Short Hair Became Fashionable In The Last Century!

For centuries, women wore their long hair in buns, with curls, no curls, swept up over cages, braided, and any way they could to create fashion but the hair had to be long.  Long hair on women made them seem quite feminine according to societal views and if a women had to cut hair due to illness, it was a major problem.

This attitude continued until just after the turn of the 20th century when fashion designer Paul Poiret had all his models cut their hair quite short to go with his Paris collection.  This style was given the title of " mode ala garconne" or cut of a man.

This new hair style shocked many people because it was such as change from normal.  In America, they called it a "bob" after Bob short for a boys hair cut.  Over the next few years, this particular hair cut gained popularity so it became the ideal for the "New American woman."  

The new woman represented a busy, independent woman who was freed from the old social norms and could live her life on her terms.  Many in Europe, felt this was a short lived trend but with the out break of World War I, the shorter hair became even more popular.  The shorter hair made it easier for the women who took over jobs from the men so they could fight.

When the war ended, the shorter hairstyles continued in popularity.  In addition, styles started showing shoulders, and skirt lengths rose creating the opportunity for young ladies to show more, earning the name "Flappers". This lead to more women going to beauty parlors to have their hair cut and styled, curled, and colored so a whole new generation became hip.  The number of beauty parlors jumped from 5,000 to 23,000 because women discovered the freedom short hair offered.  It was such a change from previous times.  

Many salons kept a supply of smelling salts to wake women up who fainted during their hair cuts.   There is a story that Coco Chanel was getting ready to go out one night but the gas light exploded, singing her long hair badly so she chopped it off but that is just a myth but it is not a myth that women used newly invented bobby pins to create pin curls, or got the latest Marceau waves.

There were many groups that found this trend a threat to femininity so many groups produced pamphlets claimed that cutting hair might result in girls growing mustaches.  Conservative pastors spoke against the wickedness of cutting hair while doctors stated women could go bald while many store owners fired women who cut their hair.  This feminism continued till the Stockmarket crash which resulted in longer hair and softer styles.

Over the next few years, hair styles became more structured using longer hair to create a more feminine look especially during World War II when it was important for women to look and feel more like women.  Although the hair was longer, it didn't usually fall much past the shoulders because shortages still made it difficult.  

After the war ended, the styles became more formal, requiring lots of curling, teasing, and care to maintain the look.  This even applied to the "carefree looks" but when the 1950's hit, hair lengths shortened with the bob among the "new" hairstyles.  In 1953, Audrey Hepburn appeared in a movie with a short hair cut that became quite popular.  Others such a Mia Farrow and Twiggy helped popularize the pixie cut which was the modern version of the bob.

I think my mother has always had short hair, not because she wanted it short but her hair was so fine with absolutely no body that she had to keep it short, and permed.  Me?  I've kept my hair long my whole life because I have so much curl, its easier to handle.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.