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Monks wore the traditional tonsure hairstyle, shaving the top of their heads while leaving a ring of hair if in a bowl-cut style.
Christian monks are celibate and it is believed that shaving their heads helps to remove the sexual or erotic connotations associated with hair. They nailed it.
Queen Elizabeth I was widely regarded as a fashion icon throughout her reign. Renowned for her meticulous attention to detail, she embraced the use of cosmetics and hair products. Her high forehead and light eyebrows were characteristic of the Renaissance era.
Queen Elizabeth, among other women of her era, used makeup to lighten her complexion. However, the harmful chemicals in the whitening paste resulted in adverse effects such as skin impairment and hair thinning, hence the receding hairlines.
Despite the harmful consequences of these practices, women during the Elizabethan era persisted in using these risky products. Queen Elizabeth's hair had completely fallen out by the time of her death.
In the Renaissance era, women frequently concealed their hair beneath caps and headdresses. They maintained a preference for elevated hairlines, resorting to the practice of plucking their hair to create the illusion of larger foreheads.
The iconic extravagant wigs of the Rococo period in Europe gained fame through Marie Antoinette, the famous French queen.
Despite their allure, these wigs were reputedly extremely unclean. They were crafted from genuine human hair, and maintaining their extravagant shapes required copious amounts of powders and pomades.
The wigs were worn daily and likely discarded on the bedroom floor after lively gatherings. They were infested with bugs and women had to use a special tool to alleviate itching on their scalps.
Jumping ahead to the 20th century, we come across the legendary bowl cut hairstyle. This awkward hairdo was typically worn by school boys, as their mothers used a bowl and kitchen scissors to trim their hair. In the 1960s, four boys from Liverpool brought this hairstyle into the spotlight, making it immensely popular.
The bowl cut was revolutionized by The Beatles. Their entry into the American music scene occurred when they performed on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964. Shortly after, boys all over the US started sporting this hairstyle.
The trend didn't end with The Beatles. Fast forward to 1971, when Jane Fonda made the heavy fringed cut famous with her arrest and subsequent mugshot. Fonda was wrongfully accused of drug smuggling after airport authorities discovered vitamins in her bag.
Several decades later, Justin Bieber revived the look once again. The reresemblance is uncanny...
Hair metal emerged as a music genre following the glam rock era, popularized by influential figures like David Bowie. The moniker is self-explanatory, drawing inspiration from the extravagant hairstyles that became synonymous with the genre.
Hair metal icons such as the Mötley Crüe boys used to spend an hour meticulously styling their hair into an extravagant mess before performances, drenching it with the most potent hairspray available.
Then there was the period when the notorious perm hairstyle was popular. The beloved Stevie Nicks can be seen here resembling a beautifully groomed poodle.
A perm is a hairstyle that creates long-lasting curls using heat and chemicals. It was invented by a German man in 1906. Interestingly, its popularity endured over the years, as demonstrated by Nicole Kidman sporting a perm in 1983.
Michael Bolton, in his youth, had a clear talent for experimenting with different hairstyles.
Bill Ray Cyrus is widely recognized as the mullet's reigning king.
Regrettably, women were also victims of this hair crime.
The '90s rolled in without mercy, evidenced by the trend of gelled frosted tips.
During the time of 'Lizzy McGuire' and 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch,' this hairstyle was extremely trendy.
The grunge and punk influences of the '90s seeped into mainstream culture and the outcomes were evidently unfavorable.
The 2000s witnessed the rise of emo culture in music and fashion.
The emo genre was like the mopey adolescent of the music world, with its characteristic long fringes that added to the brooding vibe.
The style, popularized by bands such as Panic! At The Disco and Paramore, had an impact on the social media history of every '90s kid.
Skrillex, the dubstep DJ, has been criticized for both his fashion and music style. The shaved side hairstyle gained popularity during the 2010s, and Skrillex dragged it on into the 2020s.
It can't be a coincidence...
Each generation inevitably cringes at their past fashion choices, and for a good reason! Our proudest moments often morph into the most cringe-worthy fashion faux pas as time passes.
Take a trip down memory lane with us and pay homage to some of the most regrettable hairstyles in history, ranging from ancient monks to '80s rock stars. Simply click through the gallery to begin your journey.
A tour through history's ugliest hairstyles
Did you rock one of these looks in your youth?
FASHION Hair
Each generation inevitably cringes at their past fashion choices, and for a good reason! Our proudest moments often morph into the most cringe-worthy fashion faux pas as time passes.
Take a trip down memory lane with us and pay homage to some of the most regrettable hairstyles in history, ranging from ancient monks to '80s rock stars. Simply click through the gallery to begin your journey.