Hairstyles | the-1950s

MEN

Elvis Presley and James Dean had a great influence on the quiff/pompadour greased-up style or slicked back style for men with heavy use of Brylcreem or gel

The pompadour was a fashion trend in the 1950s, especially among male rockabilly artists and actors
A variation of this was the Duck’s Ass. This hairstyle required that the hair be combed back around the sides of the head. The tooth edge of a comb was then used to define a central part running from the crown to the nape at the back of the head. The hair on the top front of the head was either deliberately disarrayed so that untidy strands hung down over the forehead, or combed up and then curled down resembling an elephant’s trunk

A variant of the Ducks tail was known as “the Detroit”, consisting of a long back and sides combined with a flattop
The Duck’s tail became an emblematic coiffure of disaffected young males across the English-speaking world during the 1950s, a sign of rebellious youth and of a “bad boy” image. This style was frowned upon by high school authorities who often imposed limitations on male hair length as part of their dress code. Nevertheless, the style was widely copied by men of all ages
The regular haircut, side-parted with tapered back and sides, was considered a clean cut fashion and preferred by parents and school authorities in the United States
The crew cut, flattop and ivy league were also popular, particularly among high school and college students
Black male entertainers chose to wear their hair in short and unstraightened styles.

Hairstyles for women in the 1950s were diverse, of varying hair lengths, although women older than 20 generally preferred short to medium-length hair.
Generally, a shorter bouffant style was favored by female movie stars.
Very short cropped hairstyles were fashionable in the early ‘50s. By mid-decade, hats were worn less frequently, especially as fuller hairstyles like the short, curly “elfin cut” or the “Italian cut” or “poodle cut” and later the bouffant and the beehive became fashionable
Stars usually wore their hair short with high volume
In the poodle hairstyle, the hair is permed into tight curls, similar to the poodle’s curly hair.
In the post-war prosperous 50s, in particular, the bouffant hair style was the most dramatic and considered an ideal style in which aerosol hairspray facilitated keeping large quantities of “backcombed or teased and frozen hair” in place.

HAIRSTYLES

HOW AND WHY HAIRSTYLES BECAME POPULAR

The 1950s, a decade following World War II, was known for experimentation with new styles and culture
These years was a time of comparative prosperity, which influenced fashion and the concept of glamour
Hairstylists invented new hairstyles for wealthy patrons, influential hairstylists of the period took French hair fashion to the Hollywood, New York, and London, popularizing the artichoke cut, the pixie cut, and bouffant hairstyles.
The American film industry and popular music industry influenced hairstyles around the world, both in mainstream fashion and teenage sub-culture.
Teenage girls across the world wore their hair in ponytails while teenage boys wore crew cuts, and the more rebellious favoured “greaser” comb-backs.
The development of hair-styling products, especially hair setting sprays, hair oil and hai r cream, influenced the way in which hair was styled.
Women’s hair styles of the 50s were in general less ornate and more informal than those of the 40s, with a “natural” look being favoured, even if it was achieved by other means.
Mature men’s hairstyles were always short and neat, and generally maintained with hair oil. Even among “rebellious youth” with longer greased hair, carrying a comb and maintaining the hairstyle was part of the culture.