The History of the Curtains
- Evgenii Solod
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Ancient Roots
Hairstyles resembling curtains go back as far as the Baiyue tribes of ancient Southern China and Vietnam (1st millennium BCE), where men shaved sides but left long frontal locks falling like drapes.
The logic was the same: frame the face, leave length up top, keep the sides clear.
Early 20th Century
By the early 1900s, the style evolved into a variant of the long undercut with a defined parting. Youths in Western cities often wore longer tops with cleanly divided sides.
Golden Age — 1980s & 1990s
Curtains exploded in the late 80s and 90s: a middle-part fringe falling symmetrically to each side of the forehead.
It became the look of grunge, pop idols, and Hollywood heartthrobs.
Think Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, River Phoenix, and every boy band from NSYNC to Backstreet Boys.
For an entire generation, curtains were shorthand for rebellion softened with charm.
Modern Comeback
Today, curtains are alive again, riding the wave of K-pop, TikTok, and Korean fashion.
Modern versions blend fades, texture, and even color into the classic drape. The style now balances vintage nostalgia with futuristic precision.
From the Barber’s Chair — Curtains
If you don’t like wearing sunglasses but still want shade from the sun — curtains are your choice.
Curtains are about framing the face. They draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones while giving you freedom up top. It’s a style that’s casual, slightly rebellious, but still sharp enough to walk into a casting audition.
For me, curtains are timeless: in the 90s they made Leonardo DiCaprio a teenage god, today they crown K-pop idols. The silhouette hasn’t changed — but the vibe adapts to every era.
When I cut curtains for you, we decide on length, sharpness of the part, and whether you want a clean fade on the sides or keep it natural. They can be sleek with pomade, messy with texture, or even combined with color.
Curtains don’t hide you — they frame you.
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