Teenage hairstyles

Ah the Mowhawk – synonymous with punk the first time around, and later with numerous punk subgenres such as ska and hardcore. Unfortunately for the wearer, where once the haircut used to scream 'anarchy!', Jedward's quasi-Mohawk has had the devastating effect of rendering all such haircuts merely 'silly'
Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Teenage Mods in a cafe in 1966
The classic mod haircut would never get you chucked out of school - the subculture's idea of rebellion was way too sophisticated for that
Photograph: David McEnery/Rex Features

Now this is more like – a definite contender for a brief period of banishment from school. It's clever though – lose the pony tail and teachers will be none the wiser ...
Photograph: Getty Images

In the good old days all wannabe eco warriors were channelling the 'Swampy' look. These days, however, they seem to look more and more like George Monbiot – not that 'benevolent academic' is a bad style per se. But you know what I mean
Photograph: John Powell /Rex Features

A teenage girl undergoes an elaborate backcombed hairstyle
Photograph: Getty Images

Now this is how to carry off blaxploitation chic – it's just right on so many levels
Photograph: Gunnar Larsen/Rex Features

A Teddyboy gets the attention his hair rightly deserves
Photograph: Paul Schutzer/Getty Images/Time & Life Picture

Booorriiiing. The TV show Skins is supposed to be an insight into the underbelly of 'real' teenage lives. But really it's about a bunch of self-obsessed poshos and their lame barnets
Photograph: Richard Saker/PR

So who looks more fun to hang out with? The bunch of future Tory-voting City workers in the previous picture – or this group of mischief-seeking young London punks in the 70s? Thought so
Photograph: Janine Wiedel /Alamy

A group of new romantics at the infamous Blitz Club in Covent Garden in 1980. The guy on the far left looks about 12, yet he's riffing on Sammy Davis circa the ratpack years. Amazing. The hair? Juniors do Spandeau
Photograph: Homer Sykes/Getty

The 60s had the mods and rockers; the 70s had the punks; 80s had the new romantics; and the 90s had grunge. Meanwhile, in the noughties we had (and my goodness do we still have) emo - which has created an army of social networking-obsessed teenage boys who inexplicably model their hair on Delia Smith circa 1987
Photograph: Martin Godwin

Teenage skinheads in the 70s
Photograph: Feri Lukas/Rex Features

Lots of teenagers today are seemingly obsessed with wearing their hoods up the whole time – which is possibly why you see fewer and fewer teens sporting pleasingly elaborate hairdos. After all, when your hair's covered the whole time, what's the point in making an effort?
Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

And it's not only hoodies – it's all these flaming hat-wearing pop stars. Popular beat combo N-Dubz are just one of many guilty parties
Photograph: Andy Sheppard/Getty