Boys' Hair Styles: Identical Family Trends


Figure 1.--This charming American family portarit is undated. The clothing and hair styles as well as the photograph format lead us to believe that it was taken about 1905. Mother has outfitted the children differently, but similar hair styles. Even so there are subtle differences in the hair styling. Click on the image for a fuller discussion. Image courtesy of the RG collection.

The fashion of family hair styles also needed to be addressed. We have just begun to address family hair styles. We need to persue both the styles and some of the issues emerging from these family portraits. We have noted quite a range of hair styles over time. Whikle these styles are quite varied, a relaively small number od styles have been worn by boys. Girls styles have been more varied. Information on the specific boys hair styles worn such as short hairt, bangs, ringlets, hair bows, and other styles are assessed in the style pages. We also have some information on girls' hair styles. While boys and girls often have their hair styled differently. Over time most hair styles have been worn by both boys and girls. We know for example that some mothers dressed their younger children alike--both boys and girls. Here families differed. Some children were dressed differently and a few identically. Other mothers coordinated outfits in an age graded system. We believe it was less common to style the children's hair alike, but we have noted a few instances where mothers did so. And we are not yet sure how mothers coordinate their hair styling choices with their approach to clothing. Generally speaking, parents have usually chosen to style the hair of their daughters differebtly. Usually those differences are substantial. In some cases they are much more subtle, such as the image here (figure 1).

Hair Styles

We have noted quite a range of hair styles over time. While these styles are quite varied, a relaively small number of styles have been worn by boys. Girls styles have been more varied. Information on the specific boys hair styles worn such as short hait, bangs, ringlets, hair bows, and other styles are assessed in the style pages. We also have some information on girls' hair styles. While boys and girls often have their hair styled differently. Over time most hair styles have been worn by both boys and girls.

Boys' hair styles

Boys have worn quite diverse hair styles even in recent years, varying from shaved or clipped heads to elaborate ringlet curls. I have listed here the specific boys' hair styles with which I am familiar and a synopsis of the available information on those styles. Considerable information is available on some styles, but only limited infornmation on other syles. Please let me know if you are aware of any others or have any childhood memories about your hair styles.

Girls' hair styles

HBC does not plan on going into great detail on girls' hair cuts. Er have always been hopefull that some one would lauch a sister site on girls historical clothing and styles. Assessing gender in old photographs, however, is such a difficult problem that we have concluded that some basic information about girls' nair styles, especially 19th century girls' styles would be useful. Just as you can not assume that children with long hair are girls, it is also true that you can not assume that children with short hair are girls.

Family Hair Style Alternatives

We know for example that some mothers dressed their younger children alike--both boys and girls. Here families differed. Some children were dressed differently and a few identically. Other mothers coordinated outfits in an age graded system. We believe it was less common to style the children's hair alike, but we have noted a few instances where mothers did so. And we are not yet sure how mothers coordinate their hair styling choices with their approach to clothing. Note in the image here that mother has outfitted the boys similarly--both wear sailor fashions. The younger boy wears a sailor tunic, his older brothr a middy blouse. The younger boy has had his hair coordinated with that of his sister. Both wear ringlets and hair bows. There hair is not, however not done identically. Note the different parts and placement of the hairbows (figure 1).









HBC






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Created: 4:29 AM 9/25/2004
Last updated: 4:29 AM 9/25/2004