*** boys hair styles : center parts -- country trends United States America








American Hair Parts: Center Parts


Figure 1.--The great majority of photographic images we have noted in which parts are destinct, show boys with side especially left parts, although center parts were popular during certain periods. We note mostly side parts in the 19th century. We note center parts were fashionable in the early 20th century. A good example is Clarence Rogers here.

We note center parts were fashionable for boys in the early 20th century and we notice them to a lesser extent in thelate 20th century. I'm not sure how common this was in other countries, but we see many American boys at the time with center parts. It is side parts, however, that are the dominant trend. Right parts are much less common. Generally speaking the center part was primaril a girl's style. This was probably because it was away of separaing hair for a variety of long hair styles. There were times though that we note boys with center parts. The early 20th century was one of these periods. Here we note this as a teenage more than a younger boy style. We also note some boys with center parts in the 1990s. While we have found boys with center parts, we note center parts have been much more common for girls. This of course was often with long hair, but girls also wore short hair with center parts. Hair styles including the parts can be useful in assessing gender, but there is enough variety in the photographic record that there was no way to be absolutely sure

Boys

We note center parts were fashionable for boys in the early 20th century and we notice them to a lesser extent in the late-20th century. We are still working on the precise chronology. We are not sure how common this was in other countries, but we see many American boys at the time with center parts. It was not the most common style, but we do see quite a number of images in the photogrphic record. A good example is the Hubbard brothers in 1917. It is side parts, however, that are the dominant trend. Right parts are much less common. Generally speakingover time the center part was primarily a girl's style. This was probably because it was away of separating hair for a variety of long hair styles. There were times though that we note boys with center parts. Boys with ringlet curls often had center parts, although iy was usually covered with front bangs so not so obvious. We see older boys with center parts around the turn-of-the 20th century. Here we note this as a teenage more than a younger boy style. The early-20th century was one of these periods. The age range seems to be about 10-18 years of age, but we are also working on the ages to be more precise about this. We also note some boys with center parts in the 1990s.

Girls

While we have found boys with center parts, we note center parts have been much more common for girls. There have been times when center parts were stylish for boys, but this has been the exception rather than the rule. The center part has much more commonly been a girl's style. We are not entirely sure why this was, but it seems basically utilitarian. Girls and women with long hair gound the center part the best way to deal with styling long hair as it provide a substantial length on both sides. And while girls with long hair commonly parted it in the center, girls also wore short hair with center parts. These center parts were common throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It is often difficult to assess the gender of younger children in 19th century portraits. A center part is often a very good indicator that an unidentified child in an old phootogrph is a girl, but there is no way to be absolutely sure unless the children are identified. We also have some general information on girls center parts.







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Created: 5:20 AM 6/4/2007
Last updated: 7:58 PM 9/18/2012