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Greasy or Oiled? A Translation Twist

When I first read the Harry Potter books in my native language, I had no idea that Snape’s hair was being used as a way to mock and belittle him. Quite the opposite, I actually thought he was someone who cared about his hairstyle and aesthetic appearance and was trying to keep up with 1990s trends! like these:

In the English version of the books, Severus Snape's hair is famously described as "greasy," giving off a certain image of neglect and uncleanliness. However, in the translation to my native language, his hair is described as "روغن زده" (oiled) instead.

This is the Persian translation of the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Well, I’m not sure what the exact equivalent of "روغن زده" (oiled) would be in English, but in my language, this adjective is used when someone applies special oils to their hair for styling and beauty purposes.

This subtle shift in wording changes the way we perceive Snape's appearance. While "greasy" makes you think of someone who doesn't take care of themselves, "oiled" feels more intentional, like Snape might have styled his hair that way on purpose. It’s almost as if Snape would wake up every morning, take a refreshing shower before classes, then sit down in front of a mirror in the dungeons to start his precise and delicate oiling ritual, carefully styling his hair to perfection.

Maybe Snape really was indulging in a bit of hair oil therapy or just trying to keep his locks in line with the trends of the time. But, of course, Harry’s biased perspective ruined any chance of appreciating the poor man’s grooming efforts. Who’s to say?