7 Ways To Put A Modern Spin On The Pageboy Haircut

While some hair styles are fresh and innovative, like this summer’s millennial pink hair trend, others come with plenty of history. There are vintage styles that take us back a few decades, like the classic ’60s hairstyles that are still being updated as we speak, and then there are those that take us back much further. The pageboy hairstyle is one such cut, and it actually dates back to ancient Egypt even though it was most commonly attributed to court pages 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 back in style just requires a few modern modifications, like opting for wavy bangs or adding face-framing layers.

“It’s a haircut that evolves over the years,” says Sanda Petrut, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, in an exclusive conversation with Glam. “You can see it in paintings during the Renaissance, then it became popular in the early 1900s among child actors. In the 1950s, it made a comeback, and in the 1960s it became popular again with Mick Jagger and The Beatles. During the 1976 Olympics, Dorothy Hamill wore it as her signature haircut.” There’s certainly a lot of history to go through, but it’s clear that the pageboy cut is highly versatile. What’s more, Petrut reveals that famed hairstylist Vidal Sassoon notably updated the style, keeping 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 whole new version of the pageboy cut based on one of the styles.

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 exclusively shares with Glam that the look is also “ideal” for wavy hair. Give it a modern twist with wavy bangs that serve as a change from the heavy, blunt silhouette. Bonus points: If you have naturally wavy hair, this means you’ll need to style it with less heat. Otherwise, you can curl your locks in a number of ways: braid them overnight, use a curling tool like the Farery Mini curling iron, or curl them with a flat 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 side part instead of bangs and adding some body so the hair curls in different directions, rather than just straight down. By taking away the geometric, blunt nature of the pageboy cut, this is the perfect way to introduce a carefree feel to an otherwise serious cut. Sanda Petrut told Glam exclusively that layers and thinning shears can create a softer texture, but you can also achieve this lighter feel by simply changing up the 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 be transformed.” Another interpretation is the 1940s and 1950s version of the pageboy: the pin-up pageboy or the Victory Pageboy rolls. This one requires longer hair that gives the impression of the original medieval style with curls. You can achieve this by curling the ends inward and then securing them with bobby pins. Oh, and the beauty of this variation is that you don’t need bangs! Chunky highlights are back in fashion, so you can make it modern by adding some streaks.

Add wispy bangs for a contemporary edge

If your pageboy cut has bangs, they’re usually heavy and straight. That’s why one of the easiest ways to give this look a modern twist is with wispy or feathered bangs. A typical pageboy cut has bangs cut above the eyebrows, so you can add another new dynamic by opting for bangs that fall all the way to your eyelids. As Sanda Petrut exclusively shares with Glam, “the bangs can be shorter or longer.” The beauty of longer bangs is that they can be styled with the on-trend curtain bangs and can be easily 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 a few in. In our exclusive chat, Sanda Petrut reveals that this cut is made more feminine by texturing these perimeters. This will take your pageboy hairstyle into layered cut territory, which is known for adding dimension to your look. You’ll still achieve the signature aesthetic with straight locks and inward-curling ends, but opting for some layers that also curl inward makes this look more Sabrina Carpenter and less Anna Wintour.

A shorter pageboy cut is the ultimate chic move

The classic pageboy may be shoulder-length, but we can make this look modern and fresh by cutting it into a bob. Don’t worry — you’ll still get the feel of the iconic cut thanks to the blunt, straight nature of your bob that still curls inward at the ends (a la a sleek French bob). The rough, curly edges of this style also make it a flattering bob for women in their 40s. While Sanda Petrut exclusively tells Glam that texturizing the cut will create more movement, there’s nothing like a sleek bob when you’re going for 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 have curls, you can flaunt them with an updated curly pageboy, as Sanda Petrut confirms in our exclusive chat that a “thick texture” is just fine. Sport the same cut, but simply skip the blow-drying and flat iron steps and let your curls add volume to a silhouette that’s known for being coarse 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 a flat iron or curling iron.