Monday, October 14, 2013

HAIRSTYLES DURING WORLD WAR II



ANNE GREENE here.

Straight, sleek modern hair was not fashionable during World War II. Neither was the messy look. Perfectly styled, voluminous hair was trendy throughout the war.

Girls wore complicated hairstyles to make up for fabric rationing.Shortages of many materials, especially silk, leather and nylon dictated clothing fashion. To compensate for severe wardrobe restrictions America women turned away from the signature bob hairstyles of the Great Depression toward more feminine styles.

The long curling styles demonstrated by movie stars from Veronica Lake to Lauren Bacall are some of the most stylish hairstyles for women in the history of hair fashion.

The peek-a-boo bang, the top reverse roll, pin curls, side rolls, the up do, victory rolls, and the pompadour were popular. The styles took patience and practice, but the result was flattering and ultra-glamorous.

Hair dyes were banned in 1926. However, by the 1940s safer hair dyes were marketed. So women could achieve their desired hair color or hide embarrassing gray.

Blonde hair grew immensely popular due to actresses such as Jean Harlow, Mae West, and Ginger Rogers. Blonde hair was uncommon, so women wanted to achieve that look.

Upswept hairstyles featured elegant hairdos such as the Bundles for Britain style,

which secured the hair with a pair of knitting needles. This acknowledged knitting socks and sweaters for the troops. This hairstyle suited working women, many of whom were engaged in working at looms weaving items like woolen army uniforms.

A flurry of social activity such as charity balls and fundraisers arose to support the war effort. Women entered the workplace to replace men fighting abroad. The dress-up style referred to as the Purse Pompadour replaced a purse and a hat with a hidden fold of hair to contain a powder compact and lipstick. Larger styles could even conceal a small purse.

A braid hairpiece offered elegant hairstyles for housewives who returned to the workplace. The Fairy-do, created by winding a braid around the head above the temples, allowed a fold of hair to rest on the forehead.

Waves were deep, soft and sloping, like ripples of sand on a beach.


Rolls were an essential part of defining the WWII look. Women could shape and position rolls as they wanted. Rolls could be situated on the top of the head, at the sides or the back of the hair. Side rolls could be positioned symmetrically on each side of the face, or there could be just one roll. The shape of a roll could be helped with backcombing and by using rats.

A smooth roll going all round the back of the hair and curled under was pageboyala Veronica Lake’s long pageboy.

A Victory Roll was a sausage at the back of the hair that is rolled upwards. Women tied the top of an old stocking around their heads like a headband and rolled the hair over it.

The name came from pilots who, on returning from battle and having successfully shot down an enemy plane, did a victory roll, corkscrewing through the air before landing.

Bangs (Fringes) kept hair off the face, so if a woman had a fringe, she dressed it into the hairstyle or pinned it to one side. Hair never flopped onto the face. Fringes could be shaped into a roll, or waved to one side, or part of a mass of curls that sat high onto the face ala Betty Grable.

Hair grips, or bobby pins, were rare during the war, so women looked after them. They were shiny and could be worn visibly. For extra decoration, a bow made from ribbon could be added.

Combs and slides were made from Bakelite to look like tortoiseshell. Combs kept rolls in place. Slides kept the side hair pinned out of the way.

Braids were popular and could be either a person’s own long hair or added hair pieces. Plaited hair was used in various ways including round the crown or round the back of the head.

Ribbons were tied around the head and finished with a bow on the top or to the side. Or a piece of ribbon could be tied in a bow and attached via a grip to decorate the hair.

Rats, made of old stockings stuffed with more old stockings, were used to bulk out rolls.

Snoods were a crocheted bag, often homemade, used to keep the back of the hair neat. Sometimes snoods were made from the same material as a dress to create a matching item.

Hairnets were used like a snood to keep the back of the hair neat and, because they were less visible than a snood, they were considered more sophisticated.

Scarves could be used as decorative pieces or to keep the hair out of the face and came in a variety of materials, sizes and patterns. They could be plaited into the hair and tied up. They could be folded into a triangle and tied on top of the head, like a turban, or worn around the head and knotted under the chin.

A turban was a length of material made from soft wool or rayon crepe. It was tied on top of the head and the long ends tucked under. The turban could be decorated with pompoms or flowers.

During the war, many products were hard to come by and women made do with whatever they could get. Beer or sugar water was used as setting lotion, with pipe cleaners, rags or pin curls used to create the waves.

Some older women still used the old hot irons to put waves into their hair, heating the irons in the fire. People recall the smell of their mother’s singed hair filling the house!

After the war, home perms became available. They proved much easier than setting hair each night with rags and pins.

Would you have liked going through all the preparation a glamorous hairstyle took?

Or maybe you lived during the war. Please share your story. Just look for the comment button.

If you are a writer, go to http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.comfor helpful lessons.
                                                 A SECRET LIST

He was born to a clan of noted warriors and musicians. Yet to protect his loved ones and escape the dark fate of his brothers, he abandons his identity. Hiding from relentless soldiers who want him dead, he vows to protect the woman he loves more than life, more than freedom, more than Scotland. But his presence throws her into danger.

                            A VOW HONORED

She weds a stranger to save his life. But do vows make a marriage? When does a marriage become a marriage? What if she holds a different love inside her heart?

                                                   A SACRIFICE MADE

Steeling himself against the pain, he condemns himself to a life of heartbreak without her. Wanting her desperately, knowing he can’t have her, he surrenders her and heads alone to certain death. Outlawed, with a price on his head, does she love him enough to give up castle, lands, and family, and risk the agony of surrendering her heart a second time?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free, autographed copy.




