Hair Styles in the 20th Century

The Victorian Era was a subdued time following the decadence of the 19th Century. It was not seemly for a lady to have her hair loose and flowing about her face. Styles were sleek and smooth. Hair was often smoothed down with oils and curled into ringlets. Hairnets were worn during the day, to keep curls in place. Towards the end of the period, hair was worn plaited and wound into coils around the head and firmly fixed with a pin in to the nape of the neck.

The ‘Roaring Twenties’ abandoned the constraints of Victorian life and women caused a stir by going to the barber shops and wanting their hair cut into a bob. The free spirited young women of the twenties shortened their hair and their skirts and enjoyed themselves. With the advent of the ‘bob’ another, now familiar, hair pin evolved – the bobbie pin was born!

During the thirties hair grew once more, but not to the long locks of the beginning of the century. Hair was curled and pinned into rolls. As the thirties drew to a close, fashionable hair was nearly shoulder length and curled. Most women would also wear hats so the style was often smooth on top with rolls of hair pinned up to sit neatly around the hat.

Cinema had become an important pastime during the late thirties and forties. Many women would want their hair to be styled like their screen idols. Hair was longer, falling around the shoulders in waves. But of course, there was a war on so practicality took over. Hair would be pinned into a neat roll at the nape of the neck and often covered with a headscarf knotted in the front. Shampoo was hard to come by, plastic rollers and setting lotion was used to keep the style in place for longer.

With war out of the way and life becoming more ‘normal’ the ladies of the day wanted to look well groomed. Many ladies started to visit a Salons every week for a ‘shampoo and set’. Hair was becoming more sculpted. The French pleat became popular. Permanent waving was introduced. Hair often resembled a tight curly helmet!

During the 60’s a revolution was taking place. Many women worked and needed styles that were quick and easy to keep in place. A lot of ladies favoured the short, back-combed styles that could be quickly done and held in place with hairspray. Later in the 60’s the hippy movement started more carefree styles, long hair left loose adorned with flowers or ribbons and beads.

During the 70’s, big hair was the must have. Long layered hair that was curled on big rollers was the fashion of the day. It carried on the freedom of the 60’s but certainly made a statement about the ladies ‘crowning glory’.

Towards the end of the 70’s ‘Punk’ emerged. Hair was strikingly different with spiky styles and vivid colours. The ‘Mohican’ arrived with its stand up hair, dyed and spiked, down the middle of the scalp and the sides shaved. This style was usually sported by young men and was only worn by the few.

The 80’s saw more freedom and individuality. The big hair of the 70’s still remained but more ladies were having their hair cut shorter. When Prince Charles and Lady Diana married everyone wanted a ‘Lady Di’ haircut based on a bob. As women got more powerful jobs they wanted hairstyles to match their ‘power dressing’. The long bob was very popular with its precision cutting.

During the 90’s hair was very relaxed. Nearly anything goes and there were many styles. Long hair was favoured by many with the ‘Rachel’ (from the TV series Friends) cut being a big hit. Messed up hair became very popular and possible with all the new hair products like hair wax and putty.