Popular Hairstyles In Early 20th Century America

ange of hairstyles available to women began toentailed parting short hairstyles down the middle, then
expand as the world entered a new century in 1900.letting the hair fall across a headband worn around the
The Victorian Age was drawing to a close, themiddle of the head, just above the ears. For more
automobile was emerging, giving people much moreelegant hairstyles, women often constructed ringlet
mobility, and a general sense of unlimited possibilitiescurls all along the headband, or added jeweled pins.
pervaded society. All of this gave a new impetus to1920-1930 Hairstyles – Footloose & Fancy
creating hairstyles that expressed a more open andFree
optimistic feeling.The 1920s was a decade of huge societal changes in
1900-1910 Hairstyles – Time of TransitionAmerica. Women got the right to vote, a world war
This decade saw a transition in hairstyles, from thehad just ended, hard liquor was banned, and the
more confined styles of the Victorian era to looser,economy was booming as industry titans emerged. A
fuller hairstyles. Curiously, both long and short stylesunique time in the history of hairstyles, the 1920s saw
were popular, with longer, free-flowing hair slowlythe birth of the ‘Flapper’ era, highlighted
gaining more converts as the decade progressed.by women with very short hair, bold new fashions, and
Volume was the theme that ran through most of thea carefree attitude.
popular hairstyles, regardless of hair length. LongerFirst noticed on famous ballroom dancer, Irene Castle,
hairstyles featured hair parted in the middle (with athe ‘Castle bob’ swept the nation in the
noticeable part), and long wavy tresses hanging belowlate 1910s and early 20s. Variations sprang up as the
the shoulders. Shorter hairstyles generally began1920s progressed, a result of women who began
around the ears and ‘poofed’ up overfeeling their wild oats and experimenting with
the head in several updo styles, often held in place withnewfound freedoms of expression.
barrettes and adorned with bows, or large, wide hats.Formal hairstyles in the 1920s were often limited by the
1910-1920 Hairstyles – Waves &extremely short styles that were so popular then. To
Accessoriesmake up for this limitation, many women chose to
As the 1900s moved into the 1910s, hairstyles startedwear wide-brimmed hats with elegant designs and
off with an emphasis on long hair that was eitherbands. They wore their hair in very simple styles as a
pinned up in elaborate updos, or made wavy andresult. When a hat was not practical for a particular
flowing. Hats and bows were increasingly popularformal event, women often used curls and mini-updos
accessories. Nevertheless, in the mid-1910’s, ato accentuate hairstyles that were crafted from rather
sea change occurred that would affectplain-looking everyday styles.
women’s hairstyles for years to come. ThisThe times always have an effect on fashions and
was the short bob haircut.hairstyles, regardless of the era. In just three decades,
As these very short styles caught on and sweptfrom 1900-1930, America went from very
America, the range of elegant hairstyles for formalconservative styles as the Victorian era was ending,
events and nights out on the town diminished. Theto the wild-eyed, carefree days of short Flapper
focus shifted to what women put in their hair. Thehairstyles. All of which proves that it’s
most popular accessory was a headband, oftenimpossible to look at current hairstyles and fashion
adorned with fancy beads and stitch-work designs.trends and make anything more than a wild guess as
One hairstyle that gained a lot of popularity (and someto where things will be in a few years. We’ll
notoriety) was called “curtain hair.” Thisjust have to wait and watch.