The Elves Hair - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

04-14-2002, 05:14 AM

I've just noticed something unusual; Tolkien never mentions how long the elves hair really is. The movie makes them out to have long, pretty, but straight hair and that's how I've assumed them to be. However I saw some early drawings of artists inspired from Tolkien - and all the Elves have short, curly hair - rather like the Irish fairies are reputed to look like. Tolkien makes his Elves to have bright hair with a shining star or whatever, but did anyone actually notice if he actually described their length or texture?

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'Lle n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina'
(You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny)

lathspell · 04-14-2002, 05:58 AM

No, I can't think of an answer to your question. The only known thing of elf-hair is that elves (just as men) have different colors too.

Perethil · 04-14-2002, 07:15 AM

red-headed elves.... cool [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Starbreeze · 04-14-2002, 08:13 AM

Hmm, I can't tell you that either. Interesting question.

Lomelinde · 04-14-2002, 08:15 AM

Tolkien never specifically describes what elf-hair is supposed to look like, he just tells us what color hair certain elves have. This is yet another image that Tolkien left up to the reader, so use your imagination and picture them however you want. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Raefindel · 04-14-2002, 01:28 PM

Well, if you think about it, he rarely described the length of ANYONE'S hair, regardless of race.

ElanorGamgee · 04-14-2002, 01:34 PM

I usually think of it being kind of longish, since elves are immortal and therefore have plenty of time to grow it out.

VanimaEdhel · 04-14-2002, 04:47 PM

Well: that is the great thing about Tolkien: he leaves much up to the imagination. Since there are many colors, most likely there were different consistencies (wavy/curly/straight/thick/thin/oily/dry/etc). Also, I assume, if they wanted to, Elves could have cut their hair (with the blade of a sword or axe or even scissors, which they probably had somewhere of some variety). I imagine them with long hair, though, because, other than to keep it out of their faces, there would be no major point to it, for I am sure they did not worry about whether their hair was making a fashion statement or not [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] !

04-14-2002, 11:12 PM

OK, thanks everybody! I guess what the elves look like are up to our own imagination. The movie had a nice interpretation of it, and I think on the whole they got it rather correct. Do you think there were any characters (elvish or not) that were cast really badly?

For me ... I think maybe Elrond? I liked him in the movie, but reading the book thought he acted rather strangely - rather evil; but it was still good!

Niphredil Baggins · 04-15-2002, 08:29 AM

All of them had short hair? Surely not the women? Galadriel had braids, and Luthien grew her hair so long she could climb down a greattree with it! By the way, the string of the bow Legolas received in Lorien was made of elven hair.

Perethil · 04-15-2002, 10:24 AM

for some reason i really didnt imgine the male elves with long hair.. i sortof always thought they had shortish curlyish hair, a bit like that guy from incubus in the drive video. the females, well i always thought they had very hippie-like hair . alanis-like.
sorry about comparing elves to celebs, but its the best way i can describe it. when my hair grows over my ears and starts to curl i like to think (for some strange reason) it looks elvish..

04-15-2002, 06:51 PM

Oh oops! Sorry Niphredil, you're right. I forgot to mention; it's only the men who had shortish air. The women (I saw an illustration of Arwen and Galadriel) had long hair, but it was wavy (kinda like Cate Blanchett's in the movie). Alanis-like also, I guess.

Keeper-of-Vilya · 05-25-2002, 03:46 PM

I always imagined elves having long hair, either straight or wavy... but definielty long. Don't know why just the way I always imagined them, like I always pictured Legolas having blond hair... Tolkien leaves it up to us to decide ! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Lindolirian · 05-28-2002, 08:08 PM

Legolas' bow from Galadriel was strung from elf hair, so i always figured it was long.

04-14-2002, 05:14 AM	#1
tian Guest Posts: n/a	The Elves Hair I've just noticed something unusual; Tolkien never mentions how long the elves hair really is. The movie makes them out to have long, pretty, but straight hair and that's how I've assumed them to be. However I saw some early drawings of artists inspired from Tolkien - and all the Elves have short, curly hair - rather like the Irish fairies are reputed to look like. Tolkien makes his Elves to have bright hair with a shining star or whatever, but did anyone actually notice if he actually described their length or texture? ------------------- 'Lle n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina' (You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny)

04-14-2002, 05:58 AM	#2
lathspell Regenerating Ringkeeper Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Holland Posts: 757	No, I can't think of an answer to your question. The only known thing of elf-hair is that elves (just as men) have different colors too. __________________ 'You?' cried Frodo. 'Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,' said the wizard solemnly. 'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.'

