Hair Fashion History

Hair Fashion History

Throughout history, women have cared about how they look, starting with their hair. As other trends change, so do hairstyles. Nothing can make a woman look more glamorous than the right hairstyle for the times. And nothing can make her look more dated than hair that looks like it was styled decades ago. Whether they like it long, short or brushing their shoulders, women have choices that show their sense of fashion, lifestyle and station in life.

Ancient Times

Each civilization had its own styles and customs for women's hair. In ancient Egypt, both men and women cut their hair short and wore wigs for special occasions. Greek women wore their hair long and pulled into a chignon decorated with jewels and flowers. Romans followed Greek hairstyles. Muslim women covered their hair when out in public. Japanese women wore their hair long and loose, and Chinese women combed their long hair back into a bun. African women shaved their heads.

Renaissance

During the Renaissance, women of means plucked their hairline, giving the appearance of a longer forehead. In Italy, upper-class women covered their hair with caps and turbans bedecked with jewels.

The 16th through 18th Centuries

With Queen Elizabeth setting trends in the 16th century, women wore red wigs and powdered their faces white. The wig trend evolved with a wider variety of wigs with elaborate styles. Women in the 18th century preferred big hair and ringlets. Some women showed off their creativity by constructing intricate designs in their hair, such as small birdcages that actually housed small birds on their heads.

Victorian Era

During the Victorian era, women opted for a healthier look. They preferred shiny hair that was more elegant and simple. They used oils to smooth their hair, and they sometimes curled long ringlets at the ends. Hairnets helped keep the hair in place. Loose hair was considered vulgar.

Mid 20th Century

Popular hairstyles in the 1920s were dictated by cinema trends, which included short, bobbed styles with waves. The 1940s saw hair longer, with waves cascading over the shoulders for softer, more romantic looks. In the 1950s, women wore their hair well groomed in styles that are currently known as "helmet hair." Hair in the 1960s reflected lifestyles of busy women that included backcombing and massive amounts of hairspray. Bangs were also popular then. Blonds were rumored to have more fun, sending many women to the hair salon to find out if it was true.

Late 20th Century

The long, natural hair from the 1970s gradually evolved into a wider range of accepted lengths and styles in the 1980s. From hippie-chic, unruly curls or ultra-straight hair to the waist to coifed and immaculately groomed hair, the era reflected society of the times. The last decade of the 20th century brought about acceptance of almost any hairstyle, but there were still fads, such as Jennifer Aniston's long-layered cut and Meg Ryan's messy, short but choppy style.

Current

The hairstyles of today are still driven by celebrities. However, there are many more choices for women to decide what looks best on them. Age, lifestyle and daily activities generally dictate how women style their hair. From wilder punk styles to just-left-the-beach messiness and close-cropped hair of the busy woman, anything that flatters the woman's face goes.

Tags: their hair, women wore, women wore their, wore their, wore their hair, 20th Century