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7 Ways To Put A Modern Spin On The Pageboy Haircut

While some hair looks are fresh and innovative, like the this summer's millennial pink hair trend, others come with a lot of history. There are those vintage styles that take us back a few decades, such as the classic 1960s hairdos that are still getting modern updates as we speak, and then there are those that take us back much further. The pageboy 'do is one such cut, and it actually dates all the way back to ancient Egypt despite being most commonly attributed to court page boys in the medieval era. This style may have been worn by attendants waiting on knights and nobility, but that doesn't mean you can't rock it in 2024. Making this iconic cut stylish again just requires a few modern alterations, like going for wavy bangs or adding face-framing layers. 

"It is a haircut that evolves over the years," Sanda Petrut, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says in an exclusive conversation with Glam. "It can be seen in paintings during the Renaissance then it became popular in early 1900 amongst child actors. In 1950, it resurfaced and in 1960 was again popular with Mick Jagger and The Beatles. During the 1976 Olympics, Dorothy Hamill wore it as her signature haircut." There certainly is a lot of history to live up to, but clearly, the pageboy cut is nothing if not versatile. What's more, Petrut reveals that the late renowned hairstylist Vidal Sassoon notably updated the look, keeping up the cut's "geometric and organic shapes" while accentuating facial features. You're free to follow in Sassoon's footsteps, or you can ask your stylist to create a completely fresh version of the pageboy cut based on one of the styles below.

Give life to a retro cut with some waves

The traditional pageboy cut features a blunt, straight style that tends to fall below the ears and tuck inward. However, Sanda Petrut shares exclusively with Glam that the look is also "ideal" for wavy hair. Give it some modern edge with wavy bangs that serve as a departure from the heavy, blunt silhouette. Bonus points: If you have naturally wavy hair, this means less heat styling for you. Otherwise, you can wave your locks in numerous ways: Braid them overnight, use a wave tool like the Farery Mini Hair Crimper, or curl them with an iron and then brush them out.

Flip over your pageboy cut for a chilled aesthetic

You can completely transform the traditional pageboy cut by opting for a flipped-over side part rather than bangs and adding some body so the hair curls over in different directions, rather than just curling under. Taking away from the blunt, geometric nature of the pageboy, this is the perfect way to introduce a carefree feel to a serious cut. Sanda Petrut tells Glam exclusively that layers and thinning shears can create a softer texture, but you could also achieve this lighter feel by simply changing up your part and adding some body.

Pageboy, meet victory rolls

Unfortunately, many people associate the pageboy cut with Lord Farquaad from "Shrek." But as Sanda Petrut tells Glam exclusively, this is definitely "a haircut that can morph." Another interpretation is the 1940s and '50s version of the pageboy: the pageboy pinup or pageboy victory rolls. This one requires longer hair that gives the impression of the original medieval style with curling. You can achieve this by curling your ends inward and then securing them with pins. Oh, and the beauty of this variation is you don't need bangs! Chunky highlights are popular again, so you could make it modern by adding some streaks.

Add wispy bangs for a contemporary edge

If there are bangs on a pageboy cut, they're usually heavy and blunt. So, one of the simplest ways to give this look a modern edge is with wispy or feathery bangs. A typical pageboy cut features bangs that are cropped above the eyebrows, so you can add yet another new dynamic by going for a fringe that falls all the way to your eyelids. As Sanda Petrut shares exclusively with Glam, "The bangs can be shorter or longer." The beauty of longer bangs is they can be adapted to the ultra-trendy curtain bangs, which can easily be styled with a flat iron.

Bring the pageboy into modernity with face-framing layers

Face-framing layers aren't typically associated with a bold pageboy cut, but you can give this cut a more contemporary (and softer!) vibe by having your stylist cut some in. In our exclusive chat, Sanda Petrut reveals that this cut becomes more feminine via texturizing these perimeters. This will bring your pageboy 'do into step-haircut territory, which is known for adding dimension to your look. You'll still achieve the signature aesthetic with straight locks and curled-under ends, but going for some layers that also curl in makes this look more Sabrina Carpenter and less Anna Wintour.

A shorter pageboy cut is the ultimate chic move

The classic pageboy can reach all the way to the shoulders, but we can make this look modern and fresh by cropping it into a bob. Don't worry: You'll still have the feel of the iconic cut thanks to the straight, blunt nature of your bob that still curls inward at the ends (in the style of a chic French bob). The harsh, curled edges of this style also make it a flattering bob for women in their 40s. While Sanda Petrut explains exclusively to Glam that texturizing the cut will create more movement, there's nothing like a slick bob when you're after a runway moment.

Curly pageboys have more fun

Trends come and go, but modern style is permanently moving toward celebrating our natural beauty. If you've got curls, you can flaunt them with an updated curly pageboy, as Sanda Petrut confirms in our exclusive chat that a "chunky texture" is A-okay. Rock the same cut, but simply leave out the blow-drying and flat-ironing steps and let your curls volumize a silhouette that's known for being harsh and heavy. If you don't have natural curls but love this look, it's time to learn once and for all how to curl your hair, which you can do with either a straightener or a curling iron.