Glamorous Hairstyles of the 1950s

The 1950s was a decade of relative prosperity in the United States. World War II was over, and the mood across much of the country was one of celebration and triumph. Women's hairstyles naturally became more glamorous and elaborate, a far cry from the previous decade where women would usually wear their hair tied back or in a roll around the nape.



In the 50s, housewives wanted to appear stylish, even when carrying out domestic chores. Does this Spark an idea?

New Wave

During the 50s, women were returning to their homes from the jobs they carried out during the war. They had more time to groom their hair and more money to spend on hair products and makeup. This meant simple, straight hair was out, and soft, curly or wavy hair was in. Options included having their hair teased, sculpted, sprayed or permanently waved. Elizabeth Taylor was a hair icon for women, largely because of the permed style she cultivated.

Beehive

The beehive emerged in the late 50s. It required the expertise of a salon stylist with a wet roller set and a hair dryer. The hair was piled up to the top of the head to resemble a real beehive. Women would sleep in curlers and rollers in order to achieve the look in time for weekend social functions. For daytime practicality it was often wrapped in a headscarf. The beehive remained in vogue throughout the 60s.

Poodle Cut

The idea behind the poodle cut was to frame the face in a round fashion to portray a youthful, feminine look. It was a short, but wavy, hairstyle exemplified in the look of Lucille Ball. Women from the mid-50s onward would spend big money to get their hair done this way in a salon. As products such as hair spray and rollers became more obtainable, women were also able to make their hair bigger and more extravagant in their homes.

Bouffant

Many Hollywood actresses wore the bouffant, among them Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn. It relied on a lot of hair spray to attain its precise look. The hair at the top of the head is teased and backcombed and then given volume by spray. The rest of the hair was left to hang low and styled according to personal preference. The bouffant was fashionable through the early 60s, when it was favored by first lady Jackie Kennedy.

Ducktail

The ducktail was a high-maintenance men's hairstyle of the era, often sported by young men. The sides of the hair were greased back and the top was given a long cut with jagged edges. The sides would be combed behind the head to meet in the middle, like a duck's tail. This hairstyle would often be complimented with thick sideburns, a look that could be attributed to Elvis and James Dean.