04-14-2002, 08:13 AM	#4
Starbreeze Ghost of a Smile Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mirkwood - Middle Earth Posts: 389	Hmm, I can't tell you that either. Interesting question. __________________ Do not tamper with the affairs of wizards, they are not all that subtle - Terry Pratchett To write is to make dreams, to make dreams is to awaken the fantasy of the mind, to awaken the mind is to be a master.

04-14-2002, 08:15 AM	#5
Lomelinde Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ha! Wouldn't you like to know? Posts: 80	Tolkien never specifically describes what elf-hair is supposed to look like, he just tells us what color hair certain elves have. This is yet another image that Tolkien left up to the reader, so use your imagination and picture them however you want. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ The Dwarf breathes so loud I could've shot him in the dark, drunk, blindfolded and hanging upside down from a tree.

04-14-2002, 01:28 PM	#6
Raefindel Sword of the Spirit Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,313	Well, if you think about it, he rarely described the length of ANYONE'S hair, regardless of race. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my Strength, Who trained my hands for war and my fingers to fight. Psallm 144:1

04-14-2002, 07:15 AM	#3
Perethil Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Istanbul, Turkey Posts: 21	red-headed elves.... cool [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

04-14-2002, 01:34 PM	#7
ElanorGamgee Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 314	I usually think of it being kind of longish, since elves are immortal and therefore have plenty of time to grow it out. __________________ Soli Deo Gloria

04-14-2002, 04:47 PM	#8
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	Well: that is the great thing about Tolkien: he leaves much up to the imagination. Since there are many colors, most likely there were different consistencies (wavy/curly/straight/thick/thin/oily/dry/etc). Also, I assume, if they wanted to, Elves could have cut their hair (with the blade of a sword or axe or even scissors, which they probably had somewhere of some variety). I imagine them with long hair, though, because, other than to keep it out of their faces, there would be no major point to it, for I am sure they did not worry about whether their hair was making a fashion statement or not [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] ! __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

04-14-2002, 11:12 PM	#9
tian Guest Posts: n/a	OK, thanks everybody! I guess what the elves look like are up to our own imagination. The movie had a nice interpretation of it, and I think on the whole they got it rather correct. Do you think there were any characters (elvish or not) that were cast really badly? For me ... I think maybe Elrond? I liked him in the movie, but reading the book thought he acted rather strangely - rather evil; but it was still good!

04-15-2002, 08:29 AM	#10
Niphredil Baggins Wight Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 118	All of them had short hair? Surely not the women? Galadriel had braids, and Luthien grew her hair so long she could climb down a greattree with it! By the way, the string of the bow Legolas received in Lorien was made of elven hair. __________________ Wistful, willful, wingless, fly!

04-15-2002, 10:24 AM	#11
Perethil Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Istanbul, Turkey Posts: 21	for some reason i really didnt imgine the male elves with long hair.. i sortof always thought they had shortish curlyish hair, a bit like that guy from incubus in the drive video. the females, well i always thought they had very hippie-like hair . alanis-like. sorry about comparing elves to celebs, but its the best way i can describe it. when my hair grows over my ears and starts to curl i like to think (for some strange reason) it looks elvish..

04-15-2002, 06:51 PM	#12
tian Guest Posts: n/a	Oh oops! Sorry Niphredil, you're right. I forgot to mention; it's only the men who had shortish air. The women (I saw an illustration of Arwen and Galadriel) had long hair, but it was wavy (kinda like Cate Blanchett's in the movie). Alanis-like also, I guess.

05-25-2002, 03:46 PM	#13
Keeper-of-Vilya Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 19	I always imagined elves having long hair, either straight or wavy... but definielty long. Don't know why just the way I always imagined them, like I always pictured Legolas having blond hair... Tolkien leaves it up to us to decide ! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Few can see where their road leads them till they come to its end.

05-28-2002, 08:08 PM	#14
Lindolirian World's Tallest Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Where the view is long Posts: 2,117	Legolas' bow from Galadriel was strung from elf hair, so i always figured it was long. __________________ 'They say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end."