The social change and dynamic introduced a new kind of expression of femininity that also reflected the male gaze and the heavy-handed objectification of it all. Fast forward to the 1970s when long hair became well associated with the counterculture movement of the hippies and the rejection of societal conformity.
Dating back to the '60s and '70s, when rock 'n' roll was the soundtrack to countercultural movements, long hair became a symbol of non-conformity. Think about it, during a time when the 'clean-cut' look was the norm, pushing back against societal expectations meant doing the exact opposite, growing your hair long.
In the 1970s, long hair for men became a strong symbol of rebellion and non-conformity. It was part of a broader cultural movement that involved questioning traditional values and norms, including those about appearance.
Because long hair was a symbol of the counter culture. It was associated with anti-war protests, drug experimentation, rock and roll, the back-to-the-land movement, sexual experimentation, etc. Those ideas were threatening to a lot of people.
Why did people in the 80s like to wear big hair? People were into big hair because the celebs had big hair, and people back then would like to have these looks as their favorite icons. Most of the musicians during the 80s were into big hair. These guys were rockers, and so of course, long hair was de rigueur.
Everything about rock and pop music got big in the '80s. Big sounds, big bands, big clothes, and — perhaps biggest of all — big hair! The decade that introduced Hair Metal saw newly minted rock stars doubling down on the glam and teasing their hair till it was sky-high.
It dates back at least to ancient Greeks and Romans, and according to archaeologist Elizabeth Bartman, even despite the Ancient Greek ideal of a “bearded, long-haired philosopher,” women in that society still had longer hair than men regularly did.
Short hair was not only glamorous but also practical for housewives. Getting a short hairstyle of this type was also symbolic of a woman becoming an adult. This is because many teenage girls during this time had long hair pulled back into ponytails.
Around the 6th century, however, the Greek men shifted to shorter hairstyles, with the exception of the Spartans. Women in the culture kept the longer style, which for them showed freedom, health, and wealth, as well as good behavior. With men, long hair by this time was considered a sign of false pride.
The norm to remove leg hair for women became very strong in the 1940s, more specifically, it moved from fad to custom in a matter of months in the early 1940s.
The new generation's bobbed hair was a dramatic rejection of the norms of their mothers who laboriously styled their long hair into elegant updos or braids. While their mothers had deliberated over suffrage, the younger women sought greater gender equality through new fashion styles and attitudes.
Our hair loss is thought to have happened well before modern humans migrated north of Africa. So body balding would also have allowed our ancestors to better control body temperature in hotter climes. You may need a coat sometimes, but at least you don't have to carry it around all year long.
Long Hair. The hippie culture of the 60s carried over to the 70s; as the decade fine-tuned what would become known as one of its signature hair styles. Natural, long hair was both a political symbol of rebellion, but it was also just plain popular. The long hair, won't-care attitude found its way to every hair-type.
Evolutionary Psychology and Long Hair
This attraction is believed to be rooted in the association between long hair and reproductive capability. Longer, healthier hair is seen as a sign of youth, vitality, and fertility, making it inherently appealing to the opposite sex.
The shorter mens hairstyle started with WW1, and the need to eliminate lice on the troops. The style was emulated by Hollywood as the new norm.
Luscious locks teaming with life have been a striking staple of longed after ladies for centuries. When men are asked to rank features they find most attractive on the opposite sex, maintained manes always dominate the list. The truth is that long hair triggers a primal, instinctive response within men.
As we have seen from the (very limited) written accounts and the few period artifacts we have to pull from, Viking hair styles varied from short hair to long braided hair, and sometimes included shaved on the side and possibly even bangs over their eyes.
Hair Changes
Texture can change completely, leaving hair drier and frizzier than previous years. And of course, the growth cycle slows down, so hair becomes less thick and full. Short hair is an easy fix for hiding these signs of aging, making hair appear fuller. A short cut and a little hair dye can go a long way!
' This act served as a symbolic departure from traditional gender roles as she transitioned from a peasant girl to a military leader. Fast forward to the 20 th century, the bob haircut's roots can be traced back to the 1910's-1920s when it emerged as a symbol of liberation and modernity.
1960s hairstyle overview
During the Civil Rights Movement, natural hair and afros became a symbol of African American pride. Hair length was also used to challenge gender norms, like with pixie cuts on women and long styles on men. Generally, hairstyles became fuller and longer with an emphasis on big curls and volume.
Big hair became popular in the 1980s for men as well as for women. The term is also used in the glam rock, hair metal, goth and alternative cultures and is particularly associated with fashion of the 1980s, or inspired by the period.
Many people find long hair appealing because it is often associated with health, youth, and reproductive vigour. Hair is considered a natural symbol of beauty, thus well-maintained and long hair can enhance the perception of attractiveness.
He added that body hair removal went mainstream in the late 19th century in the UK. “In the early 20th century, as clothing became more liberal and showed legs more often, we saw the marketing of razors telling women if they were hairy they would not be perceived as feminine.