Flapper Hairstyles in the '20s

The 1920s saw revolutionary change in women's hairstyles. Even though the opulence and lavish lifestyle associated with '20s flappers was only for the well-off few, flapper hairstyles became universally sought after. They were convenient and striking looking, representing the new young and vibrant fashion culture. They broke away from tradition, as well as the slavery of complicated hairstyling, and were so stark and striking that they had to be worn with conviction. Does this Spark an idea?

Cutting

Up until the 1920s, women's mainstream hair fashions had been about styling, rather than cutting. With short hair coming into fashion, women had to queue up at men's barber's shops to get their hair cut because their regular hairdressers did not do these styles. Yet with the trend for short hair so strong, women's hairdressers finally relented, and ongoing experimentation led to inventive styles, such as the shingle bob, razor cutting and waved bobs.

Eton Crop

The Eton Crop was the shortest of 1920s flapper hairstyles, with its most famous wearer being Josephine Baker. This short cropped style showed off a woman's jawline, cheekbones and ears, looking striking on some and stunning on others. Most effective on dark hair, the Eton Crop could be styled for glamor and worn slicked down, smooth and shiny. Often it was side-parted and smoothed lightly forward, resembling the cut of boys at Eton school.

Bob

The flapper bob is one of the most famous cuts of the 20th century, and it came in several different varieties. Actress Clara Bow wore a waved version, sliced just above the jawline. Another renowned bob-wearer of the 1920s, Louise Brooks wore her straight style with wide, square-cut bangs. Framing the face, bobs were ideal for showing off flapper makeup of defined cupid's-bow lips and dark eyes.

Styling

The simple 1920s flapper hairstyles needed minimal styling, looking best when left to show off the shape and structure of the cut. Yet flapper party style was opulent and exuberant, so hair would often be adorned with accessories, such as headbands, jewelled clips and feathers. These did not hide the clean lines of the cut, but rather decorated the hair. By day, the simple cloche hat necessitated a smooth hairstyle. Named after the French for "bell", the cloche was a close-fitting dome shape, which slid perfectly over a flapper bob.

Influence

Although fashionable styles grew longer after the 1920s, cutting has remained essential for women's hairdressers. The 1960s paid the most notable tribute to flapper style, with Vidal Sassoon's sharp cuts, including the Five Point Cut and Mary Quant's re-vamped bob. Not only did flapper styles look stylish but they were also convenient for an active lifestyle, which makes them excellent cuts for the modern day.