29 comments:

  1. Wow what a challenge for hairstyles. I really had no idea that their was such a history for hairstyles or the creative ways women found to create them . I found the article interesting , but thankful I can get by with a quick and easy style to maintain !
    The book by Anne Greene really presents a picture of sacrificial and devoted love. I would very much like to read more of these mysterious lead characters and weather their love will triumph in the end. Sounds like a great read! Thank you

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    1. Thanks, Jackie. Your name is in the hat. Aren't we glad our hairstyles don't require all that work. But, I think the WWII styles were really lovely.

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  2. Thy his is a great post! I loved hearing about and seeing some of the different hairstyles. Such creative women! Thank you for the chance to be a winner with an Anne Green book.

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    1. This was such a fun post to research. I think living back then with those hairstyles almost ALMOST would have made living back then fun. That was truly a great generation.

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  3. Oh how I remember those hair styles. My sister and I played with mother's "rats" and she'd get so mad at us. Mother wore hers up in fancy curls a lot, but when she worked around the house, she wore a bright bandanna around her head to hold her hair back or she wore one of those snoods. My grandmother crocheted them. I remember Rosilind Russell wearing that hairstyle in a few of her movies. Is that first picture Rita Hayworth? I recognize the sultry blonde from movies but can't think of her name. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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  4. You're right, Martha! That's Rita Hayworth. And you are one of the children of those admirable people who lived during the 1940s and helped bring America through WWII. I so admire those people. Nice to see you here, Martha!

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  5. Terrific post! I love those hairstyles, but there's no way I could get my hair to look like those ladies. I'm Pentecostal and we wear our hair up. In my 20's, we went through a style of wearing donors and I still have mine. Thank you for sharing this post and giving a chance in the giveaway.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Nice to see you here Barbara! Donors sound interesting. What are they?

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  6. Anne, this was fascinating and delightful! Thanks for sharing. I think I would have liked a purse pompadour.

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    1. Wouldn't that be fun. When you wanted to buy something, you reached up. Don't you think people around you would have been surprised! Good to see you here, Terri!

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  7. Oh my goodness, beer or sugar water as a setting lotion??? WOW. I cannot believe what they went thru just for a good hairdo! And a PURSE hidden in your hair??! I loved this post and it makes me so much more thankful for the ability to just wear it down, as is. :)

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    1. Yup. I love wash and wear. But sometimes don't you just want to look glamorous? I know I do. Then I go see my beauty stylist. But there wasn't money for a beauty salon in those days. Amazing what women can do when we put our mind to a job! Good to see you here, Susan.

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    2. Oh yes, I do love a fancy updo - usually for church when I want to be fancy. :) I also could do the snood!
      lattebooks at hotmail dot com

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  8. Fascinating post! And the reference to a 'purse pompadour' made me smile - I don't think the added weight on the head would be at all comfortable! I've always admired those lovely hairdos but for myself, I'm a no muss, no fuss kinda girl. I want something that allows me to just comb and go!

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    1. Hi Winnie, good to see you here! I think a lot of preparation went into those hair styles the night before. Hard to imagine sleeping on curlers, but most ladies did.

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  9. I forgot, ladies, would you please leave your email address so I can notify the winner.

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  10. I would love to read this one...looks like a great book. I often love seeing these War hairstyles especially the rolls they look so glamorous..I aim to try it once my hair is longer. =)
    Please enter me...truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)Com

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    1. Eliza, I'd love to hear about how your hair roll goes when your hair gets long enough. Good for you if you try it!.

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  11. Enjoyed your fascinating post and the pictures of those elegant hairstyles, Anne.

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    1. Thanks Pate, this was such a fun article to write.

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  12. Anne, this was great. I need to print it out and let my husband's grandmother read it. She'll be 95 in a couple of months and would definitely get a kick out of it!

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    1. Pam, I would love to hear back on what your Grandmother has to say. She probably wore most of the styles and has stories of her own to tell. Thanks for visiting!

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  13. Great research on hairstyles taking over for shortage of fabric during the war. My favorite is Bundles for Britain!
    sharon, CA

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    1. I love the snood myself. But Bundles For Britain could easily become popular again. I liked that one too. Nice to see you here, Sharon.

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  14. Excellent post, Anne. I loved the beautiful photos. My mom still chuckles about what she and her sisters did to their hair "back in the good old days". When I decided to go to cosmetology school, she was my model for pin curls and finger waves!

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    1. Do they still teach those pin curls and finger waves? Interesting! Thanks for meeting me here, Julia!

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  15. Excellent post, Anne. I loved the beautiful photos. My mom still chuckles about what she and her sisters did to their hair "back in the good old days". When I decided to go to cosmetology school, she was my model for pin curls and finger waves!

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  16. Interesting post, Anne!

    I remember so many of these things: my mother rolled my curls on rags when I was very young, sleeping on rollers was painful, bobby pins were the norm - as were ribbons, pin curls, backcombing, & those awful perms - with the heated perm rods connected to long cords coming out of a machine on wheels!

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  17. And people thought that was normal! And so it was. People spent their evenings washing and setting their hairstyle for the following day. I'm so glad we don't have to do that today! I do remember my grandmother had long hair down to her waist which each night she let down from a bun on top of her head. I was amazed to see so much hair, and it was barely streaked with gray. Good memories!

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