According to the provided information, hair barrettes, as we know them today, saw the creation of many different kinds primarily in the 20th century.
Barrettes: A 20th-Century Development
The significant development and creation of numerous distinct types of hair barrettes are noted as occurring within the 20th century. This suggests that the modern barrette is a relatively recent invention in the long history of hair adornment and management.
Hair Accessories Before Barrettes
Before the 20th century and the rise of the diverse barrette forms, women predominantly utilized other types of hair accessories. These predecessors served similar functions of styling, holding, and decorating hair and have a much longer history.
Examples of hair accessories used before the 20th century include:
- Side combs
- Ponytail elastics
- Hairpins
Many of these hair accessories, such as hairpins and similar pieces, have a history that dates back thousands of years, with some forms being inherited from as early as 10,000 BC. This contrasts sharply with the 20th-century emergence of the wide variety of hair barrettes.
Based on the provided reference, the history of hair barrettes is characterized by their main development occurring in the 20th century, setting them apart from older, long-established hair accessory types.