The long-hair styles of the nineteenth century began to give way to shorter hairstyles like “the bob” during the early 1920′s, a trend which continued to grow in popularity. While bobbed hairstyles of the early 1920′s were very plain, they were transformed with beautiful curls and waves by the late 1920′s into stylish and feminine bobs that endured into the 1930′s. Bobbed hairstyles of the late 1920′s endured in popularity through the early 1930′s as well. The beautiful short hairstyles of this trend setting era have enjoyed a revival in modern times as hair stylists look back to this period for inspiration.
Popular hairstyles of the 1920′s included the bob, marcel wave, finger waves and shingling and their many different variations. The Eton Crop was typical of hairstyles that had a relatively short life before disappearing. As women of all ages sacrificed their long tresses on the altar of fashion, hairdressers and even barbers competed for this booming business.
1920′s movie stars and other celebrities were early adopters of the new shorter styles. Their celebrity status ensured that that the new styles received maximum publicity and in turn were eagerly copied by their fans. Despite the high cost involved initially there was a very high uptake of permanent waving when it became available to women everywhere.
Short hair for women became the fashion trend of the 1920′s as women abandoned the previously fashionable long hairstyles. Although considered very radical by many in the early 1920′s, bobbed hair quickly became the desired standard for young girls and young women in their twenties, but was also very popular with middle-aged women in their thirties and forties. The original plain bobs eventually gave way to much more attractive shingled bobs or incorporated waves and curls using sophisticated cuts to add style and interest. These later fashionable bobs continued in popularity well into the early 1930′s defying critics who had predicted the bob would be a short-lived fad that would only survive a year or two at most. As it turned out, the huge popularity of bobbed hairstyles for women became a major revolution in womens hairstyling.
