The early 1920′s witnessed major progress in the transition of women’s hairstyles from the traditional long-hair styles of the nineteenth century – to new short-hair styles like “the bob”, a process that started during the great war (WW1). Although early 1920′s bobbed hairstyles were very plain and straight and almost masculine in style, the bobbed hairstyles of the late 1920′s and early 1930′s were much more stylish and feminine. Bobbed hairstyles of the late 1920′s endured in popularity through the early 1930′s as well. Many of the popular and attractive shorter womens hairstyles from the 20′s and 30′s are currently experiencing a modern day revival as hair stylists go back in time seeking fresh ideas and inspiration from the beautiful short hairstyles of this trend setting era.
Popular hairstyles of the 1920′s included the bob, marcel wave, finger waves and shingling and their many different variations. Some hairstyles only had a short time in the limelight before they disappeared forever. Barbers and hairdressers competed with each other to get business from women seeking to shed their long hair and obtain the latest hair fashions.
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. The high cost of permanent waves when they first became commonly available did not put off women seeking a more permanent hair styling treatment.
In the 1920′s short hair for women was “in” and rapidly took over from the previously fashionable long hair styles. Although considered extremely radical in the early 1920′s, bobbed hair quickly became the “must have” hairstyle for young girls and young ladies aged in their twenties, the popularity extending to 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 stylish bobs continued to be popular well into the 1930′s defying hairdressing critics who had predicted the bob would be a short-term fad that would only last a year or two at most. In actual fact, the mass migration to bobbed hairstyles turned out to be part of a major revolution in womens hairstyling.
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