In the early 50s most boys had crewcuts or "flat-tops." In the mid-fifties, "Rock Around the Clock" time, they let the sides and back grow and brushed hair on sides back, going straight down in the back where the sides met. Hard to explain. It was called "duck tails". The "hot" colors were pink and navy blue--together. I gave my dad pink socks for Christmas--to wear with his navy suit. When I complained that he had not worn them, he pointed out to me when he did. He had taken off his cowboy boots to show me he was wearing his pink socks.
Take a look at High School photos from back then. From 1950 until about 1955 most boys had longer pompadour type haircuts. From about 1956 on, the hair became much shorter...crewcuts and flattops were prevalent among the jocks. The haircuts you mention were worn primarily by the "hoods" but the jocks and the other boys mostly had crewcuts or flattops from about 1956 on.