1950s Men’s Hairstyles
Most men kept their hair clean, neat, and shaped using pomade or hair cream. Brylcreem was one of the most popular products. It made hair dandy, easy to comb, and shiny smooth. A businessman’s favorite was a simple side part with a soft wave, while younger men favored bold looks like tall pompadours or slick greaser looks.
The Classic 1950s Side-Part
A simple, short side-part was the day-to-day style most men wore. The sides were cut close, and the top had a small wave or bend in it. This haircut had a clean and professional appearance. Pomade kept all of the hair in place. This style worked for school, work, and special events.
Crew Cut
The crew cut was one of the most popular haircuts that males wore in the 1950s. The top was short and the sides even shorter. It was easy to manage, and it looked sharp. Many athletes, students, and military men wore this cut.
A similar variant was the Ivy League haircut. It had the same shape as a crew cut, but left the front a little longer so the man could comb it to the side.
Quiff and Short Pompadour
The quiff and short pompadour both had long hair at the front. The hair was hot-rolled up and held with pomade or spray. Some men curl the front and back a little bit for a small wave. These styles looked stylish and modern but were still neat enough for work/school.
Flat Top
The flat top was so cool, 1950s hair. The top was cut straight across, giving it a flat and even surface. The sides were shorter. Some men left the sides long enough to comb back using gel. This gave the haircut a bold and strong shape. The flat top worked great for boys, athletes, and young men who wanted a sharp look.
Butch Cut
The butch cut, also known as a brush cut, was even shorter than a crew cut. The hair was identical in length around the head. It required little in the way of styling and remained neat throughout the day. This hairstyle was common with sporty teens, as well as men who wanted a clean, simple cut.
Conked Hair
Many African American men wore a hairstyle known as the conk. It involved chemicals to straighten the hair in order to make it smooth and easy to arrange. The end result of the look was a soft wave or part, similar to the more popular hairstyles during the decade. Performers such as Little Richard and Chuck Berry wore longer and more dramatic versions that became tall pompadours.
Short Afro
Some men preferred to wear their hair naturally. The short afro became a clean, round style that did not require the use of chemicals. It looked neat and could be given the shape of the head. There were even men who brushed oil into the hair to make it shiny. This early Afro inspired bigger versions to follow later in the 1960s.
Caesar Cut
The Caesar cut featured short hair on top with small level bangs cut straight across the forehead. This fashion was most appropriate for thick, straight hair. It was popular with boys and men in rural areas who wanted a tidy, easy-to-maintain look.
Breaker or Hollywood Cut
The breaker style used a lot of product to create the waves on top. It was similar to a soft pompadour, but required more combing and styling. This haircut was seen frequently in the movies and was worn by Hollywood actors. It had waves without hair that were smooth and shiny and looked sleek and polished.
Greaser Hairstyles
Greasers were young men who favored strong, defiant styles. They used a heap of pomade to make their hair shiny and slippery. Some wore simple cuts, such as butch cuts or flat tops, but others came up with long pompadours or shaped curls over the forehead.
A greaser style would often include:
- Shiny hair
- Thick sideburns
- A messy or high front
- Leather jackets and white T-shirts
This look was made famous via rock ‘n’ roll music and movies.
Long Pompadour
One of the boldest looks of the decade was the long pompadour. The hair of the front was allowed to grow longer so that it could be lifted high. James Dean and Elvis Presley immortalised this style. Some pompadours were soft and smooth. Others were tall and dramatic. Both versions used large amounts of pomade to hold their form.
Boogie Style
Boogie style was not a hairstyle in itself. It was a way of styling. Hair was swept forward and inward to form a thick roll in front. Short haircuts such as the flat top or the crew cut could be molded into a boogie using enough product.
Jelly Roll
One of the most dramatic 1950s new ways to have hair was the jelly roll. Longer hair was combed up and back from either side until it was rolled across the forehead. This style was very popular with British Teddy Boys and American performers.
Elephant Trunk
The elephant trunk was a small piece of hair that hung down the head from a pompadour or jelly roll. Down in front of the forehead was curved. Some versions were small and others were long and dramatic.
D.A. (Ducktail)
The D.A. was a styling method in which the back of the hair was combed up to the middle to form a shape that resembles a duck’s tail. They were often paired with pompadours or greaser styles. Both men and women wore this look at this time.