1920s Hair Styles

The 1920s aren’t called the “Roaring Twenties” for nothing!  Prohibition was the law, the world was coming out of ‘The Great War,’ women were finding new courage to demand equal rights, and the economy was growing nicely.  1920s hairstyles reflected this ‘zeitgeist’ of throwing off old conventions.

The 1920s Bob Hairstyle

The biggest change to be found in 1920s hairstyles was extreme shortness.  A new style, called the “bob,” was made popular by two famous actresses of the day – Louise Brown and Clara Bow.  It was a boyish cut, featuring straight bangs in front, hanging low on the forehead (almost touching the eyebrows).  The hair was cut close to the back of the head along the base of the skull – scandalously close in that era.

That was the point of 1920s hairstyles.  They were a manifestation of the new sense of independence and freedom many women began to feel.  The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution empowered women to vote.  This new right was officially part of every woman’s life beginning in August, 1920, when enough states had ratified the amendment.  It is a perfect example of the freedom women felt, which would be expressed with increasing flare as the decade progressed.  Nowhere was this more apparent than in 1920s hairstyles and fashions.

1920s Hairstlyes - Controversial

Many people of the day who were more conservative (older folks, primarily) equated the wearing of 1920s hairstyles, like the bob cut, with being a trashy or ‘loose’ woman.  Perhaps not surprisingly, the women who chose these hairstyles often embraced that misperception.  It added to their newfound rebellious image!

Many 1920s hairstyles, like the bob, actually began in the 1910s.  The first widely known bob hairstyle was the so-called ‘Castle Bob,’ named after a famous ballroom dancer – Irene Castle.  Ironically, she only cut her hair in the simple, short hairstyle for practical reasons.  It was easier to manage, didn’t get in her eyes, and kept her cooler while dancing.  Her intention was not to spawn a new hairstyle fad, but that’s just what happened in the 1920s when Louise Brown and Clara Bow made it famous on the big screen.

A new 1920s hairstyle that was a variation on the classic bob swept across America.  It was called the ‘Shingle Bob.’  The difference between it and the older hairstyle was undetectable from the front, but in back, it was very noticeable.  The Shingle Bob featured an angled cut that started on the outside at the bottom of the ears and tapered up to a point about 2 inches above the center of the nape of the neck.  The exposed area below was shaved or cut much closer, creating a sideways diamond shape that ended at the nape of the neck.  Hence the name – shingle – which it resembled somewhat.  The Shingle Bob was one of the 1920s hairstyles that caused a big stir in the early 20s.  It was considered even more “scandalous” than the classic bob.

What Were 1920s 'Flappers?'

Many people today equate 1920s hairstyles with a term – Flappers - that actually included much more than how women wore their hair.  This nickname referred to women who wore short hair, increasingly shorter dresses with low-cut waists, smoked, danced, drank alcohol in ‘speak easies,’ and generally had brash attitudes. 

A recent film, ‘Chicago,’ immortalizes the 1920s Flapper culture in a particularly glamorous portrayal.  If you get the chance, watch the movie for a good view of the broad range of 1920s hairstyles.