A pageboy hairstyle is a haircut which is designed for straight, medium to short length hair. In a pageboy, the hair is cut to just below the ear, where it curls under; in a reverse pageboy, the hair is curled outwards. The hairstyle is often accompanied with bangs as well, although this is not required. Many hairstylists are capable of making a pageboy and explaining how it should be maintained, and this look suits a wide variety of face and body types.
The pageboy hairstyle was developed and popularized in the 1950s, and it is named for the hairstyles worn historically by English pageboys. Several major film actresses sported pageboys, quickly catapulting the hairstyle into the popular imagination, and many fashionable women adopted it. A well cut pageboy is relatively easy to maintain, and in the 1950s it was an edgy, stylish look which appealed to many women.
As with any hairstyle, it is possible to find variations on the pageboy, some of which stray far from the original hairstyle. For a softer look, some stylists lightly curl the hair in a pageboy, creating a wavy hairstyle; people with naturally wavy hair can also have it cut in a pageboy. Other stylists have created more structural pageboys, with spiky layers of hair rather than the classic straight, flat hairdo associated with the pageboy.
The look of a pageboy hairstyle can frame and set off the face very well, especially if a light amount of makeup is used to bring out the features of the wearer. Pageboys are typically seen on women, although men can sport versions of the style as well; several actors have received pageboys for film work, making the hairstyle more acceptable for men. The use of an anti-frizz compound is recommended with a pageboy hairstyle, to keep it smooth and glossy.
Anyone considering a pageboy hairstyle may want to consider searching for an image of the exact hairstyle you want. Although the pageboy is a very basic hairstyle, there are variations on it, and it is important to be clear about the exact look desired. Many hairdressers also have style books, which allow their clients to point to a particular model and request his or her hairstyle. Communication is crucial, especially if a person is cutting off a significant portion of his or her hair to create a pageboy look.