The 1950s brought us rock ‘n’ roll, poodle skirts, and some truly unforgettable hairstyles. While this era defined beauty standards for a generation, not all of its hair trends deserve a modern comeback. Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to examine which iconic ’50s hairstyles should remain firmly in the past.
1. The Atomic Beehive
Standing tall like a gravity-defying sculpture, the beehive required excessive teasing and an entire can of hairspray to maintain its towering height. Women suffered headaches and neck strain just to achieve this look. Plus, rumors spread about spiders nesting in these rarely-washed hairdos!
2. The Helmet Hair
The helmet hair style was all about precision and uniformity. Women sported a meticulously rounded shape that resembled a helmet, achieved through careful styling and heavy use of setting lotions. This look was considered the height of sophistication in certain circles during the ’50s. However, the rigidity of helmet hair left little room for personal expression or creativity. Its inflexible nature made it uncomfortable and impractical for everyday wear.
3. The Short Curled Fringe
Embodying elegance and refinement, the short curled fringe was a hairstyle that many women of the ’50s adored. Featuring tightly curled bangs and smooth sides, it combined a polished look with a hint of playfulness. Unfortunately, maintaining those tight curls was no easy task. Frequent curling and setting were needed to keep the fringe looking fresh.
4. The Atomic Hairdo
Inspired by the nuclear age, this bizarre style featured stiff waves arranged in concentric circles, mimicking an atomic explosion. Women used sugar water and setting lotion to achieve the crunchy texture. The style couldn’t be touched or it would collapse—making it completely impractical for daily life.
5. The Bouffant Bubble
Picture a perfectly round balloon of hair surrounding the head—that’s the bouffant bubble. Creating this look required backcombing until hair resembled a rat’s nest, then smoothing the outer layer. The damage was so severe that many women experienced significant hair loss after wearing this style.
6. The Slicked-Back Greaser Look
Channeling the rebellious spirit of the 1950s, the slicked-back greaser look was all about attitude. This hairstyle involved generously applying pomade to achieve a sleek, shiny appearance. Often associated with the greaser subculture, it became synonymous with youthful defiance and rock ‘n’ roll. While it exuded cool confidence, the slicked-back greaser look was notorious for leaving a greasy residue on anything it touched. Maintaining this style required daily attention and a hefty supply of hair products.
7. The Sculpted Wave
Women arranged their hair in perfect, immobile waves that looked painted onto their heads. The process involved pin curls set overnight and brushed into stiff waves. The result was hair so hardened with product that it could withstand gale-force winds—and probably repel potential suitors too!
8. The Pillbox Hat Hairdo
Topped with a pillbox hat, this hairstyle was the epitome of elegance in the 1950s. Often seen on first ladies and fashion icons, the style required perfectly coiffed curls under the hat, maintaining both poise and style. Despite its charm, the hassle of maintaining the curls and the static hat look makes it less appealing today.
9. The Pin-Up Bangs
Pin-up bangs, paired with voluminous curls, were hallmarks of the 1950s glam scene. Embraced by pin-up models and movie stars, they framed the face beautifully, exuding allure and confidence. Despite their visual appeal, crafting those perfectly rolled bangs required skill and time, often discouraging everyday wear.
10. The Victory Roll Overload
Borrowing from 1940s style, some ’50s women went overboard with victory rolls, creating massive structures above their foreheads. These elaborate rolls required dozens of bobby pins and created headaches. The style screamed “trying too hard” and thankfully evolved into more natural looks by the decade’s end.
11. The Beehive Tower
With its lofty height and intricate structure, the beehive tower was a symbol of 1950s glamour. This hairstyle required copious amounts of hairspray and backcombing, making it both a marvel and a hassle. While it was once a staple for formal events, today, it’s mostly remembered for its exaggerated proportions and time-consuming maintenance.
12. The Gibson Girl
The Gibson Girl hairstyle, with its voluminous pompadour and soft curls, harkens back to the turn of the century but saw a revival in the 1950s. This elegant and sophisticated style was embraced by women who wanted to exude a sense of grace and femininity. However, the intricacy of this hairstyle required considerable time and effort, often involving rollers, pins, and plenty of hairspray. The need for constant maintenance eventually led to its decline in everyday fashion.
13. The Pincushion Perm
Imagine hundreds of tiny, tight curls covering the entire head, making women resemble walking pincushions. This style required sitting under painful chemical processing for nearly five hours, often leaving scalps burned and damaged. The resulting look wasn’t worth the torture. The uniform, tight curls eliminated any natural movement, creating a static, doll-like appearance that aged women considerably. Washing this style was nearly impossible – water would cause the entire head to expand like a chia pet.
14. The Jelly Roll
The Jelly Roll hairstyle was a quirky choice for those looking to stand out. This involved rolling the front section of hair into a cylindrical shape, resembling a jelly roll dessert. It was a playful and bold statement of self-expression. While fun and unique, the Jelly Roll was not suitable for every occasion, often seen as too eccentric for formal events. Fashion enthusiasts found it limiting, unable to transition smoothly from casual to sophisticated settings.
15. The Flat Top
The flat top was a unifying hairstyle among men in the 1950s, especially within military circles. Its clean, horizontal cut across the top signified discipline and uniformity, making it a staple for those serving in the armed forces. Despite its practicality, the hairstyle lacked versatility, and its rigid form didn’t appeal to men and women seeking more creative expression.