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There are several important elements involved with hair styling. Length is a major factor. We note styles varying from short buzz cuts to long shoulder length ringlet curls. Long hair is most associated with girls' hair styles, but there have been periods in which long hair was popular for boys as well. The longer the hair the more different ways it could be styled. Cropped hair could not be styled. Long hair could be styled in many fifferent ways. Length was an important aspect of these different styles, but not at all the only important stylistic factor. The part was another important aspect of many styles. During the 19th century a center part was often used in women's hair styling and side parts for boys. We note some boys with center parts during the late 19th and early 20th century. Another important element of hair styling is how the front of the hair was done. This of course is particularly important because it is the most immediately observeable part of the hair.
Length is a major factor in hair styling. American boys have generally had short hair for most of the 19th and 20th centuries. At times the hair was cut very short, but usually boys woore their hair long enough to comb. This was, however, not always the case. We note styles varying from short buzz cuts to long shoulder length ringlet curls. Long hair is most associated with girls' hair styles, but there have been periods in which long hair was popular for boys as well. The longer the hair the more different ways it could be styled. Cropped hair could not be styled. Long hair could be styled in many fifferent ways. Length was an important aspect of these different styles, but not at all the only important stylistic factor.
The part was another important aspect of many styles. During the 19th century a center part was often used in women's hair styling and side parts for boys. Usually there was one side part with the left part being the most common. We have noted sone styles with psrts on both sides, but these were not very common. We note some boys with center parts during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Another important element of hair styling is how the front of the hair was done. This of course is particularly important because it is the most immediately observeable part of the hair. Often boys with short hair would comb their hair up and accross at the front. An important style for children, both boys and girls were bangs. Here the age conventions varied over time.
There were various ways of doung the sides. Usually boys had their haur cut around their ears. Tghge cut here varies in severity. Styles like the crew cut or short-bavk-and sides had very little hair at the side. Other styles has hair coming down at the sides with side burns cut somewhere between the top and middle of the ear. At time longer side burns were popular. At other times we have noted boys wearing their hair over their ears at different lengths. Many boys had hair over their ears during the mid-19th century. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1850. There were cuts like bowl cuts wher the hair was cut in a circular fashion.
The back of the head was the least important part of the hair cut. It was largely determined by the overall length. Some long hair like ringlet curls had heavily styilized hir at the back. Some hair styles wsere tampered at the back. The mullet had relatively short hair at the front and longer hair at the back.
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