With so many ways to mark the years gone by, I thought it would be
fun to do it with hairstyles. Of course, many of the older haircuts are
still here with us today, but I thought it might be interesting to read
how old they are and where their roots are from. I’ve also included a
handy little translation for our British friends of some of the
terminology used.25Bob/Finger Wave
1920s
A look very popular with the ladies during the Roaring 20s. It was
part of an overall look known as “The Flapper”, where the girl would
crop their hair between their chin to their ear level and work in
uniform waves. This became immensely popular due to celebrity such as
Zelda Fitzgerald and Colleen Moore.
24Pompadour
1950s
The more respectable of the two hairstyles famous in the ‘50s, the
pompadour was created by combing the hair against the sides, but pulling
the hair up and over on itself on top. This look was more popular with
celebrities in the era, like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.23Ducktail
1950s
Take one “wrong side of the tracks” gentleman. Leave some hair long
around the neck and apply generous helpings of hair grease. Give the
gentleman a comb and watch as he obsessively combs the sides flat and
back and leaves the top piled high. The top was either left in
disarray, symbolizing the “greasers” role in society, or combed into a
tube that was called “the elephant’s nose”. Why settle for looking like
one ridiculous animal when you can have two!22The Pixie
1950s
Popularized by actress Audrey Hepburn, it is a very short hairstyle
with even shorter bangs (fringe). It resembled what pixies were drawn
to have as a hairstyle.21Beehive
1950s / 1960s
Nothing says “big hair” like a beehive. Women sported this
“hair-don’t” by teasing their hair up with plenty of hairspray, usually
in a tall, dome shape that mimicked a beehive. Also known in the
southern United States as “the B-52”, it inspired a band from Georgia to
name themselves after it and create some zany music.20The Shag
1960s
Made famous by the Beatles in a time when men still kept their hair
short. It’s pretty much any cut that’s grown out and messy. If you
were a pop idol in the ‘60’s, women would love whatever you did to your
hair.19Bouffant
1960s
Generally, any haircut that’s piled high on top of the head. The
aforementioned beehive hairstyle is a bouffant style. Actual types of
bouffants can range from Tracey Turnblad from Hairspray to Kramer from
Seinfeld.18Afro
1960s / 1970s
A hairstyle sported largely by African-Americans, but also by other
ethnic groups and people with very curly hair. The style maintains that
curly hair is grown and brushed out to create a perfect halo of hair
surrounding the head. It was popularized by the “Black is Beautiful”
movement and by icons such as Jimi Hendrix. The Isro is the
Jewish-American version of this hairstyle.17Corn Rows
1960s / 1970s
Another style of hair popularized during the “Black is Beautiful”
movement, corn rows allowed the wearer an alternative to the afro. The
hair would be braided tightly to the scalp, usually in rows from front
to back, and secured with elastic bands.16Dreadlocks
1970s
Associated with the Rastafarian movement, the dreadlock hairstyle
involves sectioning the hair into locks and growing it as long as it can
go. It began in the 1950s in Jamaica and reached America around the
time reggae music became popular. This style was sported by celebrities
like Bob Marley.15Feathered Flip (aka the Farah-do)
1970s
Made popular by actress Farah Fawcett, thousands of women copied this
hairstyle in the 1970s. The hair would be parted and teased back, but
still soft and flowing.14Jheri Curl
1970s
A style worn by African-American men that involved a laborious and
expensive regiment of products. The hair was first relaxed, then permed
to create a softer, oilier looking curl.13Devilock
1970s / 1980s
Made popular by the punk band the Misfits, it’s hair that has been
teased forward and pointed.
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12Mullet
1970s / 1990s
The ultimate redneck haircut. It’s very simply long in the back and
short in the front, or “party in the back, all business up front”. This
haircut is associated, not just in America, but all over the world with
lower classes. There are many different styles, some combining others
found on this list, including the mullhawk (mullet-mohawk), the tropical
mullet (with dreadlocks in the back), the skullet (shaved head with
long locks in the back), and the cullet (long hair in back, receding
hairline in front, usually swept over).11Liberty Spikes
1980s
Like its brother the Mohawk, the Liberty Spikes are a challenging
hairstyle, both to wear and to society. Associated with the underground
punk movement of the 1980s, it’s a marvel to look at. It brings up
questions such as “How does he keep them that way?” or “How many
people’s eyes has she poked out?”. The great thing about the Liberty
Spikes is, so long as you have a few inches of hair, a hatred for the
Establishment, and Elmer’s glue, you, too, can have this hairstyle.10Mohawk (“Mohican” or a “mowie”)
1980s
Truly THE hairstyle of the punk movement. The wearer would shave his
or her head except for a strip in the middle, from the forehead to the
back. This would be grown long and cemented straight up with any number
of household liquids, including eggs, glue (see Liberty Spkes),
hairspray, pomade, and gel. Other forms include the Reverse Mohawk
(shaved hair being in the middle), bi- or tri-hawk, the Chelseahawk
(with bangs – fringe), the duo-hawk (split into two pieces), and the
deathhawk (with teased hair).9Rat-tail
1980s
A hairstyle involving a long lock of hair on the nape of the neck.
The hair could be left alone, braided, permed, or dreadlocked. This is
another hairstyle associated with the lower-class, redneck culture.8Perm
1980s
The dreaded hairstyle of the ‘80s. This style made Aquanet money
hand-over-fist. As with many other styles of hair, perms had been
introduced prior to the 1980s, but only took off during this decade.
Women and men both, but mostly women, would perm their hair, tease it,
and use as much hairspray as possible to hold it in place.7Bowlcut
1980s / 1990s
If you couldn’t afford to go to the barber, you could ask your mother
to place a bowl on your head and shave everything else off. That is
exactly what many boys did, or at least looked like they did.6Hi-top Fade
1980s / 1990s
A hairstyle that tried its darndest to look like a pencil eraser.
Popular with African-American youth in particular, the hair would be
shaved at the neck, puffed straight up, and shaved flat at the top.
This style was popularized by Will Smith and Kid ‘n’ Play.5The Rachel
1990s
A popular haircut with women, it was named after the character Rachel
Green from Friends, who sported this haircut in the first few seasons.
It is a layered, bouncy ‘do with highlights and lowlights.4Fauxhawk
2000s
For those who want a little punk in their lives, but don’t want the
commitment of shaving their heads, the fauxhawk is perfect for them. A
shorter haircut is styled with gel to create a ridge of hair in the
middle. A variation on this is the Hoxton flip, where the wearer slicks
back the sides and spikes the top like a mohawk. Sanjaya of American
Idol fame also popularized the ponyhawk, where the hair is pulled up
into a series of ponytails in the middle of the head.3Emo
2000s
A complicated hairstyle for the complicated feelings that go along
with the Emo lifestyle. The wearer will dye their hair black, part
their hair to an extreme on one side, and razor cut their bangs
(fringe). This allows the Emo to participate in their “half-view” on
society by hiding behind their hair.2Buzz cut (skinhead or crewcut)
The hairstyle for the person that doesn’t like hair. The buzz cut
will cut or shave all of your hair off, to the degree you’d like. The
haircut is associated with the military (especially
recruits) and
the neo-Nazi movement.1Combover
There comes a point in a man’s life when he no longer has hair. Some
opt to shave it all off and be done with it. Others go to sources like
Rogaine or the Hair Club for Men to solve their baldness. Then, there
are those who like to pretend it isn’t happening. They will grow their
hair out and comb it over their bald spot in order to hide it. Famous
people sporting a combover include Donald Trump and Homer Simpson.