More than the rising and falling of hemlines, hair has always been a marker of social change and progress. Haircuts are stepping stones through history - moments when the zeitgeist is perfectly captured by the snip of the scissors. They can be acts of rebellion, defiance and liberation, a way to make the personal political, an expression of your individual taste and affiliations.

Some haircuts reappear over the centuries - from the original quiff on Madame de Pompadour to Elvis's 20th century interpretation. And Joanna Lumley could barely pull off the awkward puddingbowl, so the Roundheads didn't stand a chance - especially when competing with the boingy-curled Cavaliers.

"We have ownership of our hair and yet we are subject to society's pressures and expectations, both in terms of fashion and what it means to be 'feminine'"

For women hair is a particularly potent symbol of freedom or repression, a battleground on which the issues of the day play out. In many cultures and different periods women's hair has been covered by bonnets, wigs, hats or scarves, such is its perceived power to distract or seduce. We have ownership of our hair and yet we are subject to society's pressures and expectations, both in terms of fashion and what it means to be 'feminine' - hence that inevitable thrill of controversy when a pretty young starlet shaves her head. It symbolises youth, health and wealth – why would you mess with that? To make a statement, obviously.

It's too early to tell whether there's a contemporary haircut that will be found to have changed history. The last time a haircut was a real influencer was back in the '90s with Jennifer Aniston's 'Rachel cut'. It's hard to imagine women up and down the land being so united in their desire for a single, specific look today.

We might sheepishly present our hairdresser with a tear from a magazine and ask for something 'a bit like Alexa's', but the woman in the chair next door could just as easily be getting a Miley undercut. The internet and constant access to such a huge range of imagery and inspiration may have ended the age of the influential, zeitgeist-defining haircut.

In a meantime, click thought the gallery to see the 25 haircuts that changed history.