During the Roman Empire, one of the most popular ways for individuals to adorn themselves was through hair dyeing. The vast expansion of the empire brought a diverse range of traders and slaves to Roman cities, exposing the Romans to a variety of hair colors. Blond hair became particularly popular, associated with the exotic appearance of people from Gaul and Germany. Roman prostitutes were legally required to dye their hair blond to distinguish themselves, though many Roman men and women also embraced the trend. Red and black were other common hair colors, while the wealthiest Romans achieved the most striking effects, with some even powdering their hair with gold dust. Emperor Commodus was particularly famous for this, often dusting his snow-white hair with gold.
