What is Saeangmeori?

Saeangmeori refers to the hair type of a young lady at court during the late Joseon Dynasty. When entering the court at the beginning of January from a well bred family, an orpiment was tied to the Saeangmeori, or a kind of ornamental hairpin stuck to it. Saeangmeori was made by braiding the hair and tying it 17~18cm long, with a ribbon tied to it in the middle, which represented the class of the person wearing the ribbon. Of course, married women were not allowed to wear their hair like this. Therefore, Saeangmeori was considered as a hair style that symbolized youth from the old days. Unmarried ladies, especially girls, usually preferred this hair style because it symbolized a healthy hair look. Instead of just being a simple hair style, Saeangmoeri also represented healthy hair and scalp.