Figure 1.--This teenager has a center part rather than a side part. This was popular during the early 20th century. We are guessing tht he has just graduated, perhaps explining the flower. A reader writes, "A fascinating portrait. I would bet this was taken in the 1910s. Note the stiff detachable collar and bow tie. I agree that this is probably a highschool graduation portrait."

There are several important elements involved with hair styling. Length is a major factor. We note styles varying from short buzz cuts to long shoulder length ringlet curls. Long hair is most associated with girls' hair styles, but there have been periods in which long hair was popular for boys as well. The longer the hair the more different ways it could be styled. Cropped hair could not be styled. Long hair could be styled in many fifferent ways. Length was an important aspect of these different styles, but not at all the only important stylistic factor. The part was another important aspect of many styles. During the 19th century a center part was often used in women's hair styling and side parts for boys. We note some boys with center parts during the late 19th and early 20th century. Another important element of hair styling is how the front of the hair was done. This of course is particularly important because it is the most immediately observeable part of the hair.

Length

Length is a major factor in hair styling. American boys have generally had short hair for most of the 19th and 20th centuries. At times the hair was cut very short, but usually boys woore their hair long enough to comb. This was, however, not always the case. We note styles varying from short buzz cuts to long shoulder length ringlet curls. Long hair is most associated with girls' hair styles, but there have been periods in which long hair was popular for boys as well. The longer the hair the more different ways it could be styled. Cropped hair could not be styled. Long hair could be styled in many fifferent ways. Length was an important aspect of these different styles, but not at all the only important stylistic factor.

Part

The part was another important aspect of many styles. During the 19th century a center part was often used in women's hair styling and side parts for boys. Usually there was one side part with the left part being the most common. We have noted sone styles with psrts on both sides, but these were not very common. We note some boys with center parts during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Front

Another important element of hair styling is how the front of the hair was done. This of course is particularly important because it is the most immediately observeable part of the hair. Often boys with short hair would comb their hair up and accross at the front. An important style for children, both boys and girls were bangs. Here the age conventions varied over time.

Side Treatment

There were various ways of doing the sides. Usually boys had their hair cut around their ears. The cut here varied in severity. Styles like the crew cut or short-back-and sides had very little hair at the side. Other styles has hair coming down at the sides with side burns cut somewhere between the top and middle of the ear. At time longer side burns were popular. At other times we have noted boys wearing their hair over their ears at different lengths. Many boys had hair over their ears during the mid-19th century. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1850. We do not see many examples of boys' side burns. A rare exception is an unidentified English boy, we think in the 1860s. We do not know how to unterpret this boy's cut. It seems to have been a one off, a mother's inspiratiion at the studio and not an established style. At least we have not seen other boys' with this style. There were cuts like bowl cuts wher the hair was cut in a circular fashion. A factor here is that before puberty, boys did not have much in the way of side burns below the ear. Even with older boys, we do not see much in the way of sideburns, even boys with long hair. An excption was the brief popuarity of side burns except for a brief appearance thanks to Elvis during the 1950s. This was before the invention of photography, but some painted portarits so show side burns. We also do see side burns during the 1860s for which there is photographic evidence. A prime examole is the approriately named Union general Ambrose Burnside (1860s). Unfortunately his military skills did not match his impressive sudeburns. A reader notes a men's hair style of combing the hair from the back of the head forward in a look for men during the Regency A reader brings up another sidec treatment. "The image you mentioned also caught my eye. I think it relates to men's hair styles that were popular during the Regency Era in Britain which I believe generally exteds from c1795 into the 1830s. Thus is beyond the actual regency of the Prince of Wales who became King George IV, but styles persisted longer than the actual Regency. This was about the style of combing the hair from the back of the head forward. We seem to see that in the same Engkish portrait. It is also not something we see commonly in boys' hair styles. Rememnber the Regency was a turning point in men's fashio,. It is during the regency that men began wearing lon poants. It is also when wigs began going out of style. As their heads were no longer covered, some men apparently became conciouis about suddenly exosing balding pates. This may have caused them to comb their hair forward in an effort to cover the balding areas. For what ever reason, the hair on the pate commonly disappears while it persists at the side. Of course this would not affect boys hair stylin as they did not have balding areas. Of course this did not mean that mithers nmay not have been influenced by the style.

Back

The back of the head was the least important part of the hair cut. It was largely determined by the overall length. Some long hair like ringlet curls had heavily styilized hir at the back. Some hair styles wsere tampered at the back. The mullet had relatively short hair at the front and longer hair at the back.

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Created: 11:16 PM 10/25/2006
Last edited: 6:07 PM 7/29/2024