1950s Hair Dos - Pin Curls: The Front

In my first post on 1950s pin curls, pinning the sides was covered. Now it's time to look at pinning the front hair. According to the experts, the height of the hair in front will flatter different-shaped faces. The illustrations start with an image of pin curls set for no added height (figure 531). Each successive image illustrates more height than the preceding image, with figure 535 illustrating extreme height and side wave. So how high do you want to go? ;) Note the direction of the pin curls is not always the same from image to image.

 

 

Home Economics Class in the 1950s - Hair & Beauty

Enjoy these pictures from the chapter on "Grooming" in a book on clothing for high school girls.

These girls enjoy brushing their hair at high school.

These high school girls are experimenting on each others' hair.

Notice the shapes on the blackboard. These assist in determining the best hair style for the shape of your face. (The aprons hanging on the wall are a nice touch! ;)

Applying hair cream provides luster and holds hair in place.

1950s Hair Dos - Pin Curls: The Side

Would you like a 1950s hair style to go with your fabulous 50s dresses? Perhaps you would like something like this:

The following diagrams from a 1950s high school home economics textbook illustrate how you should pin the curls to achieve the desired side effects, from close to the head to fluffy fullness!

Note the direction of each row of curls. Also note the reference to the stem of the curl. There are three parts to a pin curl: base, stem, and circle. The base is the stationary part, attached to the scalp. The stem is the section of hair between the base and the first arc of the circle, giving the hair its direction and movement. The circle is, of course, the part that forms a full circle. The size of the circle determines the width of the resulting wave and its strength. Here are some guidelines:

• Start with clean, wet hair.
• Divide the sections of hair for each curl as equally as possible.
• Each circle should be flat and smooth on its base.
• The direction in which a curl and stem is placed determines the finished style.

So arm yourself with a box of bobby pins or clippies, a comb or brush, gel (to help your hair hold the curl longer), end papers if you have them, and experiment with these variations. Have fun! Definitely research pin curls on YouTube, or just on the internet generally, for further guidelines and tips.

And just fyi, I don't claim to be an expert on pin curls. I simply lived through 1950s and 1960s when their use was the mode of the day. As a small girl, my mother would curl my hair with rags (whole different topic!), then as I got older, with bobby pins to create pin curls. And by the time I was in high school, curlers were all the rage! ;)

1949 Short Hair-Dos - It's a Sweep!

If you ever want to wear your hair so it matches your late 40s wardrobe, here are 4 wonderful styles from 1949! Each image illustrates a different style for short hair, designed by Guillaume of Paris and featured in the March 1949 edition of McCall's Magazine. Guillaume of Paris "has dressed the hair of smart women here and abroad", the article states.

This swirled bang hair-do is combed down from the crown, then sides are brushed up for a heart-shaped frame.

Elfin curls for a casual style. Hair is combed back, waved across the forehead from ear-to-ear. Very short back ends are brushed straight up to crown.

A side part starts this hair-do. Brush sleek waves behind ears, then roll ends back and under. Comb back hair forward to meet side sections and tuck ends in.

A triangle cut, with back hair cut in layers to form a point at nape of neck. Sides continuing V-line are brushed forward, end in a front halo.

The article does a fine job describing how to comb the hair, and includes some details about how the hair is cut. But I only wish there were more information about how to get those fabulous waves! Did they use a curling iron? I know they existed in that era, because I have my mother's from the 1940s. :) Did they use rags or pins to tie the hair into curls? Sigh. I guess it will take some research. But in the meantime, enjoy these cute 'dos!