Figure 1.--This group was photographed in 1976 showing many of the popular hair styles of the 1970s at a French primary school. The children are about 10 years old. Note the diversity. Earlier school photographs would have shown more uniformity.

Some French boys in the 19th century wore long hair. HBC is unsure about the chronology. Boys in the early 19th century wore short hair. I'm not sure when long hair became more common. After the turn of the 20th century, long hair declined in popularity. Especially after World War I (1914-18), most boys wore short hair. Only younger boy, usually pre-school boys wore longer hair styles by the 1920s. Mothers that choose longer hair styles for their younger boys, tended to wear it at lengths well above the shoulder. Even into the early 1950s mothers would take great care with the hair styling for their younger boys. A French reader confirms that "Long Hair in the 1950s was not very common for boys after after 2 years of age." As in the rest of Europe, longer hair styles became increasingly popular for boys in the 1970s. This lasted until the 1980s when shorter hair returned, although there tended to be general acceptance for the few boys who wanted to wear their hair longs. School portraits provide a very good overview of popular styles.

19th Century

Short hair styles in France during the 19th century seem the most common. Some French boys, however, in the 19th century wore long hair. HBC is unsure about the chronology. Boys in the early 19th century wore short hair. I'm not sure when long hair became more common. HBC has relatively few historical images showing the hair styles of French boys to compare with the styles worn by French girls and with boys in other countries. The French fashion magazine La Mode Illustrée provides large numbers of images beginning in 1860, although we are not sure how acuratelt it relects fashions and hair styles commonly worn by French boys. Certainly it must reflect girl's from relatively affluent families. We note that most of the boys depicted in the late 19th and early 20 century wore short hair, although not severely short hair. Most boys had their ears show, although their hair was not commonly cut away from the ear. Notably we do not see boys with shaved heads or with long styles like ringlet curls. Nor do we see boys with classic Dutch boy bangs. Many of the styles do not caerly show defined parts.

20th Century

After the turn of the 20th century, long hair declined in popularity. Especially after World War I (1914-18), most boys wore short hair. Only younger boy, usually pre-school boys wore longer hair styles by the 1920s. Mothers that choose longer hair styles for their younger boys, tended to wear it at lengths well above the shoulder. Even into the early 1950s mothers would take great care with the hair styling for their younger boys. A French reader confirms that "Long hair in the 1950s was not very common for boys after after 2 years of age." As in the rest of Europe, longer hair styles became increasingly popular for boys in the 1970s. This lasted until the 1980s when shorter hair returned, although there tended to be general acceptance for the few boys who wanted to wear their hair longs.

Early 20th century (1900-20)

After the turn of the 20th century, long hair declined in popularity. Especially after World War I (1914-18), most boys wore short hair. Some boys, such as the boys in orphanages, might have their heads shaved. Some boys from affluent families might have long hair, especially before they began school or if they were being schooled at home. Some younger boys might begin school with curls. We note personal accounts indicating that some younger boys did wear long hair to school. The general pattern appears to be quite short hair. We believe that these boys usually had them cut within a year if beginning school. We note many school photographs from the early 20 century in which all the boys, including the very young ones had closse cropped, sometimes shaved heads. To some extent this was a sanitation measure because of the problem of head lice.

Inter-war and war years (1920-45)

The short cropped hair styles common in the early 20th century, becme less common after World War I. Styles were still, however, generally short. We still see cropped hair in the early 20s, usually mixed with various other short styles. A good example is the hair styles worn at a Catholic school in 1921. Only younger boy, usually pre-school boys wore longer hair styles by the 1920s. Mothers that choose longer hair styles for their younger boys, tended to wear it at lengths well above the shoulder. The choupette appaered in the inter-war period, I believe in the 1930s.

Post-war years (1945-70)

Even into the early 1950s mothers would take great care with the hair styling for their younger boys. A French reader confirms that "Long Hair in the 1950s was not very common for boys after after 2 years of age." One popular style for younger boys was the choupette which was a relatively short style, but had a curl on top the boy's head. This style appeared before the war and continued to be popular thtough the early 1950s. It was only worn by boys. Another style was way hair for a slightly older boy, Most school age boys wore relatively short hair in the post-war years. Many schools did not allow boys to wear long hair.

Late 20th century (1970-2000)

As in the rest of Europe, longer hair styles became increasingly popular for boys in the 1970s. One of the issues surfacing with the Paris School Riots in 1968 was school restrictions about hair. Some boys, especially teenagers, wanted to wear long hair. One image from 1976 shows boys wearing a variety of hair styles. Come look influenced by the Beatles. Some boys wear bangs. Some boys have natuarlly curly hair. Many of the styles look similar to those popular in America and Britain. None of the boys, however, have extremely long hair. A similar group of American children in 1976 would have had some boys with shoulder-length hair. This lasted until the 1980s when shorter hair returned, although there tended to be general acceptance for the few boys who wanted to wear their hair longs. By the 1990s shorter hair was much more popular.

21st Century

Short hair styles appear to be in style with French boys in the early 21st century. A French reader reports, "To day it is the very short hair style fashion; almost all French boys have very short hair. Even very young boys wear their hair short ."

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Created: February 25, 2001
Last edited: 12:27 AM 1/27/2006