Although the hairstyle itself may have existed before, it was the "French Twist" variation of the beehive that was popularized in the late 1950s. This was a more structured, sculpted version of the style, often achieved with hairspray, rollers, and teasing.
The Beehive hairstyle was seen as a symbol of the youth culture and rebellion of the time, and it remains a iconic style associated with the 1960s.