Retro Hair

In makeup school we were taught how to do makeup that was characteristic of the past decades, starting from the 1920's up to the 80's. When I looked back at the photos I took for documentation I think I did a pretty decent job with the makeup but felt that it would have been much better if my models had true-to-decade hairstyles and props. Hehe, that's just me being OC. I really hope to do an "eras of makeup" photoshoot someday, complete with period hair and outfit. That might turn out a bit costume-y but, who cares, it's just for fun =)

Anyway, I found the perfect excuse to play around and experiment when an old friend asked me about 1950's hairstyles. That started a net-surfing frenzy! I love history so it was fascinating to read about background events in the 40's and 50's (mainly World War II) and how these events affected fashion, hair, and makeup. 

Not only did I learn a few techniques to add to my very limited hairstyling repertoire, but I also learned that "kirby grips" are nothing but hair pins, "victory rolls" have nothing to do with bread, "bumper bangs" have nothing to do with cars, and "hair rats" have nothing to do with rodents!  See, you learn something new everyday!

I went through A LOT of youtube hair tutorials  but here are a few that I found fairly easy to follow:

Faux bumper bangs using a hair rat

Bumper bangs without a hair rat (teased)

Real bangs and Victory Rolls

Victory Roll updo

Victory Roll:  "This quintessential 1940s hairstyle was (apparently) named after the manoeuvres performed by victorious planes at the end of World War II" (diaryofavintagegirl.com)

Had to stop myself after this since I had to do more "productive" but less enjoyable things.   Next on my list is the 1920's finger wave... and I'd really like to recreate my grandma's wedding hair =) 

Hmm, I wonder how they used to set hair without hairspray?  Beer?  Eggs?  =)

xoxo,
Makeup Doc