Figure 1.--This unidentified American boy wears long over the ears hair. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken about 1905. At the time, this was a style for little boys, the standard for boys was short hair.

We have begun to build a chronology of long over the ears hair styles worn by American boys. Here we are talking about log styles, but lengths that cover the ears, but do not touch the shoulders. We have only limited informtion on the early-19th century. 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. Thus was not a particularly juvenile style. Men also wore their hair long at mid-century. 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. By the 80s, age was becoming an increasingly important factor. We see mostly 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. This varied from family to family. 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.

The 19th Century

We have only limited informtion on the early-19th century. 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. Thus was not a particularly juvenile style. Men also wore their hair long at mid-century. 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 from mid-century are archived on HBC. We do not know about the 1830s, but once photofraphy appeared in the 1840s we have many examoples. A good example is Clarence E. Summer, we think in the 1840s. We note an unidentified younger teenager about the same time. An example od a younger boy comes from the late-19th century. Another example is two unidentified American brothers about 1850. Shorter hair styles were begoming standard in the 1870s. By the 80s, age was becoming an increasingly important factor. We see mostly younger boys wearing long hair and in the 1880s even longer hair done in ringlets became fashionable as part of the Little Lord Fauntleroy style.

The 20th Century

Short hair was standdard in the early-20th century. Fauntleroy ringlet curls continued to be worn in the very early-20th century. Fauntleroy curls quickly went out of style after the tun oif the century. For a while many younger pre-school boys continued wearing their hair down to their ears. This varied from family to family. 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.

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Created: 10:24 PM 3/8/2009
Last edited: 11:27 PM 4/7/2010