Hair bows have been worn since the 17th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries men and women used them with their wigs, with men tying their longer hair in the back with a bow.

When were hair bows popular?

By the 1800s it became common for male children to wear hair bows tying hair at the nape of the neck. Women throughout the 19th century wore hair ornaments and hats, but the hair bow only really achieved widespread popularity in the 20th century before the second world war.

When was the first hair bow made?

Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Sumerians and Aztecs all wore ribbons and hair adornments. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to a set of Sumerian hair ribbons made of gold dating back to 2600-2500 BC.