| Beauty Articles :: Hair Design |
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| Highlights of Hair Design History |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
The one constant in the history of Hair Design is change. Hairstyles come and go, serving as a reference to a particular time in history. Some people are known for their hairstyle--think Farrah Fawcett's 1970s feathered look, for one. And what about the public outcry in 1999 when Keri Russell of the TV show "Felicity" cropped her long, curly hair into a pixie do? Evidently, Hair Design represents a critical part of our cultural history.
Hair Design Beginnings
Professional hair design began in the 1700s during the reign of Louis XV in France. At that time, women hired artists to create hairstyles depicting the themes of the elaborate French socialite parties they were attending. Hair designers draped their hair over a frame, cemented it with a paste, powdered it, and decorated it. Women were even known to sport live birds in cages, cupids, naval battles, and waterfalls in their hairdos.
The Gibson Girl
Fortunately, hair design became less dangerously elaborate over time. The Gibson Girl, popular in the late 19th century, was a style in which hair was worn high in the front and combed over horse hair. Hair designers waved the hair with hot tongs; later, they used waved hairpieces instead.
The Bob
In the 1920s, long hair fell out of fashion with the introduction of the sleek, chin-level bob. Women's lifestyles were changing as they embraced the right to vote and the right to work, and they sought a simpler style to accompany their liberation. Hair designers incorporated finger waves and curls into the craze using pin curls and metal clamps. The bob is a classic style, always in fashion. Today's bob is often layered, with highlights added to give the style texture.
The Bouffant
The late 1950s marked the emergence of the bouffant. To achieve this curious hairstyle, hair designers wound hair around rollers that produced a fuller, rounder look than the flat pin curls of the past. After drying, the hair was teased or backcombed for maximum height, and held together with aerosol hairspray. To preserve these works of art, women would wrap toilet paper around their heads before bedtime and sleep on satin pillowcases.
The Beehive
In the 1960s, hair got even higher when the bouffant begat the beehive. Women set their hair every night in huge rollers, using a gel called Dippity-Do. To make their beehive bigger, they added hairpieces, which were then braided, wound around a stuffing, and pinned on top of the head.
Clearly, the history of hair design is defined by innovation and change. As a hair designer, how will you make your mark?
About the author:
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| Schools that offer Hair Design / Barbering |
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