally made from bone, wood, ivory, horn or other natural materials, they started to be formed from plastic in the 1920s. By the 1950s, when this painting was completed, synthetic materials would have been the norm, brush and comb sets have long been handed down through families, with silver sets in particular still hugely in demand as antiques.

Hairdressing can be a community activity, particularly when it comes to the time-consuming art of braiding. Even though we don't know much about this parchment drawing, I love the faces of the clients having their beauty services!

Cutting hair is a ritual, and can be a religious or sacred experience loaded with meaning. From Samson losing his powers with a haircut to the ceremonial cutting of a sumo wrestler's chonmage to mark their retirement, the process of removing hair is rarely straightforward in art.