Would you believe me if I told you many of the popular hairstyles of this era are actually products of the 18th century? A large number of fancy hair designs originated during that era and have passed the test of time.
1800s Hairstyles went through a huge from the previous eras. People were more inclined toward a practical style with their hair. It resulted due to the introduction of the industrial revolution and an eagerness to express themselves through their hairdo.
While the nobles and Aristocrats still wore fancy hairstyles, the working-class men and women focused on haircuts that required low maintenance. They wanted to ensure their hair didn’t hinder their work. Hairstyles like buns, updos, crew cuts, and simple braids are some of the designs that were often used.
Recently I have seen a lot of interest in 1800s hairstyles, by both men and women. This article will give you a brief overview and amazing designs of that era. Buckle up and read through, your desired style might be just around the corner!
Table of Contents
14 Glamorous 1800s Hairstyles For Elegant Women To Wear
Women during the 18th century used to wear their hair in numerous marvelous designs that gave them an elegant look. The hairstyles below are some of the most popular ways women styled their tresses.
Chignon with Flowers
Accessorizing one’s hair to make the style look more unique and alluring is a practice that has been going on for hundreds of years. Women during the 18th century were no exception. There are many cases of women wearing various buns with flowers or other trinkets.
The braided chignon you see here is one of the ways women used to style their hair. The front strands were often side parted while all of the strands were gathered to create the chignon bun.
Side Wings Curly Twists
Side Wings are one elegant design that is rarely seen nowadays but was a very popular hairstyle during the Victorian period. The hair used to be parted in the middle, and two side wings were created using pin-ups.
A ribbon is used on the side to create a bow while long curls are worn messily that go past the shoulder. It’s fancy in today’s standard but was a basic design in its heyday.
Pompadour Bun with Curls
At present, the pompadour is considered as a men’s haircut but in actuality, it was a women’s design. A substance called hair powder was used to create a puff on the front hair, the signature of this hairstyle.
A bun is created on the back with long strands while some tresses are kept loose on each side. The curly strands increase the spectacle of the design,
Puffed Side Wings
Here is another excellent side wing design where the front tresses are parted in the middle. The style is inspired by 18th-century hair designs. The hair is puffed alongside the side wings but is not turned into a bun.
Rather the strands are kept loose near the back, creating a phenomenal look that was often used amongst sophisticated ladies of the bygone era.
Powdered Puff with Braids
Hair powder was one of the most commonly used products for styling hair during the 1800s. When women used to wear braids or plaits on their heads, they would still wear their front hair in a fluffy puff.
The front strands are puffed up and braids are created with the hair on the back. It was a regular design during that period but now it seems fancy.
Victorian Curly Updo
The Victorian curly updo I am going to discuss here was a trendy hairstyle in Western civilization for a long period. It started to become popular near the Renaissance and maintained its trend for around 300 years.
The strands are styled into a curly updo with powder perms on the sides. Headwear is used as well which was another common feature at that time, especially among noble women.
Regular Low Knot
Here is another fancy 1800s hairstyle that appears extravagant to us but was normal during that period. The front strands are puffed like many designs of that era. A low knot is created near the nape area but it’s not properly bound.
The strands are styled by keeping them loose and placing them on the shoulder. Women from middle-class society often got hairstyles like these.
Wavy Lifted Updo
Wavy hair among women was as popular as it still is, a lot of phenomenal designs were created with it as you have seen above. A lifted updo is one such case where the hair powder was utilized to create a lifted puff with strands.
All the strands were gathered at the top to create the beehive-like design and pins were necessary to properly keep the style intact.
Mid-Parted Low Bun
The simple low bun design is a common hairstyle at present and is often used by women for its low-maintenance characteristics. Believe it or not, it was frequently worn by women of the 18th century.
By parting the front strands in the middle which are wavy, a low bun is created by gathering the tresses near the back. In many cases, a chignon bun was created instead of a regular low bun.
Elegant Swirls
Another common design for women in the 1800s was puffed hairdos with swirls left on the shoulders. By rolling the hair and piling it up at the front, some strands are lept loose and permed to create the swirls.
The style is elegant, and women customized them in different ways based on their features. Some kept the back strands completely loose while others created braids with them.
