The function and meaning of combs in the Newar culture (Nepal)

The head is the first part of the human body we focus on to evaluate the character of the persons before we interact with them. People consciously try to improve their appearance by combing their hair and decorating the head in beautiful styles, often revealing strong cultural traditions of their society. In the Newar society, hair style and head ornaments have significant ritual and social values in rites of passage, socio-economic status, civil status, and religious affiliation. In this article, the author examines Newar hair dressing and in particular the types of the combs used for different functions, people who make them and what materials they are made up of.