Hairstyle: more than just what meets the eye?

Hairstyles are a never-ending trend: from fashion magazines to endless hair products, the history of hair is, to say the least, not set in stone.

In the 1920s, hairstyles became a rising issue as traditional neat, long hair was abandoned. The rise of iconic ‘flapper girls’—carefree, spirited women that eschewed the traditional housewife life—brought vastly different hairstyles like bobs, shingles, and bangs. By the 1960s, styles like pixie cuts became popular, along with the comeback of straight hair worn by men. Current hairstyles are particularly diverse, with curls, bangs, pixies and poofs.

With so many styles to choose from, it can be difficult for Aragon students to follow trends. Instead, many choose to optimize their natural hair with products. Sophomore Olivia Tandowsky has naturally coiled tight curls. “I love my curls,” Tandowsky says. “I was born with really curly hair, so I use a lot of hair products to take out the frizz.”

Similarly, freshman Pierce Kelalta comes to school nearly every day with his hair gelled up either in the front sections or all over.

Although hairstyles are largely determined by the individual, peers may also influence one’s hair choices. Freshman Kelvin Yang started gelling his hair this past spring. “At the end of middle school, I just decided to come to school one morning with gel on my hair,” Yang says. “My friends said it looked good, so I kept gelling it ever since because I wanted to take on a different look.”

Some Aragon students wear their look for functionality, as opposed to choices made for fashion. Sophomore Jenna Constantino’s hair is naturally wavy. She says, “I haven’t made any changes to my hairstyle recently because I think my wavy hair is working for me. It’s easier to deal with. I don’t do anything to my hair, I just wear it the way it is.”

For others, hair might have more significance. Senior twins Rachel and Lauren Suarez got their hair cut together last month. “We got our hair chopped off,” says Lauren Suarez. “I chopped a foot of my hair. My sister cut at least 10 inches off hers.”

Both Rachel and Lauren Suarez have similar reasons for their change in hairstyle. “We wanted a change,” says Rachel Suarez. “I mean, I got sick of my hairstyle, and so did Lauren. I guess we wanted something different.”

“I wanted to mix things up, start out fresh for my last year here at Aragon,” says Lauren Suarez.

Because hair can be so intertwined with one’s individuality, changing hairstyles may reflect a new era in one’s life. Senior Megan McIver got her hair layered over the summer. “I guess one day you realize this is your last year,” she says. “I wanted this year to be different, to be new. I didn’t need to chop my hair off. I just wanted to have a fresh start and a fresh look with my layers.”

Junior Savanna Cyr dedicates significant amounts of time to hair. Cyr works at a hair salon in Crystal Springs. “I do my hair for about 45 minutes every morning, straightening it, toning it, or something else,” Cyr says. “I think hair can either make [one’s fashion and outfit] or break it in some cases.”

Cyr cut eight inches of her hair for her role in the Aragon fall musical, Chicago. “I definitely miss longer hair, but we miss what we can’t have, right?”

While some students style their hair solely for convenience or for looks, Cyr does both. “My hair means a lot to me; my hairstyle gives me another way to express my individuality,” Cyr says.