Figure 1.--This English Cub SCout wears short, cropped hair. Such hair cuts in the 1990s were popular in England and many European countries. We see them in America as well, but not as commonly. Cuts like this were not long enough to part. |
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Short hair has been the dominant style for boys since the early 19th century. There are many hair styles for short hair and thus this designation overlaps with other styles. While short hair has been popular durung most of the 19th and 20th centuries and seem to be the dominant style in the early 21st century, there have been periods in which longer styles were worn. Boys and men often wire their hair over their ears in the mid-19th centuy. We note some boys wearing very long hair in the 1970s and 80s. These were rather brief interludes during extended periods of short hair. And even during these periods, many boys had short cuts or long cuts well short of the shoulders. And during some periods boys wore very short cropped hair. There were many styles of the very short cuts, crropped hai, butch, buzz, flat top and others. Short cropped hair was common in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many American boys wore short styles like buzz cuts and flat tgops during the 1950s abnd early 60s. There were two basis styles of short hair, cuts that that could be combed and parted. Other styles were too short to be combed.
Short hair has been the dominant style for boys since the of the early 19th century. There have been many styles and lengths of short hair, but short hair was seen as the basic boy's hair style. Short styles have been so common for boys that many parents and school authorities viewed then as the only appropriate hair style. Thus when boy began weaing their hair long in the 1970s, some people were disturbed.
There are many hair styles for short hair and thus this designation overlaps with other styles. These styles can be organized into two basic types. There were two basis styles of short hair, cuts that that could be combed and parted. Other styles were too short to be combed and parted.
There were many styles of the very short cuts, crropped hai, butch, buzz, flat top and others. Short cropped hair was common in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many American boys wore short styles like buzz cuts and flat tops during the 1950s abnd early 60s. There were also many different styles of parted hair, but we are less sure about the actual terms for many of these cuts.
We have seen short hair come and go over time. Short hair was common in many ancient socities. We see short hair as a standard for boys and men in Rome. Short hair was common during the medieval era, although this varies over time and from country to country. The Normans in particular wore their hair short. Hair length too on political signicance during the English Civil War whn the short-hair Round Heads fough the King's long haired cavelier (17th century). Boyswore common short haie, bur with a pony tail or quque (18th century). Adults with the money might wear wigs, although this was less common American than Europe (18th century). we see a mix od styles following as wigs and quques disappeared (19th century, We have limited infirmation after the turn-od-th 19th century. We know much more at mid-century and the appearance of photography. Boys and men wore longish over the ears hair, but not shoulder-length hair (1840s-50s). Except for very little ys there was no destinction betwee boys and men. We see rather modern-looking short cuts (1860s). Thee syles continud for the rest of the century. Some boys in Europe has cropped har. This was less common in America, but short styles were standard. Some younger boys wore long hair often done in curls. Various short cuts were much more common. A good example is an American boy about 1890. Short hair was popular during most of the 20th centuries and seem to be the dominant style in the 20th century. These were rather brief interludes during extended periods of short hair. And even during these periods, many boys had short cuts or long cuts well short of the shoulders. Short styles like crew cuts were popularin America (1950s). Long hair became popular for time (1970s-80s). Short hair begane more popular(1990s). And we see the extremely short hair at the end of the century (late-1990s).
The style was to cut the hair short all around without any noticeable styling. The hair is cut at about 1/4 inch length. Because of the length there is no noticeable part. This style appears to have been more popular in Europe than in America. In this style the side burns are cut well above the ear at about the level where the ear joins the suide of the ear. Short styles have been the standars in the 21st century.
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