Figure 1.--Here we see an American boy in the 1960s with his hair cut in bangs. This was very common for younger boys in the early 60s, but also became popular with younger teen agers after the Beatles became popular.

We have few details about chronological trends with the bangs fashion. We have focused on clothing, but hope to expand the various hair styling sections. We do know that many American boys in the 19th century had bangs. This may have been in part the unintentional result of a "bowl" cut which was common for frontier and rural boys whose mothers cut their hair. We have little information about the early 19th century before the development of photography. We have much more information about the mid- and late-19th century. A 19th century example is Percy Brown in 1891. Interestingly, bangs were often used in combination with ringlet curls for boys, often from affluent city families, receiving very fancy hair styles. Bangs were worn throughout the 20th century. They seem especially popular during the ealy 20th century. Bangs were really popular during the 1960s in America. Before the Beatles hit, long bangs in the front were the "Surfer" look that boys, especially in Junior and High school really liked. If you were blond, or could bleach your hair, you were really cool. Basngs were worn with short hair in the early 1960s, but by the 1970s bangs were being worn the the popular longer styles. The rest of the haircut was short, except for the bangs, which could hang down to your eyebrows. When the Beatles got popular, the rest of the hair on the head caught up with the bangs.

The 18th Century

The 19th Century

We do know that many American boys in the 19th century had bangs. This may have been in part the unintentional result of a "bowl" cut which was common for frontier and rural boys whose mothers cut their hair. We have little information about the early 19th century before the development of photography. We have much more information about the mid- and late-19th century. We note Bert Brown in the 1880s. He has bangs and a short hair cut. We also see H.Harry Cowell, Jr. in 1890 with short hair cut uin bangs. Another example is Percy Brown in 1891. Interestingly, bangs were often used in combination with ringlet curls for boys, often from affluent city families, receiving very fancy hair styles.

The 20th Century

Bangs were worn throughout the 20th century. They seem especially popular during the ealy 20th century. The styling and age convetions varied over time. We see some boys with very severely cut bangs. Bangs were really popular during the 1960s in America. Before the Beatles hit, long bangs in the front were the "Surfer" look that boys, especially in Junior and High school really liked. If you were blond, or could bleach your hair, you were really cool. Basngs were worn with short hair in the early 1960s, but by the 1970s bangs were being worn the the popular longer styles. The rest of the haircut was short, except for the bangs, which could hang down to your eyebrows. When the Beatles got popular, the rest of the hair on the head caught up with the bangs.

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Created: 12:41 AM 1/27/2007
Last edited: 3:11 AM 8/10/2008