Hairstyles and Fashion of the Forties
One popular style involved a large roll placed for bangs, halfway on the forehead and about an inch above the head. The crown was flatly brushed down, with curls framing the bottom, sides, and back. This style complemented almost any hat. Usually, hair was shoulder-length with ample waves and either a side or middle part. For middle parts, small to large rolls were sometimes placed on each side of the face, with the rest of the hair flowing into one length, adorned with curls at the bottom.
Iconic celebrity June Allyson was known for her famous pageboy style, featuring naturally straight hair curled at the ends and straight bangs. The pageboy came in variations of straight and wavy, ranging from long to medium length. Today, we might add an undercut to this style, but back then, hair was bluntly cut for the pageboy, extending as high as the eyes or as low as the shoulders.
Another style involved rolling the sides of the hair back to wind onto the back, with the remaining hair tucked flat into the roll. The top was either parted in the middle or brushed flatly back, with styles featuring rolls, two rolls, or different-sized curls.
Those audacious, eye-catching round curls resting upon the top of their heads, about an inch below their foreheads, were complemented by daringly thin eyebrows (with the exception of Joan Crawford) and usually a black veil, depending on the occasion. To achieve these curls today, wash and condition your hair, apply your favorite setting lotion, then twist an inch of hair around your fingers, ensuring they all go in the same direction. Secure with clips to set, creating approximately 6 to 7 old-fashioned pin curls on your first row. Repeat this process for subsequent rows, edging upward and outward with each row. Once dry, remove the pin curls one by one, lightly back brush, fluff around your finger, and secure with small hairpins on your forehead.
Repeat this process for each row. Do the same with the next row, placing them slightly overlapping the first row. You are gradually edging upward and outward. Continue this technique using bobby pins. Your final hairstyle should stand about four inches or higher above your forehead and scalp. If you desire a flat crown to complement this style, comb your wet hair down and create the same curls with clips along the bottom of your hair, focusing on rolling the ends only. Once dry, vigorously brush the sides and back, smoothing the crown and fluffing up the bottom to achieve a cotton-like texture. Now, you are ready to pair this hairstyle with a pair of adorable Mary Jane heels, and your ensemble will be complete. Unless you were born in this era, mastering the styling may not come easy, but practice makes perfect!
See also: Vintage hairstyles