Figure 1.--This Civil War era American boy was from Morris, Illinois. We would guess the portrait was taken in the late-1860s. Notice the double center part. This was used with younger boys, often for the top curl style.

Hair parts for boys are generally side parts, either left or right parts or in some cases two side parts, both left and right. These double center parts were mostly for younger boys with fancy hair styles. They were not very common, but we see a few in the late-19th and early-20th century. Left parts appear to be the most common. We are not sure, but this may be because most people are right handed. A complicating factor here is that boys' hair is first parted by mother. I'm not sure how she decided on the side to part. This may have changed when a boy got older and began to comb his own hair. The side parts, however, were always the most common style for boys. A good example is Dan Brown, an American boy in the 1870s. The side parts vary as to how far they go down the side of the head. Here there was considerable variation. We motice some side parts that are relarively cloes to the center while others are much further down the side of the head.

Double Side Parts

Most boys had single side parts. Double center parts (both left and right parts) were mostly for younger boys with fancy hair styles. They were not very common, but we see a few at various times. We are not sure about the early-19th century. We do see them in the mid-19th century. We akso nore a few in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. We are not yet sure about the relative popularity. They seem the most popular during the mid-19th century. They were often done with top rolls. Normally they were done for younger children, especially pre-school children. but we see them for boys up to about 7-8 years of age. A good example is Charles J.J. Cater in the 1860s. Most of the older boys we notice are during the mid-19th century. Most of the photograps we are found are from America. We are less sure how popular the double side parts were in Europe.

Left Parts

The left side parts were always the most common style for boys. A good example is Dan Brown, an American boy in the 1870s. Left parts appear to be the most common. We are not sure, but this may be because most people are right handed. A complicating factor here is that boys' hair is first parted by mother. I'm not sure how she decided on the side to part. But right-handed mothers would instivtively make right parts on their children as well. What ever mother chose, a boy got older and began to comb his own hair. A reader writes, "I think most boys continued to part their hair on the side that the mother had chosen, especially on the left, because, as you say, most boys are right-handed. Perhaps the mother consciouly did this for a right-handed son." There is also the question of just how far down the head one comes to make the part. We note boys during the early 20th century with left side parts that did not come very far down the head. We note, for example, an unidntified American violinist.

Right Parts

We see some boys with right parts. We think the primary factor is if the boy is left or right handed. Other factors could have been involved. A French reader tells us that a right part was seen as stylish by some French mothers in the mid-20th century." We are unsure how common this was. A good example of right parts are two unidentified English teenagers in the 1850s.

Positioning

The side parts vary as to how far they go down the side of the head. Here there was considerable variation. We motice some side parts that are relarively cloes to the center while others are much further down the side of the head.

Crowns

A factor involved with hair parts is the crowns. I think it may also have something to do with which side the crown of the head is. In my case, I have a double crown, so ...!"

Created: 1:04 AM 6/26/2007
Last updated: 7:09 PM 12/15/2007