Hair styles are of course subject to chronolgical variations as styles change. Not infrequaently, styles seen as next to scandalous in one era are the height of fashion in another. The major factor changing over time has been hair length, but stylistic variations also change. We note mostly short hair in the 19th century, sometimes ovr the ears in the mid-19th century. Some younger boys, especially from affluent families had long hair for beginning school at about age 8 years. We note both curled and uncurled styles. Hair styles conginued to be mostly short in the 20th century. Short-backs-and-sides were common in the first hald of the 20th century. We don't notice the cropped haie styles that were common in Germany. Hair began to worn longer in the late 60s and we note boys with long hair in the 70s. Here conflict with parents and schools prevented mny boys from wearibng their hair as long as they wanted. Hair styles became somnewhat shorter and more varies in the 80s. We note cropped hair skin-head stules in the 90s, but this style was less common by the end of the century. Hair styles in the early 21st century were notable for their diversiy.

The 18th Century

Figure 1.--This English boy had his portrait taken in Lynn, probably in the 1880s. The French called ringlet curls, English curls, but actually this style was more common in America.

The 19th Century

We note mostly short hair in the 19th century, sometimes ovr the ears in the mid-19th century. Some younger boys, especially from affluent families had long hair for beginning school at about age 8 years. We note both curled and uncurled styles. The French called ringlet curls, English curls, but actually this style was more common in America.

The 20th Century

Hair styles conginued to be mostly short in the 20th century. Short-backs-and-sides were common in the first hald of the 20th century. We don't notice the cropped hair styles that were common in Germany. Brylcreme had a surge of popularity in the 50s, but mostly any boy using hair products would have been the butt of ridicule by their peers. The 60s saw the teddy boy quiff popular amongst teenagers who could get it past their parents along with the 'brothel creeper' shoes, jackets and drainpipe trousers. The punk era in the late 70s is obviously a real extreme. Hair began to worn longer in the late 60s and we note boys with long hair in the 70s. It was the mid-70s when long hair was as popular except with those into heavy metal music. Here conflict with parents and schools prevented mny boys from wearibng their hair as long as they wanted. Hair styles became somnewhat shorter and more varies in the 80s. We note cropped hair skin-head styles in the 90s, but this style was less common by the end of the century. During the 90s there was a brief period where boys had longer hair and center partings, sometimes called curtains because of the effect it gave. Undercuts (shorter hair at lower levels of the head than on the top ) were popular in the 1990s as was cutting patterns and letters into the hair, the latter especially with black boys. From the late 90s to present long hair for boys has been popular with many boys; notably those associated with skating (skateboards). From the 90s and turn of the century hair gels and similar styling products became and remain popular with boys and spiked and quiffed styles became very popular. From the beginning of the 90s or maybe a little earlier boys were targetted by manufactures and became far more conscious about personal hygiene, hair care etc.

The 21st Century

Hair styles in the early 21st century were notable for their diversiy.

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Created: 6:12 PM 6/4/2007
Last edited: 6:12 PM 6/4/20074