Hairstyles from the 1940s

Here's how to create a 1940s updo for yourself.  Brush your hair back and gather it into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Secure it with the hair elastic. Split the ponytail in two. Using a comb, tease each half. To do this, place the comb in the section of hair, about halfway down the length of the section, and then comb it back towards the elastic.  Take one section, twist it under, and secure with bobby pins. Do the same with the other side. If you want the sleek look of 1940s hair, smooth out stray hairs and spray in place.

1940s Hair: The Peek-a-Boo Bang

The style made famous by 1940s starlet Veronica Lake is the kind of 1940s hair that never goes out of fashion, and it’s super-stylish.  Wash hair and dry until it is barely damp.  Part your hair deep on one side.  This is important to get the peek-a-boo effect over one eye.

Using a 1-inch diameter curling iron, curl small sections of hair, beginning at the top. Each time, do not unwind the curling iron, but open it up slightly and slide the curl off the barrel. Then pin the curl in place with a bobby pin. After you’ve done all the curls and have them pinned in place, wait a few minutes for your hair to cool. When your hair is cool, remove the bobby pins. Use your fingertips to loosen the curls into waves. Because one side is parted so deeply, the other side will have hair that partly covers one eye. You can put a bobby pin in the wave over the eye so that you can see.  Otherwise, glance seductively out from your peek-a-boo bangs and charm everyone.

The 1940s may have been 60 years ago—but 1940s hair is timeless and ultra glamorous!

1940's Hairstyle — Top Reverse Roll

The top reverse roll was a popular style for 1940s hair.  It is similar to a 1940s pompadour hairstyle, but easier to create.

Here's how to recreate the top reverse roll.  Set hair in rollers with all rolls going away from the face.  Take rollers out, and make a part on each side of the head from front to back, and a third part across the back.  This will give you a rectangular patch of hair that you can hold straight up off the top of your head.  Brush this section forward and put pins on both sides of the section.  Roll loosely toward the back with the ends remaining inside the roll.  Pin roll in place crosswise with bobby pins.  Depending on your face shape, you may need to make the section of hair in the roll smaller or larger.  This is a style of 1940s hair that really shows off your face.

With practice, you can create 1940’s hairstyles with simple tools like curlers and bobby pins.  I’m going to give you a few "how to" tips for pin curls.  Pin curls are one of the most popular elements of 1940’s hairstyles.

 How to Tips for Pin Curls

Of all the 1940’s hairstyles, this is probably one of the most stylish.  Begin by washing hair the night before and letting it air dry until it is damp. To set your hair in pin curls, comb damp hair and part into small sections. You’re going to pin each curl with a standard bobby pin, so sections must be small. Wind each curl around your finger smoothly. Pin each curl in place with a bobby pin.

Gently tie a silk scarf around your hair before going to bed. Sleeping on pin curls will take some getting used to, but the results are worth it. In the morning, remove pins and gently finger comb your hair. If you use a hairbrush, don’t overdo it, or you’ll brush the curl out.  Letting pin curls fall loose from a side part was one of the sexiest 1940’s hairstyles. 

Creating a 1940s Pompadour Hairstyle

Sometimes associated with the 1950’s, the pompadour actually falls in the category of 1940’s hairstyles.  The pompadour hairstyle involves back combing, a technique that doesn’t take long too long to learn. 

Here's how to create a basic, 1940's pompadour hairstyle.  Choose a section near the front and top on the side of the head.  Hold it straight up.  Insert a comb about halfway between the roots and ends. Push the comb down towards the roots.  The comb will take hairs with it.  Do this a few times, until you’ve made a “cushion” at the bottom of that section of hair.  Repeat by back combing a section on the opposite side of the head from the first one.

Next, comb hair underneath the teased sections up and over the cushion of hair and pin in place. The hair from your front hairline should be combed up and off the forehead and pinned in place. You should have a nice “pouf” of hair at the crown. Of the many 1940’s hairstyles, pompadour hair has made a big comeback recently.

Victory Rolls Hairstyle

No discussion of 1940’s hairstyles would be complete without the victory roll hairstyle.  To create a victory roll, style hair in pin curls and remove pins as instructed above.  Part your hair as you usually do.  Section off hair behind each ear, and let the back hang normally.  On one side, brush the section of hair up high and straight out.  Spray with a little hairspray to keep ends in place.  Using fingers, curl the section upward so that it curls in on itself and the ends are in the innermost part of the roll.  Pin in place on top of the head using hair pins. You can make more than one roll on either side of the head if you want. When you have the rolls on one side done, repeat on the other side.

Creating 1940’s hairstyles takes practice, but they can be very flattering and glamorous—and they are never boring!

Retro hairstyles are hot right now—from 1940’s retro hairstyles like finger waves to modern versions of the 1960’s bouffant. These looks are pure glamour, and they are fun choices for everyday glamour, special occasions, weddings, and proms. You could even work a more extreme retro hairstyle, like Swiss Miss braids into a party costume.

The 1940’s retro hairstyles are glamorous and womanly, reminiscent of war brides looking their most beautiful to welcome home husbands from the war.  Hair in the 1940’s was done in the most elaborate ways. Some of the more classic styles included pin curls, perfectly placed finger waves, or a classic 1940's updo.  1940’s retro hairstyles required mastering a few techniques.  And, because of the lack of modern hair appliances like blow dryers, they also required patience.

