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The Most Popular Hairstyles of the 20th Century

The Most Popular Hairstyles of the 20th Century

Women’s hairstyles have changed immensely over the years, undergoing multiple transformations since 1925. The most popular hairstyles have traditionally followed the trends set by major figures in both Hollywood and in politics.

To determine the most popular hairstyles the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed hairstyle trends from various sources for each year between 1925 and 2000. We considered research by fashion magazines, vintage hairstyles archived on fashion blogs, corresponded with college of design Fashion Institute of Technology, and consulted experts in the industry.

Iconic figures in Hollywood helped popularize specific hairstyles that corresponded with the effects both world wars had on women. Hairstyles such as the victory rolls, or voluminous curls pinned up around the frame of the face, came about after the United States won World War II.

Hairstyles are part of fashion. And fashion is the economy’s high-wire act — its designers are the odds-defying trapeze artists of the industry. These are the 30 most influential fashion designers of all time.

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1925: Brushed Out Waves

Source: United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division / Wikimedia Commons

1926: Browband

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1927: Blunt Bangs

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1928: Bright Red Hair

Source: General Photographic Agency / Getty Images

1929: Eton Crop

 

Source: Photographic Agency / Getty Images

1931: Shingle Cut

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1932: Waves Pulled Low

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1933: Deep Side Part

Source: Eugene Robert Richee / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1934: Soft Sculpted Waves

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1935: Marcel Wave

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1936: Pin Curls

Source: Sasha / Getty Images

1937: Rolled and Tucked

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

1939: Curled Pigtails

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1940: Half-Updo

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1942: Glam Pin Curls

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1943: Peekaboo Bangs

Source: George Stroud / Express / Getty Images

1944: Soft Waves

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1945: Victory Rolls

Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1946: Loose Curls

Source: Central Press / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1947: Crown Braid

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1948: Elegant Updos

Source: Baron / Getty Images

1949: Brushed Out Waves

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1950: Chignon

Source: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1952: Italian Cut

Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1953: Short Crop

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

1954: Blonde Bombshell Hair

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1955: Barrel Curls

Source: Baron / Getty Images

1956: Ponytails

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1957: Soft Full Curls

Source: Getty Images

1958: French Pleat

Source: George Marks / Retrofile / Getty Images

1959: Flipped Out

Source: Central Press / Getty Images

1960: Stacked Updo

Source: C Woods / Daily Express / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1961: Pageboy

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1962: Bouffant

Source: Fred Mott / Getty Images

1963: The Beehive

Source: Chaloner Woods / Getty Images

1964: The Bob

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1965: Five Point Cut

Source: Powell / Express / Getty Images

1966: Long and Straight

Source: Ian Showell / Getty Images

1967: Short and Natural

Source: John Pratt / Keystone Features / Getty Images

1968: Mop Top

Source: NBC Television / Courtesy of Getty Images

1969: Modern Bouffant

Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images

1970: Long and Center-Parted

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

1971: The Shag

Source: Jack Kay / Daily Express / Getty Images

1972: Afro

Source: Ian Showell / Keystone / Getty Images

1973: Cornrows

Source: Victor Drees / Evening Standard / Getty Images

1974: Loose Waves

Source: Central Press / Getty Images

1975: Voluminous Curls

Source: Tony Duffy / Getty Images

1976: Wedge Haircut

Source: Graham Morris / Getty Images

1977: Bleach Blonde

Source: Courtesy of Spelling-Goldberg Productions

1978: Farrah Waves

Source: Angie Lewis / Pinterest

1980: Edgy Shag

Source: loco75 / iStock

1981: Topknot

Source: Susan Garnett / Pinterest

1982: Asymmetrical Updo

Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1983: Girl-Next-Door Hair

Source: Jennifer Boyer / Flickr

1984: The Mullet

Source: kparis / iStock

1986: Crimped

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1987: Red Ringlets

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney

1988: Feathered Bangs

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

1989: Gelled Curls

Source: Patrick Riviere / Getty Images

1990: Regal Short Cut

Source: Jorie Foy / Pinterest

1991: Tumbling Updo

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

1993: Box Braids

Source: Courtesy of NBC

1994: The Rachel

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

1995: Butterfly Clips

Source: quavondo / Getty Images

1996: Wild Streaks

Source: Brenda Chase / Stringer / Getty Images

1997: Spiky Pixie

Source: Brenda Chase / Online USA, Inc. / Getty Images

1998: Pigtails

Source: Brenda Chase / Liaison Agency

1999: Two Front Strands

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Liaison

2000: Face-Framing Highlights

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