Women’s Hairstyles Through the Decades
Women’s Hairstyles Through the Decades
Fashion, like the passing of time, flows in strange waves. Fashion is a reflection of evolving ideas through every decade and Century. One of the best examples is hairstyles. Some stay fresh and everlasting like the pixie cut, while others can be questionable like the mullet. Some hairstylists use different hair cutting scissors to achieve the look they want for their clients.
Here are some of the most popular different styles in the past and how they’ve evolved throughout the years.
The 1830s
The Victorian Era started with less complicated fashion compared to the 1700s, a time when people attended court wearing white-haired wigs. Common folk powdered their hair to mimic the wigs of the bourgeoisie. The passing of the 18th Century saw people appreciating their natural colours more. Neat hairdos were preferred.
Women wore their hair in loose curls that were pinned to the back or side of their head. In more casual settings, they wore their hair in what they called the Gibson updo, which kept their hair neat and tucked at the back of their heads. Bows often adorned rich women’s hair.
The 1920s
The women of the early 19th Century sought to reject the practices of those who came before them. As a result, Bob was born as a way to rebel against the kind of femininity that the earlier eras represented.
This sleek hairstyle allowed accessories to take the main stage. Everywhere, one could see women with short hair wearing hats, pins, or headbands.
The 1950s
Women from the 50sstill embraced short haircuts like the Bob, but they were made more stylish in this decade. Many with short hair said goodbye to accessories like hats. Instead, they opted for frequent visits to the salon so that they can come up with rounded, puffed-up hair like the bouffant.
Curls were also in style during this era. A hairstyle known as the Poodle was popularized – a cut where women will settle their curly hair at the top of their head, while the back was pinned to put more emphasis on the curly crowns.
The 1960s
One of the hairstyles that shook up the fashion world was created in the 60s. The Beehive was conceptualized by hairstylist Margaret Vinci Heldt, who took inspiration from the bouffant style and a hair cap with bee design.
As its name suggests, women wearing this style had a mountain of hair at the top of their heads in the shape of a beehive. This was achieved through rollers, back-combing, and teasing.
The 1980s
Long hair, for both men and women, rose in popularity upon the end of the 70s. In this new decade, women either had easy-maintenance hair or not. Some enjoyed soft, layered waves while others went for perms. The 80s also saw hairspray being used more often so that women without perms can keep their waves throughout the day.
Present Day
These days, hair colour is more of a priority than haircuts. Modern men and women can be seen dyeing their hair in colours other than natural ones. While the older generation may be shocked, it isn’t at all uncommon to see people with hair that are in various shades of pinks, blues, or greens.
Fashion has the habit of making a comeback every once in a while. The hairstyles of the past will always hold some fascination and will continue to influence the fashion and style in years to come.
