About Beehive Hairdos

Whether you're looking for some extra height, extra volume or you just have a deep penchant for huge hair, the beehive is the perfect style for you. From Marge Simpson to Amy Winehouse, the beehive hairdo is bound to get you noticed. Everyone from the most ludicrously wealthy aristocrats to the rebellious teenager has tried this hairstyle or its predecessor.

History

With the rise in popularity of wigs in the late seventeenth century, it became a definition of wealth to make the wig as voluminous and excessive as possible, since the constructing materials were so expensive. This practice grew so out of control that by the late eighteenth century, it was popular for wigs to be several feet in height and have ludicrous focal points within them, like castles, boats or other spectacles. This practice was cast out with the rise of puritanical beliefs, and big hair did not make a comeback until the twentieth century, first with the bouffant and then with the beehive in the 1950s. The only defined high-volume style to follow this was the afro in the 1970s; otherwise, the practice of "big hair" styles is still popular in association with country and southwestern culture.

Significance

Culturally, the beehive still retains the rebellious significance it had in the 1950s and the 1960s, particularly because it is an unpopular hairstyle. Amy Winehouse, a popular singer, induced much curiosity (and part of her fame could be attributed to her atypical style) by sporting massively teased and hairsprayed beehives. She blends this with clothing to create a pinup-punk sort of style, bridging the rebellious culture of more than 50 years ago with today's rebellious culture.

Identification

A beehive is a hairstyle for which the hair has been backcombed (teased) and hairsprayed to achieve intense height. Gels, mousses and hair drying can also be used to achieve the volume desired. It's often very tangled and appears very messy, but it can be done with smooth elegance, as worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Warning

Because of the teasing, which essentially involves ripping and snarling the strand of the hair intentionally, and excessive use of hairspray, beehives are actually exceptionally damaging to your hair. Especially considering that a premium is placed on shiny, healthy hair in the twenty-first century, this is something that must be considered before choosing to have this style of hair.

Considerations

Especially considering the damaging effects of beehives (see Warning), it is a wise decision to fake the height and tease of the beehive by inserting lightweight materials into your hair to wrap the hair around. For example, many of the hairstyles for the movie "Hairspray" with Zac Efron were achieved by wrapping hair around socks rather than teasing. Other preferable materials include mesh products like hairstyling "donuts" or other light, porous materials that support hair without weight and easily accept bobby pins.