Simple Bun With Headwear
Wearing headgear was quite common in the past, the quality of the headwear would depend on their social status. Rich ladies would wear fancy ones while the working woman wore a simple scarf. Their strands usually used to be styled with simple buns or updos.
In certain cases, a braided bun would also be used and tucked under the scarf. These simple styles are still relevant in today’s time.
Deep Curtained Ringlets
If you think ringlets came into fashion only in recent years, you will not be wrong but it was quite common in the industrial age as well. Women used to wear curtained ringlets by parting their curly hair in the middle.
They will sometimes wear a scarf on the head as well as turn the locs into a curly bun. Instead of noble ladies, it was more common among middle-class and working women.
Short Puff With Powder Waves
Creating permed waves on the sides was common among both men and women. The short pompadour-like puff used to be created with hair powder. The side strands were permed to create the Victorian waves on the hair.
It was a gender-neutral design for sure but women were more used to longer hair, making short designs like this one quite unique.
Giant Updo With Side Part
The last female hairstyle I am discussing here was considered a fancy design even during the Victorian period. The front strands were styled like regular side parts, the main attraction was the updo.
Hair powder was used to create a giant updo like the one you see here in the image. The wavy the hair is, the better result you’ll be able to receive.
Male Variations of 1800s Hairstyles To Try
Here are some male hairstyles of the 18th century that were quite popular. You’ll get an overview of how men during that era styled their hair. You might find inspiration for your next haircut.
Wavy Side Part
The wavy side part design was undoubtedly one of the most popular haircuts during the 18th century, especially among European men to look stylish. Long sideburns and mustaches were often paired with this fabulous design.
To create the waves, the perm technique was often utilized. It provided the perfect amount of fluff and made the design look dandy.
Victorian Slick Back with Waves
Here is another excellent 1800s haircut for men that has a long history. You can call this design a version of the slick back hairstyle but it’s not quite the same. The front strands were brushed back using hair powder but the sides were not brushed back.
A wavy pattern was created using perms on both sides, making the style classy as well as extremely polished.
Medium Messy Side Part
One of the most common haircuts during the 18th century was medium-length hair worn with a side part. The design you see in the image is a good example where the hair is cut with scissors and is kept at least 5 inches long all around.
After that, it parted toward one side and styled in a messy way. It was a common design among men which was depicted in many paintings of that time.
Short Groomed Haircut
Though medium and long hair were the most popular ways to style one’s hair, there were some short designs as well that were used for their low-maintenance characteristics. They are close to the modern-day crew cut that men used to wear, especially for receding hairlines.
The length of the hair used to be similar all around and was well groomed. Long sideburns were often worn with this design.
Long Curly Tresses
The long curly tresses you see here were a go-to hair design for nobles in Europe during the 18th century. Especially men who were connected with the bureaucracy, members of the court, or holding important positions in their colonies.
In most cases, the long curls were natural but there were some instances where men wore long powdered wigs to get this look.
Things To Consider Before Getting A 1800s Hairstyle
If you are thinking of getting one of the hairstyles that were popular during the 18th century, I want to consider some facts about it before you make your decision. These styles are from a bygone era, getting one for regular purposes is not practical.
You can wear them for any special occasion, for example, cosplay events or on stage during a historical play are occasions that might require you to use these designs. In some cases, a wig can also do the job, if you feel you can not accomplish your desired look with natural hair.
Some of these hairdos are still present in today’s time. But they have evolved over time and can be an excellent choice to get vintage elegance without too much hassle.
They are perfect for wedding ceremonies or fancy parties so you can definitely give them a try during special events like these.
Final Thoughts
We have reached the concluding part of our journey to the 1800s hairstyles. After going through numerous popular designs of that era, you have garnered an overall idea of how they presented themselves in public.
Many of the hairdos of that era are still present after 200 years, these have evolved with time but the principle remains the same. There are few haircuts that have totally disappeared, for the right reasons.
Recreating 1800s haircuts is quite impractical in this era, the task can prove to be a hassle for anyone. You can go for this extravagant style on a few occasions but they are not suitable to wear regularly.
But if you want to give these designs a go, I will encourage you to give it a go. Your unique hairdo will definitely turn some heads around.
