1920’s Hairstyles

The long-hair styles of the nineteenth century began to give way to shorter hairstyles like “the bob” during the early 1920’s, a trend which continued to grow in popularity. The original straight, plain, and relatively simple short bobbed hair styles of the early 1920’s were transformed into much more interesting and feminine bobs (with stylish curls and waves) in the middle to late twenties. Due to their increasing sophistication, bobbed hairstyles increased in popularity through the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Some of the more popular and attractive shorter womens hair styles from the 1920’s and 1930’s are currently experiencing a revival as modern hair stylists look back in time for fresh ideas and inspiration from the innovative and beautiful short hairstyles of this trend setting era.

The most popular hairstyles of the nineteen twenties included the bob, marcel wave, finger wave, and shingle, all of which came with numerous variations. Hairstyles like the Eton Crop were temporary phenomenons that disappeared as fast as they arrived. Barbers and hairdressers competed with each other to get business from women seeking to shed their long hair and obtain the latest hair fashions.

As early adopters of the new shorter hairstyles, 1920’s movie stars and other celebrities assisted in popularizing the new hair fashions through public appearances, movies and stage shows, the new hairstyles they sported being eagerly copied by their adoring fans. Despite the high cost involved initially there was a very high uptake of permanent waving when it became available to women everywhere.

The 1920’s was the decade of short hair hairstyles as the previously fashionable long-hair hairstyles became unpopular. Bobbed hairstyles were considered extremely radical and unattractive by many to begin with but young women and middle aged women embraced the style in increasing numbers. The initial plain bobs were eventually replaced by more stylish and sophisticated bobs that featured waves and curls to add style and interest. These later fashionable bobs continued in popularity well into the early 1930’s defying critics who had predicted the bob would be a short-lived fad that would only survive a year or two at most. As it turned out, the huge popularity of bobbed hairstyles for women became a major revolution in womens hairstyling.