1950′s Hairstyles: “Colored People.”

I put colored people in quotations, only because I don’t care to be politically-correct.
If you’re white, you’re white, Asian’s are Asian and black people are black people. It’s not ignorance, that’s life. So suck it. I don’t need to be called Filipino-American. Fuck, I’m Asian, simple as that. I’ll only be politically-correct if I’m commenting on someone elses webpage, but until then, you’re in my house now!

Get it got it good.

Anyways…

On a page I follow on Tumblr, someone asked about how one of color would be able to get a pompadour. Lawdy Lawdy Miss Clawdy suggested that they could cut the hair to shape, and let the pompadour part grow out. Well, let’s get real specific with this one!

Since there weren’t hair straightening chemicals that you can go to the store and buy back in the 50s, so how else could black guys get their hair in a pompadour? Simply put, they just cut their hair into the shape of a pompadour. But it takes more than just cutting it into the shape. It needs to be combed and trained to stay in that shape, and of course, pomade is also used.

Don’t believe me?

Here’s a pic from Blackboard Jungle, showing a couple of the “kids of color” with a pompadour.

Kind of hard to tell at the angle, but it is indeed a pompadour. The hair in the front is longer than the rest of the hair. Therefore, it is a pompadour.

This picture shows Glenn Ford creepin up in the backround. As well as a better shot of the pompadour. See how it has that break? Yeah. Pomp’n.

While the pompadour is probably one of the most popular mens hairstyles from the 1950s-60s, it wasn’t the only one around for black males. Of course, there are the other hairstyles pictured above, but there’s another one amongst the rebelious ones…

And that hairstyle is…

A conk. What is it exactly? Imagine the underside of a conch shell, but on your head. Here are a couple of screen shots I took from Cry Baby. Though they are exaggerated, it shows off how the hairstyle is styled. So imagine that, but with a lower profile! Unless you like em big, that’s what she said.

Top View

Profile View

I think it’s a pretty cool hairstyle. A whole lot differen’t than a pompadour, but just as stylish.

To top it all off, here’s a little clip of a Teddy Boy quiff. A.K.A. A Conk…

Well there you have it, a couple more different hairstyles from the 1950s-60s. There are still a ton to cover. But there’s only one for me. A pompadour. But as long as you don’t go out looking like a slob, and have your hair styled up, that’s all that matters.

Fenders

This post has nothing to do with guitars or anything with cars.

A popular 1950s hairstyle is the Flattop with Fenders. Personally, this is not my thing. (Even though my barber DID offer to give me one! jokingly. I hope.) Charles Martin Smith aka Terry the Toad, would also agree. As he had to have his hair cut into a flattop with fenders, for American Graffiti. But for the lads of the 50s, this was cool.

The hair cut is pretty simple… A little buzz cut on the top, about a cm or so of hair brushed forward. The front of the hair, was slightly longer, so it would sort of “box” in the hair at the top of the head. Maybe an inch in length. The side aka “fenders,” were considerably longer than the rest. About 3 inches in length! You can only imagine how your hair must have looked, if you didn’t or forgot to style it for the day!

The fenders were usually slicked back and the top of the hair, brushed forward.

1955 Blackboard Jungle

Up close and personal. An unnamed student. Sort of looks like Terry the Toad, doesn’t he? Maybe that’s where George Lucas drew inspiration for the character. Still trying to identify the hairstyle, from the kid in the back, behind Glenn Ford.

Terry the Toad getting smooth with Debbie.

I’m pretty sure Charles Martin Smith wouldn’t mind having a flattop with fenders now!

Even though I personally prefer a pompadour, than any other 1950s hair style, the flattop with fenders still gets respect from me. Guys back then really cared about their image. And being up to date with the latest hairstyles, was a must. The flat top with fenders is just one of the many hairstyles of the youth in America in the 1950s.

But, does it have the longevity like the pompadour?

1950s Hairstyle.

I’m not too sure what this style is called. It’s similar to a flat top with fenders, except the top isn’t buzzed short, the sides are up combed, and the front is slightly pomp’d, but not quite.

Can anyone identify?

Here are some stills from Blackboard Jungle

Up combed

On the left, if my description wasn’t descriptive enough. Don’t forget to note that sweet D.A. on the right. WITHOUT a pomp! And of course, the “waterfall” from the guy in the middle.

Up combed

And a better profile view.

This is one movie I’ve seen it in, but I’ve seen a couple of other pictures. I should try and find those pics again.

If anyone can help identify the cut, that would be great!

Back to school…

There are a lot of movies about high school kids rebeling about everything, and teachers trying to make a difference. Everyone has watched Coach Carter and Dangerous Minds.
Blackboard Jungle is one movie that helped pave way for these types of movies.

When kids in gangs carried knives instead of guns! Shit, if only things were still this way…

I’m not gonna do a write up on this movie, but it’s definitely a flick you have to watch.

Plus, you can get a taste of how guys used to do their hair in the 50s… It wasn’t just slick backs and pompadours!

Blackboard Jungle

This movie has one of my favorite opening scenes.

Here’s a little preview of the movie.

If you see this dvd around, pick it up. You won’t be disappointed!

Plus, it’s the first movie to use Bill Haley and His Comets – Rock Around The Clock!