Hey there, folks! Let’s take an exhilarating trip down memory lane and dive into how men style their hair in the past! How did their hairstyles evolve overtime? From the slicked-back looks in the early 20th century to the care-free hair today, men’s hairstyles have had quite a fascinating journey. So, buckle up, fasten your seat belts as we are going to take you on a historical ride.

World War I - 1920s:

The topsy-turvy period of World War I saw men who were forced to clip their hair short. You must be thinking why did men start cutting their hair short? Well, one of the primary reasons was lice. The unhygienic hair culminated to a point where the troops were badly infected with lice. Leading men to cut their hair short, in order to get rid of them. The 1920s witnessed the most iconic men’s hairstyles in history. Men breathed a sigh of relief only to flaunt a dapper look! They grew their hair long again, combed it back, and held it tight with wax or pomade; with the sides being partly or completely shaved. They absolutely rocked like stars, straight out of black and white movie!

1930s-1940s:

It was a decade ruled by Hollywood’s boom and blossom. Heartthrob “Clark Gable'' with his jaw dropping looks, made his fans follow suit! He slicked his hair back, with a longer length at the top, keeping his sides and back short. And his fans did exactly the same!! They kept their hair sharp, sleek and controlled. Not a single hair would be out of place. The 1940s saw a similar trend in men’s hairstyles, except that men grew their hair longer on the top. Even longer than in the 1930s! The extra length gave volume and bounce to the men’s hair, and added that extra“oomph” to their personality!

1950s-1960s:

With the 1950s, we entered into the era of greasers. An era, marked by the iconic pompadour and ducktail style worn by Rock ‘n’ roll legends Elvis Presley and James Dean. Together, they considerably changed the look of men’s hairstyles through the decades, and rocked a greasy look! They kept their hair controlled and tight, and gave that impeccably neat look! Some, not such huge fans of Presley and Dean, chose to let a few strands lose for a more daring and casual look. The 1960s defied the 1950s look, completely! The Beatles, who came into the picture, shot out with their mop-top hairstyle, and popularised it big-time among the masses. The mop-top completely opposed the slicked-back look. Instead of brushing their hair back, men combed their hair over their forehead. And in the wink of an eye, it was cool to give a shaggy and shabby look. Men didn’t hesitate to express themselves, and to experiment with new looks.

1970s-1980s:

A decade after adopting mop-top hairstyle, men decided to go a step ahead…quite literally! Suddenly, men decided to grow hair not only on their heads, but on their faces too! Long, unkempt hair, paired with bulky sideburns, and untamed beards was the new look men wore and adore!  The 1980s suddenly became all about giving volume to your hair! Mostly, men embraced the “mullet” hairstyle after George Clooney and Kurt Russell sported it.  But mohawks, or just big-poofy hairstyles were trending too! In short, the motto was very clear then, “the bigger, the better”. No matter what hairstyle you choose, it should just give volume to your hair. Period! 

1990s-2000s:

With rising grunge culture, rose the long, unkempt hair culture too! Inspired by the musician Kurt Cobain, the history of men’s hairstyles took a new turn. Men adopted a relaxed, effortlessly cool hair style, by just not worrying at all about it! The onset of the 21st century marked the beginning of expression of freedom and individuality that transpired into men’s hairstyles too! Men became ambitious with their grooming and styling, after a period of relaxation. The term, metrosexuals, was coined for such “gentlemen” who were so meticulous about their looks. From faux hawks to styled spikes, and fades, they sported it all. 

2010s-2020s:

As the 21st century rolled in, more hairstyles for men also rolled in! Undercuts, fades, modern quiffs, all came in for the rescue of men who were aiming to express themselves differently. Hairstyles like buzz cuts, cornrows, faux hawks, tapered cuts also made their way in, giving a diverse variety of options for men to choose from. The advent of these many hairstyles also broke stereotypes, which encapsulated the need for only women to visit salons, but men too! And now men were not only given styling options for hair on the head, but those that make up their beard too to express themselves. Men weren't afraid to be themselves anymore. They would exude confidence and style, in a curly head as well as a bald one!

Future of Men’s hair

If anything, the evolution of men’s hairstyles over the decades has taught us, it is how hairstyle trends are cyclical. They are either repeated, or reinvented. Nonetheless, what matters the most is how men are able to exercise their freedom and individuality by embracing anything and everything about themselves. Today, men can sport their hair however they like, without anybody letting them down! 

Get Your Hair Styled With Us!

BarbBros, without boasting, is by far one of the best barbershops that offers it all! Our skilled and well-informed barbers will style you however you like. From the slick-back classic to the modern day man-bun, you can get it all with us! We will not only style your hair aptly, but will also update you about the on-going trends in hairstyling that will suit you best! So, remember, next time you walk in, you will not only get the cut of your liking but that self-assuring confidence too, that will make you rock your fresh and new look!