Figure 1.-- Here we see a portrait of an unidentified American boy, probanly about 1870. He has a longish, over-the-ears hair style that was very popular at the time. It looks to be a carcoal drawing. The boy is wearing a three-piece cut-away jacket suit.

Men and boys in the mid-19th century wore their hair longer than earlier and later in the century. Styles down to the ear and covering part of the ear were very common. Many examples are archived on HBC. This longer cut hair was done in many styles. There were different lengths over the ears as well as treatment of the hair. The front was also done differently. A good example is Clarence E. Summer, we tink in the 1840s. Another example is two unidentified American brothers about 1850. There were variations in the style, but covering part of the ear was a common element in these styles. The hair cuts Usually did not cover the entire ear. But commonly the ear can barely be glimpsed. A good example is John Van Horn in 1859. This was not a particularly juvenile style. We see many men with long hair. In fact men in the mid-19th century pgten tended to wear longer hair than boys. This was even more true in the 1870s-80s. After this short hair began to become the standard for both men and boys. We do see younger boys wearing longer cuts over their ears. The over-the-ears styles did nor begin to came back into ppularity until the 1970s.

Chronology

Men and boys in the mid-19th century wore their hair longer than earlier and later in the century. Styles down to the ear and covering part or most of the ear were very common. There were no age connotations at the time for long hair. Both boys and men wore hair over their ears. It was the stylish way of styling hair. Many examples are archived on HBC. A good example is Clarence E. Summer, we tink in the 1840s. Another example is two unidentified American brothers about 1850. Shorter hair styles were begoming standard in the 1870s. We still see younger boys wearing long hair and in the 1880s even longer hair done in ringlets became fashionable as paet of the Little Lord Fauntleroy style into the early-20th century. For a while younger pre-school boys continued wearing their hair down to their ears, but short hair was the standard for boys and men. This continued throughout most of the 20th century. A range of longer cuts became popular in the 1970s.

Styling

This longer cut hair was done in many styles. There were different lengths over the ears as well as treatment of the hair. The front was also done differently. There were variations in the style, but covering part of the ear was a common element in these styles. The hair cuts Usually did not cover the entire ear. But commonly the ear can barely be glimpsed. A good example is John Van Horn in 1859. An exception here were cuts for younger boys.

Age

Longer hair This was not a particularly juvenile style, but this varied chronologically. We see many youths and men with long hair. In fact men in the mid-19th century pgten tended to wear longer hair than boys. We note an unidentified younger teenager with his hair over his wears in the 1840s. This was even more true in the 1870s-80s. After this short hair began to become the standard for both men and boys. We do see younger boys wearing longer cuts over their ears. The over-the-ears styles did nor begin to came back into ppularity until the 1970s.

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Created: 8:08 PM 2/16/2008
Last edited: 9:30 PM 2/20/2010