It’s now 2016 and that means I start to prepare for Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend in April. Now I by no means prepare like some ladies (and gents) I have met, who have been preparing since the day they walked off the Orleans property. I just start to think of what I might like to bring, what I’m missing to complete an outfit and what hairstyles I might try to practice before I hit hot and humid Vegas for a week. Then I get to Vegas and all of that goes out the window when I’m too tired, lazy or more interested in dancing and socializing then doing my hair and then you get “standard liz hair” in all my pictures (seen below).
THAT said, I did want to share a bunch of images I have been saving to my ‘Vintage Hairstyles‘ Pinterest board to help not only myself but anyone else who might be looking for vintage styles as well. Lets check out what I have found.
APRIL 2024 Update: Make sure you check out my detailed posts (and more real life hairstyle inspiration) on ‘A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories’ & Vintage Hair Tools: Hairstyle Books 1940s & 1950s
1940s & 1950s Vintage Hairstyles
Blog Post of Vintage Hair Inspiration
Let’s start off with ME! 2024 me and my vintage hairstyle journey. Back in 2016 I would never of been able to to do two victory rolls that actually look good and now here I am! This look is super for a swing dance, 1940s event, pinup contest or going to the grocery store. ha!
Big Pincurls and a Side Bun. You know what I love about this look, is that the instead of trying to hide the bobby pins inside the curl (which is so difficult for me sometimes), by simply using pretty decorative hair pins you can secure it like the image below and it looks stunning.
Note: While buns were not a 1940s / 50s look it is fun that one era is meshed with another era to create a new vintage hairstyle.
Victory roll updo. I can do the bottom part no problem. The Victory Rolls…not so much but it sure is pretty and totally doable (from what I have been told lol).
Cute Alert! And maybe possibly not that hard to do, it looks like a Faux Bob.
Ponytail..check with cute rolls. Awesome! But I really need to practice because I really really adore this look and it would be perfect for VIVA.
This is a great image because it shows you exactly where you need to place the clips in order to have that great 1950s hair that glamour icons like Dita Von Teese rocks.
I love 1940s hair and this one is just fantastic.
This style seems pretty quick and easy after you have done all the hard work with a set.
I will be honest, I have no idea how to do this style but this image is so striking and the hair so beautiful that it just had to make this roundup.
I wanted to tryout this complete look before VIVA last year but it never happened, maybe this is the year.
And if it all fails and you just can’t keep going on with whatever your hair has done then a turban is always a good way to go.
Want more inspiration? Check out my blog post that I did on 2 American Hairdressing magazines I had picked up from the late 1940s. Lots of great stuff in there.
FURTHER READING:
- Take a look at my ‘Women’s Vintage Hairstyle‘ archive HERE
- I did a detailed blog post on “1940s Women’s Hair Accessories” HERE
- Vintage Hair Tools: Hairstyle Books 1940s & 1950s
Question time! Did you like to experiment with hairstyles or do you find yourself falling into the “same old same old” look because it’s tried and true?
Liz 🙂
Lucille Ball wore her hair like the red headed lady in the blue sweater. I fall into the same old same old because it’s expedient.
yes she did and that is exactly what drew me to the image! I agree about the expedient part, so My new years resolution is going to be to try and break out of that habit but I’m not keeping my fingers cross lol!!
I love the one with the ponytail, that’s so cute but it would never work in my hair. The front roll looks like it would need a whole load of backcombing which literally falls out the minute I touch it no matter how much I do. However, I think this would really suit you, especially with your lovely blonde locks.
The ponytail one is so adorable I so agree! And thank you for being so kind and thinking it would look lovely on me, I just might give it a try and I will let you know 🙂 I do like that us vintage gals have gotten a good feel on what our hair can and cannot do and you know exactly what it cannot do and you work from there. I know that if I don’t do a good strong set that I can kiss everyone of those looks bye bye. The fundamentals are important to get right, just like you mentioned about backcombing. Off to practice I go….
Thanks for stopping by!
I can’t narrow it down to one. They are all fantastic! Your hair always looks fabulous.
Ahhh thanks Kerbey 🙂 It is hard to narrow down I agree and I have so many more on Pinterest!
your ideas are really cute! I love the victory roll with the flower. Im not at all good with hair so I just have a bob
Thanks! Your bob suits you so very well though, and you have great hat options with that style (and suits your outfits so well).
Such powerfully gorgeous hairstyles. I really like the side bun + bobby number, too. Buns, so common in recent years (and some of the decades between then and now) weren’t a mainstay of the younger crowd in those decades, so seeing them sported in a vintage outfit context is quite refreshing and really, really pretty to boot.
♥ Jessica
I so agree with you on the vintage twist of using a more modern bun with a vintage look. Sometimes shaking it up is fun!
Love the vintage. As a MUA, I do vintage makeup whenever the opportunity arises. Been a fan of days gone by for a long time. Great work, keep it up and thank you for your blog!
Vintage makeup is not my strong suit, I keep it simple..like my hair lol! Yay for being fans of days gone by and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Liz
Lovely and inspiring! I am hairstyle-challenged and although it is something I want to learn, I don’t think it will be happening soon, sadly. A bob was definitely a good way around it, and I’m finding that bangs are good too, although I need to work on the rest of the hair now that it is longer. I mostly wear it in plaits, but I’d like to get a bit of wave or curl into it. You always seem to have lovely hair, even the “low effort” versions. And I agree that turbans or scarves are lifesavers, or a truckload of clips and flowers!
I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only person “vintage hair challenged”, makes me feel better to know I’m not alone 🙂 I guess the only tip for us, is to just keep on trying Tanith and one day we will master some of these looks! And yes to the hair flowers…I have lots of those to save the day.
thanks for the lovely Compliment 🙂
Liz
What a lovely selection of hair styles. I do wish I was better at doing my hair, I find it really tricky but also I know I need to practise more rather than just hope I can do it an hour before going out. Maybe I should just concentrate on one vintage do this year until I get it perfect!
I’m the same way! oh look I have an hour till I have to leave..plenty of time. But it’s never enough time lol! I hear ya 🙂
I think that is a great idea about focusing in on one look and perfecting it, I might try that as well. Thanks for the idea!
Liz 🙂
I hope you will include 1960s also. Girls look so pretty wearing vintage looks. Thanks.
Maybe in another blog post in the future for sure (I just shared what I used for inspiration at the time, which was many moons ago lol).
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz
What about the 70’s? 🙂 I really loved the victory roll hairstyle!
I don’t focus on the 70s at all on my blog. Sorry it’s just not my favorite era (even though I was born in 77 lol!). I stop at mid 60’s for the most part. Pinterest has lots of 70s hairstyles if you are looking for inspiration.
Happy searching!
Liz
I just finished reading your blog post on 1940s and 1950s hairstyles, and I absolutely loved it! The ideas you presented were so inspiring. I’ve been wanting to try Modest fashion for a while now. Do you have any recommendations for hair products that would be well-suited for recreating these styles? I’ve heard of a brand called Mallshark that offers a wide range of products at affordable prices. Have you ever tried them?.
I would make sure you have a good hair brush – boar bristle grooming brush for brushing out curls.
Good hair pomade for smoothing down curls (I use Layrite).
Of course hair rollers to make the curls.
Setting lotion for hair to keep the curls lasting a long time. I make my own from a vintage recipe but you could try Lottabody
Watch lots of vintage hair tutorials to understand the process.
Good luck!
Liz