One influential physiognomy book explained, for example, that those with very curly hair are timid, unless only the tip of the hair is curly, which suggests animosity. Black hair demonstrates timidity and astuteness with a cunning nature; black and straight hair, lustfulness. Dark-blond hair shows the ability to learn quickly and a subtleness of wit; platinum blond like that of the ‘Scythians or Celts’ shows ignorance and rusticity. Golden hair – the colour that Renaissance commentaries argued that all truly beautiful women should have – was the colour of the goddess Miner-va’s locks and made
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