Hair has always been a powerful way to express yourself throughout history. From ancient civilizations to modern times, certain styles have stood the test of time for their beauty and charm.
These historic hairstyles aren’t just gorgeous – they can completely transform your look with a touch of vintage flair!
1. Victorian Gibson Girl Updo
A voluminous pompadour with loosely pinned curls creating that signature puffed silhouette. Women would use hair rats (mesh forms) to achieve the impressive height and fullness that defined this elegant 1890s style.
2. 1920s Finger Waves
Sleek, S-shaped waves pressed close to the head create this iconic flapper look. Popularized during the Jazz Age, these sculptural waves added glamour to short bobs while maintaining that rebellious spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
3. Ancient Greek Goddess Braids
Braided crown styles adorned with ribbons, gold threads, or leaf ornaments. Inspired by sculptures of Aphrodite and other deities, these divine braids wrapped around the head created an ethereal look fit for Mount Olympus!
4. Regency Era Curls
Short, bouncy curls framing the face with a loosely gathered bun at the crown. Jane Austen heroines sported these romantic ringlets, often with decorative combs or ribbons woven through for ballroom-ready elegance.
5. 18th Century Pompadour
Named after Madame de Pompadour, this style features hair swept upward and back from the forehead. The elaborate height was achieved with padding and powder, making it the ultimate status symbol in Marie Antoinette’s court.
6. 1940s Victory Rolls
Signature rolls framing both sides of the face symbolized airplane vapor trails during WWII. These patriotic curls became a symbol of feminine strength during wartime while keeping hair safely away from factory machinery.
7. Edwardian Pompadour Puffs
Massive volume at the crown with loose waves cascading down created this dramatic silhouette. Ladies used false hairpieces called “rats” made from their own collected hair to achieve the impressive proportions that defined this era.
8. Tudor French Hood Style
Heart-shaped hairstyle with hair parted in the middle, pulled back under decorative headpieces. Anne Boleyn famously wore this style, which perfectly framed the face while showcasing elaborate jeweled hoods in Henry VIII’s court.
9. 1960s Beehive
Towering, conical updo that gained impressive height through backcombing and hairspray. The higher the hair, the closer to heaven! This dramatic style represented the space age optimism and bold fashion statements of the 1960s.
10. Roman Nodus Topknot
Elegant bun positioned high at the front of the head with braided sections wrapped around it. Worn by Roman empresses and immortalized in marble busts, this sophisticated style conveyed power and nobility in ancient Rome.
11. Victorian Ringlet Curls
Long, cascading spiral curls often parted in the middle with sides pulled back. These romantic tendrils framed Victorian ladies’ faces beautifully, created with heated curling irons and sometimes enhanced with false hairpieces for added volume.
12. Marcel Waves
Deep, uniform waves created with hot irons pressed against damp hair. Named after French hairdresser François Marcel, this 1920s technique transformed straight hair into rippling waves that gleamed under ballroom lights.
13. Medieval Braided Crown
Intricate braids wrapped around the head with fabric ribbons or metal circlets. This practical yet beautiful style kept hair contained under veils while symbolizing the wearer’s virtue and status in medieval European courts.
14. 1950s Poodle Cut
Short, tightly curled style popularized by Lucille Ball that framed the face with bouncy volume. This playful cut liberated women from long locks while maintaining femininity through its soft curls and sculpted shape.
15. Geisha Shimada Updo
Elaborate Japanese coiffure featuring smooth, wing-like sections and decorative kanzashi hair ornaments. Apprentice geishas spent hours having these architectural styles created, which would last for days thanks to special sleeping pillows.