The Evolution of Hair Trends

Hair is ever-evolving, that is an undeniable fact. Over the last 100 years, hairstyles have varied from sleek and smooth to the bigger the better. We’ve put together a list of our favorite and most iconic hairstyles to demonstrate the evolution of hair over time.

1930’s – Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford was the queen of beauty. After all, she did say, “I think that the most important thing a woman can have – next to talent, of course – is her hairdresser.” The short sassy hair that Joan wore in the 30’s would become an accurate summary of hair fashion for that era.

1940’s – Betty Grable

Rockabilly babes and victory rolls for as far as the eye could see! The fun and unique style really made a bold transition from the 30’s. Betty Grable is the perfect inspiration for today’s pin-up girls. Her iconic style of victory rolls was an obvious stepping stone into the looks of the 50’s.

A photo posted by Betty Grable (@welovebettygrable) on Sep 25, 2012 at 8:04pm PDT

1950’s – Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is still inspiring fashion and beauty trends to this day. Marilyn Monroe amped up the glam of the 30’s and put it in full swing throughout the the 40’s. No one will ever be able to mimic her quintessential glamour waves.

1960’s – Twiggy

Rolling into the 60’s, Twiggy rocked a nice, toned-down but equally glamorous short hairstyle. Not only did it accentuate her cheek bones, it also made her giant, pouty eyes even more pouty! Sleek became the new sexy.

A photo posted by Twiggy Daily (@twiggydaily) on May 10, 2016 at 5:27pm PDT

1970’s – Farrah Fawcett

The sleek look of Twiggy in the 60’s did a quick turn for the opposite when we entered the 70’s. Every girl’s heart swooned for the bouncy locks of Farrah’s iconic look. Feather, feather and feather some more! At least that’s what we think was running through Farrah’s mind as she styled her hair every day.

1980’s – Molly Ringwald

If you haven’t watched a Molly Ringwald movie then your life is simply incomplete. From Pretty in Pink to The Breakfast Club, her bouncy voluminous bob made the perfect, sass-filled statement during the 80’s.

1990 – Jennifer Aniston

The staple hairstyle of the 90’s: The Rachel. It gained a little length and lost a little volume compared to those styles of the 80’s. But, whether you’re a nineties babe or not, there is a 99% chance that you are familiar with the show, Friends, and the impression that Jennifer Aniston has left in the world of beauty with her “Rachel Cut.”

Early 2000’s – Britney Spears

Ya know, the 2000’s are a time that we, as hair professionals, look back on and cringe. We aren’t sure how the transition from Jen Aniston’s basic but cute style to Britney’s crimped craze happened, but we are sure glad that look decided to stay in the early 2000’s. Please, put the crimper down and no one has to get hurt.

Today – Ciara

In 2016 we’ve watched the wave of natural hair flood the shores, AND WE LOVE IT. Skip the flat iron and curling iron, and let your natural hair shine through. Ciara has the ultimate, “It Looks Like I Tried So Hard, But I Didn’t Try At All” look that all the ladies are trying to achieve. Shiny, smooth but not too smooth, just the right amount of shiny, and the perfect natural wave.

A photo posted by Ciara (@ciara) on Oct 9, 2016 at 8:30am PDT

What do you know, we’ve roamed through the hair of time, from the looks that could make a come back to the ones that we pray don’t. Do you have a favorite era or style of hair? Tell us in the comments!

Are you infatuated with the ever-changing world of beauty? Maybe a career in cosmetology could be a good fit for you! Check out our cosmetology page to learn more about a future in beauty.