Hair Affair: The Most Popular Styles of the Last Century

5. Bombshell Curls

The 1950s are often considered the height of Hollywood's golden era. Actresses like Marilyn Monroe popularized sculptured, professionally set curls that were swept up and away from their faces. Women who wanted the look often visited the beauty parlor weekly to get it—glamor has never been easy to come by.

Short hairdos also enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the 50s. Singers Patti Page and Dinah Shore both wore their hair in short, curled styles. These low-fuss hairdos were popular in the postwar period as life in American cities returned to its normal pace.