Another important ingredient of the garçonne look was a short, boyish haircut. Women lopped off the poufy Gibson Girl hairdos of the '00s and '10s for modern 'bobbed," waved or shingled styles. Bobbing one's hair was a symbol of freedom. Women claimed the right's of men. No longer would they have to bind their hair back and control it. Short was daring and sexy and created a whole new attitude that went far beyond a hairstyle. First introduced during and just after World War I and popularized by Irene Castle (amongst others), bobbed hair created a sensation. For many in the late 20th and early 21st century, the late 1920s actress Louise Brooks is felt to epitomize the look (although it had been in the popular consciousness for almost a decade before she became known).
The impact of bobbed hair and all it was felt to represent was enormous. The popular media of the time is filled with jokes, stories, cartoons, songs, theatrical skits, newspaper articles, and short movies, about bobbed hair.
Those stragglers who chose not to cut their hair, wore it pulled back at the nape of the neck and knotted in a chignon. For evening, headbands or Spanish-style hair combs held chignons in place.