56 indie stylist Volume 2 Issue 2
the throwback
Viva Italia!
The Italian cut of the early 1950s was
short, sassy, and oh so glam
by Mary Barthelme Abel
The decade of the 1950s is arguably one of the most well-known
decades for glamorous hairstyles. Many popular cuts were short, making
pixies and short curls all the rage. Enter the Italian cut. Made famous by
Italian actresses Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, the cut made its way
to Hollywood, quickly copied by American movie stars Elizabeth Taylor and
Audrey Hepburn.
Short yet feminine, the messy, tousled look did wonders for women with thick, curly hair
that must have been fairly unmanageable, considering the lack of our modern taming products.
Natural curls added lots of volume, while short, "baby" bangs kept things clean around the face.
The cut also allowed for customization according to a woman's hair texture and face shape.
The July 1953 issue of Life magazine described the cut as "shaggy but structured, with
deep waves on the crown, spit curls framing the forehead and cheeks, and a carefully
ragged nape." We describe it as just as sexy and versatile as it was 68 years ago.
