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Most American boys in the 1880s had short hair The longer styles common at mid-century were no longer common. We do not see many boys with the cropped hair common in Europe. While most boys had short hair, it was usually long enough thar the boys had parts, normally side parts. We see some boys with longer hair. They were mostly younger boys from well to do families. While most boys had short hair, the decade is noteable, however, for the elaborate hair styles that some boys wore. Some younger boys wore long-shoulder length hair, often done in ringlet curls. This was not an unknown style ealier, but Mrs. Burnett's book launched the Fauntleroy craze. And ringlet curls became an important part of it. There were a range of conventions. In many families when the boy's hair was done in ringlets, the girl's hair was done in other styles. A good example is the Powell children in 1886. While we note countless images of boys with ringlets, only a small minority of boys wore them. Most boys had short hair in the late 19th century, shorter than was commn in the mid-19th century. There were a variety of other styles. but there were various styles. Only a minority of boys wore ringlets, but numerous late-19th century images show that it was a popular styles, at least on the mother's part.
Most American boys in the 1880s had short hair The longer styles common at mid-century were no longer common. Short hair was done in a number of styles and at various lengths. Commonly the hair is cut well away and abov the ears. We do not see many boys with the extreme cropped hair common in Europe, especially Germany and Russia. Most boys had short hair. We see boys with both hair too short to part as well as hair long enough to part. Almost all of the parts were side parts. Center parts at the time were for girls, with the exception od some ringlet curls styles. The boys here have short hair, perhaps a little shorter than was common (figure 1). The 1880s was, however, probably the decade in which short hair was most common for Anmerican boys abnd the lengths were the shortest.
We see some boys with longer hair. This mean in the 1880s, hair down to, but not necessarily over the ears. The longer hair was styled in many different ways. Here we think social class was involoved. They were mostly younger boys from well to do families. Except for ringlet curls, we do not see very many longer hair styles in America, at least for older school-age boys. We ee very few boys at school with the longish cuts. Any by the 1880s we begin to school portraits that can be used to assess hair and fashion styles. Boys with longish hair at school are virtually non existent.
While most boys had short hair, the decade is noteable, however, for the elaborate hair styles that some boys wore. Some younger boys wore long hair, often down to their shoulders. The hair was often done in ringlet curls. We also see long hair in Europe, but it was not so commonly dione in ringklets, except perhaos in Englabd. Ringklet curls were not an unknown style ealier, but Mrs. Burnett's book launched the Fauntleroy craze. And ringlet curls became an important part of it. There were a range of conventions. In many families when the boy's hair was done in ringlets, the girl's hair was done in other styles. A good example is the Powell children in 1886. While we note countless images of boys with ringlets, only a small minority of boys wore them. Most boys had short hair in the late 19th century, shorter than was commn in the mid-19th century. There were a variety of other styles. but there were various styles. Only a minority of boys wore ringlets, but numerous late-19th century images show that it was a popular styles, at least on the mother's part.
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