Not many things make me feel better about myself than a fabulous new hairstyle. The way we wear our hair is a powerful way to express our personal style. I am prone to hiding behind my hair, but when I sweep it up into an updo, I feel taller and somehow more confident.
Vintage hairstyles may hark from decades or even centuries before, but they seem to remain timeless. They can be smart, sassy, or romantic, and they are always fashion-forward. Here are some of my favorite glamorous vintage hairstyles, inspired by starlets from the first half of the 20th century.
The 1920s
The 20s were all about art deco. So, it is not surprising that the bob was one of the most popular dos of the decade. According to fashion historian, Sara Idacavage, the bob was the look sported by ‘rebellious young women’. She suggests that the style fueled the hype for Louise Brooks, a stunning actress and flapper, who showed the world just how sexy and flattering a short, sharp cut could be.
The 1930s
During the 30s hair became a little bit more glamorous and feminine, Greta Garbo, one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, wore a longer, softer, and curlier bob style and this was very representative of the hair trends of the period.
The 1940s
Hair tended to be shoulder length during the 40s with some type of curling lifting hair away from the face. The half up and half down style, with curls up top, was very in vogue at the time and Victory Rolls, which took this to the extreme, became the most iconic look of the decade. Actress, dancer, and producer Rita Hayworth was one of the many famous pinups who popularized this glamorous look.
The 1950s
Following the previously austere decades, the 50s were all about the va-va-voom. Marilyn Monroe’s career took off and with it came an interest in artificially colored hair, whether it was to mimic her gloriously platinum locks or to try out many of the new colors that were on trend at the time. Women experimented with at home hair coloring, wigs, and metallic sparkly powders.
Whichever era you want to channel with your hairstyle, you will look and feel fabulous with one of these vintage looks.
