Facts about the 60's Hairstyle

Facts about the 60's Hairstyle

Beehive. Do you remember Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" looking stunning in this style? The "beehive" is also known as the "B 52" because of the similarity in shape to the bulbous nose cone shape of the bomber aircraft of the same name. It has survived in some circles today into the 2000s; the women in Gary Larsen "Far Side" cartoons are almost always depicted with a beehive "do" and Amy Winehouse sports one.

Regency. Remember Mr Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice"? He had the perfect Regency look in the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice". Beau Brummell, who is credited with the introduction of the suit and tie fashion for men of the Regency period, sported this look. Hair was worn short at the back and as curly and wild as possible in front. Sideburns, if they could be grown, were also considered to be the height of fashion. A statue of Beau Brummell was erected in fashionable Jermyn Street, London in 2002 in recognition of his contribution to fashion.

The Bob. First introduced in America during the Great War, this hairstyle went on to cause a revolution in hairdressing. Irene Castle, a celebrated ballroom dancer, first bobbed her hair in 1915 for convenience and the style became known as "The Castle Bob". This blunt cut to the base of the ears was in drastic contrast to the long, flowing styles preceding it and caused a furore at the English Court with Queen Mary letting it be known that she preferred the shortness of hair concealed at court functions. Barbers' shops were crowded with women wanting the new style until female hairdressers accepted the new look and created ways to style it. This rebellious hairstyle is credited with being the start of women demanding a more equal place in society. It is also the reason that the "Bobby Pin" was invented!

The Mullet. Billy Ray Cyrus has a lot to answer for! In Australia it is mostly associated with Australian Rules footballers and those living in remote farming areas. It is a style that has been popular in Spain, especially around the Basque area, for many years. If you walk around Madrid or Barcelona the style is very evident. Both males and females adopted this look in the 1980s. There is speculation that the term "mullet" comes from a scene in the movie "Cool Hand Luke" were it was used to describe Southern long haired men as "mullet heads". This style has also been jokingly referred to as "business in the front, party in the back".

Heart shaped. Queen Elizabeth I was the leader in this style. It was acheived by sweeping long hair upwards and arranging it around the frame. A jewel was suspended from the middle of the heart to complete the look. Queen Elizabeth I had masses of red curly hair in her youthful years and the ladies of her court copied this fashion, even to the extent of wearing a wig if their own hair was not of suitable texture or colour. Elizabeth I herself eventually went bald and used a wig.  

Georgian. During the Georgian era in France hairdressers, known as "Friseurs", used artificial pads known as "Pomatum" to almost double the size of a female head! The hair, which was elaborately curled and whitened, was then styled around the pad. When Marie Antionette became queen in 1774 she added feathers to the style and the "tower" above her head could reach up to two feet high! The males were not to be outdone and their wigs, although not as high, were just as white, and curled in elaborate formations to the shoulders. The style also became popular in England, and the colonies followed suit.

The Moptop. The Beatles wore this style during the period 1964 to 1966 and soon, around the world, their followers copied the look. It was a straight cut, collar length at the back and over the ears at the sides. It looked fabulous when they shook their heads when performing! George Harrison was asked by a reporter in the USA what he called his hairstyle to which he replied "Arthur". Hence the Moptop is now also known as "Arthur". The style was a symbol of extreme rebelliousness in some cultures. In Brezhnev era Russia wearers of the cut were called "hairies" by their elders and they risked arrest and a trip to the police station for a haircut when out in public!

The Ice Age. Ice Age statuettes "Venus of Willendorf" and "Brassempouy" have been found showing clear evidence of stylized hair. The hair on these statuettes appears to be coiled or braided around the head in a circular fashion. "Venus of Willendorf" is dated to have been created during the period 24,000 BC to 22,000 BC and was discovered in 1908 by archaeologist Jozef Szombathy near Willendorf in Austria. Vanity seems not to be a new thing!
Victorian. The advent of the "bustle", which saw skirts drawn towards the back of the body, inspired the Victorian style of sweeping the hair up towards the front, revealing the ears. Prior to this ears had rarely been uncovered. The locks at the back were curled or twisted. A Victorian lady rarely cut her hair and the emphasis was on soft natural beauty. Decorations of flowers, ribbons and combs were evident and only young girls wore their hair long and loose. The forward style dictated that hats were worn low on the forehead. Styling was quite simple at first, but towards the end of the Victorian era more elaborate forms were seen.

The Crew Cut. Yale University rowing crew cut their hair into what has become a "Crew Cut", in 1895. The football team, which had previously sported long hair, followed suit. The United States Army adopted the cut for their forces in World War II and the style became a civilian fashion in the 1950s. The top is cut relatively short, graduated in length from the longest hair at the front hairline to the shortest at the back of the crown. The sides and back are tapered in for a crisp clean look.