Popular Hairstyles of the 1950s

• The 1950s were a time of family and domesticity. As there was a shift in general prosperity from the 1940s to the 1950s, the beauty styles changed from utilitarian to soft and romantic. This is due in part to the renewed role of women in the home. In addition, hair styles became glamorous and stylish, even for daytime. During the 1950s, long, straight hair was not desirable or popular. Rather, shorter, curly hair was most popular. In the 1950s, men's hairstyles were varied, from slicked back longer hair to short, crew-cuts.

Poodle Cut

• The poodle cut was a popular hairstyle of the 1950s. This hairstyle was short, around chin-length, with large curls that frame the face. As was the case with most of the popular hairstyles of the 1950s, it was a highly styled look, created with curlers and set into the style. The poodle cut has a lot of volume, both on top and around the face.

Ponytail

• A basic ponytail was a popular hairstyle of the 1950s. There was little elaborate to it. The ponytail in the 1950s was a high ponytail, secured on the crown on the head, rather than a low ponytail at the base of the neck. A variation of this hairstyle is with short bangs. As the hair was kept curly and wavy, rather than straight, the hair in the ponytail did not hang straight and was cute and bouncy.

New Wave

• The new wave hairstyle became popular in the later 1950s. This style was short in the back, almost boy short, while the hair on the sides and top was left several inches longer. The hair on top, in the front and the sides was styled in a large wave, that started at the front of the hairline, swooped over the side and ended in the back. The hair in the front was styled so that it waved back from the face and framed the forehead. The wave gave it volume on top, especially in the crown area.

Crew-Cut

• Adult men in the 1950s tended towards short hair cuts. Longer hair was not considered respectable. One of the most common hairstyles was the crew-cut. It was a basic style. The man's hair was shaved so that it was the same distance all around the head. It was left only one to two inches long. The hair on top of the head was just a bit longer and was rounded. This hairstyle was the same one worn by many military men.