Even if you have a go-to hairstyle, chances are you’ve experimented with a few different hair trends over the years. After all, when looking back at the most popular hairstyles through the decades, the most consistent theme seems to be our desire to freshen things up. Whether it be through new lengths, shapes, colors, accessories, or heat techniques, each year has seen new developments in styling and left us with no shortage of hair inspiration to bring to the salon.
Starting with the 1920s all the way up to the present day, we’re recapping the evolution of fashionable hair year by year. Some hairdos in the list below, like the ponytail, have been beloved ever since they arrived on the scene, while others, like the bouffant of the 1960s, are now relics of a different era. Still others, like the bob, have come and gone in several iterations, reconceptualized to fit the contemporary mood each time.
Whether you’re browsing for a new haircut or simply want to take a trip down memory lane, read through the years below to see which of these looks were all the rage the year you were born.
1925: Brushed Out Waves
As soft and ethereal as the early films this style was worn for, brushed out waves gave actresses, like Mary Pickford, a feminine silhouette.
1926: Browband
A thin, sometimes jeweled, piece of fabric worn around the forehead, this style was dubbed the “headache band” — not exactly an appealing accessory nickname, but it looks so chic!
1927: Blunt Bangs
The total opposite of the era’s fluffier looks, blunt bangs framed the face (and thin ’20s brows) in the most literal way possible.
1928: Bright Red Hair
Sure, films were in black and white, but when the public heard that movie star Clara Bow dyed her hair red, henna sales skyrocketed.
1929: Eton Crop
One of the most famous wearers of the Eton crop, Josephine Baker rocked her stunning slicked-down style with a “kiss curl,” a thin swirl of hair on her forehead intended to add a touch of femininity.
1930: Finger Waves
A style that is still as stunning now as it was then, finger waves was a heavily styled look (shown here on actress Alice Day) that gave softness to sharp, crisp bob haircuts.
1931: Shingle Cut
Here, Louise Brooks shows off her thin eyebrows, bee-stung lips, and chic angular bob cut with swooping ends that was so popular during the ’20s and ’30s.
1932: Waves Pulled Low
Unlike the looser styles of the decade, many women, including Greta Garbo, preferred to pull their hair tight and low into a dramatic ‘do.
1933: Deep Side Part
A trend that has yet to go out of style, the deep side part was beloved by stars like Carole Lombard and millions of women alike.
1934: Soft Sculpted Waves
Delicately shaped waves a la Marlene Dietrich took hold of trend lovers during the mid-1930s.
1935: Marcel Wave
Similar to finger waves, the Marcel wave was a highly styled wave worn by the likes of Jean Harlow, among many other actresses. Hairdresser Marcel Grateau is often credited for inventing the technique, which involved using hot curling tongs to give hair deep, defined waves.
1936: Pin Curls
It may have taken wearers a long time to properly accomplish pin curls (each piece is literally twirled into a circle to set the curl), but wow, were they worth it.
1937: Rolled and Tucked
Dorothy Lamour, among other actresses, touted a less curly style that had hair rolled into a neat silhouette.
1938: Updo With Flowers
Though she was known primarily for her iconic voice, Billie Holiday’s stardom also popularized elegantly accenting hairstyles with flowers — specifically white gardenias.
1939: Curled Pigtails
Starring in her most famous role as Dorothy in 1939’s wildly popular The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland helped popularize the curly pigtail look.
