Roach (headdress) facts for kids

A porcupine hair roach is a special type of headdress traditionally worn by men from many Native American tribes. These tribes lived in areas that are now New England, the Great Lakes region, and along the Missouri River. For example, the Potawatomi people, who lived where Chicago is today, wore them. Today, hair roaches are still an important part of the clothing, called regalia, worn by dancers at pow wows.

A traditional hair roach headdress

An 1822 painting of Sharitahrish, a Pawnee chief, wearing a hair roach.

What Are Hair Roaches Made From?

Hair roaches are often made from the stiff outer hair of a Porcupine, which is called guard hair. They can also be made from the tail hair of a White-tailed deer, moose hair, or even artificial hair. Sometimes, the hair is dyed a bright color, like red or yellow. These colors can be a symbol, showing that the person wearing it is a veteran who has been in combat. Some roaches from the southern plains are made using black beards from a turkey.

The "Roach" Hairstyle

The word "roach" can also describe a traditional haircut, similar to a Mohawk hairstyle. This style was worn by some warriors from southern plains tribes, like the Pawnee people, and some Algonquian peoples such as the Mohegan and Lenape. In the 1800s, this haircut was considered very stylish. It involved cutting most of the hair short, leaving only a strip of hair down the middle of the head, much like a horse's mane.

How Hair Roaches Have Changed

Today, most hair roaches are worn as separate headdresses, not as part of a haircut. They are still made from materials like turkey beard hair, porcupine guard hair, and deer-tail hair. The way a hair roach looks can depend on where a tribe is from.

Different Styles by Region

• Central and Southern Plains Style: In these areas, the front hairs of the roach usually stand straight up. They have only a small outward flare and are typically smaller in size.
• Northern Plains Style: Hair roaches from the northern plains often have the front hairs spreading out horizontally. These roaches tend to be larger.

Sometimes, men would add small pieces of other animal hair to their headdresses to make them even more unique.

A Roach Spreader from the early 1800s, used to shape hair roaches. From the Brooklyn Museum.