Vintage 1940's Hairstyles - Womens Hair Safety in the Second World War.
As women took to the factory and to the plough and tractor during the war years - hairstyles - by necessity were tied up in scarves or Turbans, cut to shorter lengths or pinned up in the many and various rolls known as Victory Hairstyles .What became known as the Rosie the Riveter look, was daily wear for both Factory girls and the famous Land Girls.
Whilst Dresses and Femininity were still emphasised in the fashion magazines , every womans wardrobe had trousers and a good stout pair of boots. 'Rosies' still wore makeup though,and kept those eyebrows manicured,and went nowhere without some emergency Lippy!
The following safety consious ' Victory' Hairstyles were hugely popular.
1.The Vingle - [ consisting of four partings, forming V shapes ].
2.The Victory Roll -A woman parted her hair to suit her face shape the best [ either a centre part, side part or extreme side part !]. Then she rolled her hair up over foam Hair Rats - which were made from rolled up shed hair [ yes it sounds yickh but it worked ! ]. Then she positioned to her taste and secured with Bobby Pins. Et Voila !
3.The Turban equalised people of all means and social backgrounds. Starting as a simple safety precaution to prevent hair entangling in machinery at the factory or in the farm, the usual resourcefulness of the female sex quickly turned it into a fashion accessory, in much the same way that Turbans and Headscarves do for women who undergo chemotherapy these days.
Check out Lauren Rennells tutorial on how to wear a Turban
These Hairstyles are becoming popular again thanks to the growing vintage fashion and hairstyle enthusiasts like Lisa Freemont.She really is amazing.
Also the aforementioned Bobby Pin Blog author Lauren Rennell [ who also penned the well known Vintage Hairstyling
- see below at Amazon] .Another must have resource are these beautiful 1940's Make-up and Beauty guides.
Finally - kick off the shoes and enjoy both of these vintage hairstyle films from the archive featuring Women's Victory ! Hairstyles from the Second World War !
I wondered how they did those rolls!
ReplyDeleteVery informative article! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteLove the hair, always have, but I'm no good with doing my own... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI wish you a happy and blessed Easter! xx Gypsy Purple
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting that the war even affected womens HAIRSTYLES!
ReplyDeleteHi! I just LOVE your blog and wanted to share an award with you. You're invited to my blog to come and take it!
ReplyDeleteLove these hair styles! I just saw an exhibit of 1940's fashion and hair, In the Mood, at PhxArt it's a must see you if are an avid lover of that time period.
ReplyDeleteI am still stunned when people reference my work on their blogs...especially when they are as educated as yourself. Thanks SO much!
ReplyDeleteI've been searching and searching for a very long time for a site lik this with hairstyles and glamour from this time period. Just what I have been looking for. I'll be using this site often. When you don't want it anymore i'll take it. ~Lady Limited~.
ReplyDeleteLooking at old movies made me wonder if they were ever wearing a very intricately designed lace wig. Such as the one in the video, I was taken by the simplicity of the style, and pretty much the way that it accentuates the shape of a woman's face. It's slightly similar to motown tress wigs when in terms of length, but the style of tying says original all in all.
ReplyDeleteWow very informative, I was always wondering as to how women look during the war especially because most of them worked in factories as most of the men are fighting the war. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeletelove it!
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