Recreating 1940’s retro hairstyles is not as labor intensive today, because we have modern technology such as curling irons and personal hair dryers.  Getting that deep side parted Veronica Lake “peek-a-boo bang” style doesn’t require sleeping in curlers.  Creating 1940’s victory rolls or pompadours takes some practice—however, people will appreciate the effort you put into these retro hairstyles, because they look sexy and up-to-the-minute when paired with modern fashions.

Marilyn Monroe Vintage Retro Hairstyle

1950s star Marilyn Monroe often wore soft curls at an angle that framed her face.  This is one of the best vintage hairstyles for hair that is shoulder length or shorter. You can use medium sized foam rollers that you get at the drugstore, or you can use hot rollers.

 To set hair, apply mousse to hair that is not quite dry, then comb it into several sections. Roll sections of hair under, and roll the sections framing your face so that they’re angled toward your face rather than horizontal. Once hair is dry or the hot rollers have cooled, take rollers out. Using only your fingers, arrange the curls in front so that they frame your face. Once you get it just right, spray it in place with hairspray.  This glamorous look is one of the most popular vintage hairstyles, and for good reason.

The Beehive Hair – Beehive Hairstyles Revealed

Among vintage hairstyles of the 1960s, the beehive took hair to magnificent heights—literally.  It has been seen in the 80s on Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of the band B-52s (which itself is a style of beehive hairdo shaped like the nose cone of a plane), and more recently on British singer Amy Winehouse. This is a style that gets noticed—one of those vintage hairstyles that you need to save for a special occasion!

To recreate the beehive, work mousse through the roots of your hair, then set on hot rollers. When you remove the rollers, separate out your bangs, or if you don’t have bangs, the hair where bangs would be. Pin this aside. Starting with a section of hair crossing the top of the back of your head, bring hair up and towards the front of your head, secure it in place with styling gel and bobby pins.  Repeat this process one section at a time, bringing each new section up and over the last, which will build up layers of hair.  The more layers you have, the higher the beehive.

The front section can be styled however you like: pulled up over the beehive, across the forehead, or in bangs if you have them. Once you’re done, spray generously with hairspray. This is one of those vintage hairstyles you’ll want to get pictures of!

Combined with today’s fashions, vintage hairstyles create a fresh look with elements of the classic and modern.  Do you want to learn how to create vintage hairstyles?  Well, you're in good company.  We're going to look at some of the most popular 1940's vintage hairstyles…

Popular 1940’s Vintage Hairstyles

It would be hard to find more glamorous looks than 1940’s vintage hairstyles.  With pin curls and updos with side rolls, 1940’s vintage hairstyles were meant to be noticed.  Two popular 1940s vintage hairstyles are the pompadour for women, which pairs “big hair” in front with sleek hair in back, and the basic updo.  Both are glamorous styles for when you need to look chic and polished.

Another 1940’s vintage hairstyle is the basic pin curl set.  The old fashioned way to create pin curls is to wash hair at night, wait until it is almost dry, take small sections of hair and curl them around your fingers.  Then pin them in place with bobby pins.  When you wake up in the morning, take the pins out and comb hair with your fingers.

An updo can be worn high or low, sleek—as was the 1940’s style—or modern and more casual. This is a fun style to experiment with because it takes so little time. For this standard in vintage prom hairstyles, brush hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and divide the ponytail into two sections. Back comb one section to give it some volume, then pin the ends underneath the ponytail with bobby pins. Do the same with the other side. Add a little hairspray, and you have one of the vintage prom hairstyles that will never go out of fashion. Long, cascading waves, the look of the late 1970’s, is making a comeback as a newer option among vintage prom hairstyles. Flirty and feminine without being stiff, this look goes best with less form-fitting, easier-going prom dresses.

The classic Marilyn Monroe white halter dress is a timeless prom dress style, and a hairstyle like hers is easy to achieve if your hair is shoulder length or shorter. It’s a simple roller set, where you roll hair downward on hot rollers, with the ones closest to your face angled up. This will help the curls frame your face. Once you take the rollers out, you can put this style in place with your fingers, then spray it with hairspray and go. This is one of the easiest vintage prom hairstyles there is!

Vintage prom hairstyles can give you great ideas about how to achieve the look you want on prom night.  And even if you reject several 1940's vintage hairstyles before deciding on the right one, it’s awfully fun to experiment and try the looks!

Vintage prom hairstyles are hot this year…the curls and upsweeps of decades past are today's ultra feminine looks.  The curves of 1940's hair mirrors the feminine form, and vintage prom hairstyles go great with today’s hottest prom dresses.

If you’re planning on going to prom this year, you want your hair to look great, and you don’t want to have to fuss with it.  The first place you should look for inspiration is at 1940’s vintage prom hairstyles.  Women in the 1940’s were good at doing hair.  Fashionable clothes weren’t always readily available because of war rationing, so women of the 40's decade focused on making their hair into works of art.

Among 1940’s vintage prom hairstyles is the pompadour.  This style is swept away from the face, meaning you won’t have to worry about getting stray hairs in your lip gloss.  If you’re doing your hair yourself, you’ll need to learn how to back comb hair.

Lift a section of hair at the front straight up. Put a comb into the hair about halfway down its length. Then comb it back towards the scalp. If you do this over and over, you will create a little cushion of hair that has height at the crown.

Once you master this, the pompadour is easy.  Make a poof of hair front and center, pinning the ends so they stay in place.  Then take a section of hair from one side, sweep it up and over the pouf and pin in place.  Repeat on the other side, and you have curvy hair with volume that won’t fall in your face when you dance.  If your hair is long, you can pull the back into a sleek ponytail.