The article analyzes concepts of the magic power of hair, which existed among the peoples of Eastern Europe. The author stressed the importance of the topic in its connection with a special social, and gender-social symbolical meaning of hair and headdress in the context of a whole layer of rites in the sphere of family and gender life. Studying the variety of wedding rites connected with the hairdo of a bride, changing her headdress, the author formulated some general ideas typical for all peoples of Eastern Europe, and tried to establish the reason of such phenomenon. First of all, the magic power of hair was associated with the fertility and growth, and it made some impact at a number of habits connected with hair in the rites of deliverance. The social aspects demanded covering of the bride’s hair to escape a conflict between the generic power of a bride and the genus of her fiancé, who obliged her after the wedding. Beside these ideas, the article contains rich ethnographic material and analysis of folklore desidned to show the variety of interpretations of the role of hair and headdress in the social life, and in the ritual practices.