1940s Women's Hairstyles for Long Hair
World War II, Dieselpunk and Rosie the Riveter Hair Styles
During World War II, it was considered patriotic to wear short hairstyles, such as the Victory Cut. Short hair symbolised devotion to the war effort, as women factory and military workers were required to have hair above the collar. However, long hair that was securely pinned up above the collar was still permitted, and a number of women kept their hair long. Veronica Lake’s long, shiny locks are typical of '40s long hairstyles – layered and subtly curled to add height and softness.
The 1940s hairstyles emphasised height on the front of the head with curls, waves, rolls and bangs. The back hair was usually upswept cleanly off the neck. As a result, many women with long hair had special cuts that were short on top, so that the front hair could be easily curled and styled. Women who are not planning on wearing 1940s hairstyles all the time are unlikely to go to such an extreme; however, period looks can be recreated in other ways.
A slightly more modern look could be obtained by cutting heavy bangs and shaping the hemline into a slightly layered elongated U shape. The bangs could then be worn as-is, swept aside or pinned back for modern hairstyles, and pin-curled, waved or rolled for 1940s hairdos.
For instructions on pin-curling, waving or rolling bangs, see 1940s Hairstyles For Short Hair.
Snoods and Hairnets in 1940s Fashion
Long hair was often kept out of the way in useful and decorative snoods. For casual wear, thick loosely-woven snoods were worn; for special occasions, hairnet-fine snoods that were decorated with gems, ribbons or flowers.
Veronica Lake Hairstyle
A slightly layered cut works best for imitating Lake’s shiny tresses. Part your hair on one side, and use rollers to curl the resulting bangs away from your face. Leave hair free for the “peekaboo” look. A similar look with shorter hair was worn by 1940s actresses such as Lauren Bacall, Vivien Leigh and Hedy Lamarr.
Fluffy U-Shaped Hemline
Hair that is cut into a U shape, with the hemline curving fairly sharply, looks very 1940s. To get the fluffy, thick hemline, layer the hemline and use curlers to slightly curl the ends outward. Then use a brush to fluff out the curls into a thick mass of hair.
End-Curling With Rags
Rag-curling the ends of your hair helps to dress up a long 1940s hairstyle. Use old stockings instead of rags if you prefer. Wind small sections of damp hair corkscrew-fashion around a stocking or rag, then wind the excess rag back over the hair to cover it. Secure with an elastic and leave hair to dry or overnight. Carefully unwind the curls from the rags. The ringlets can be worn as-is or separated for a fluffy look, but for an authentic 40s look make sure you curl only the ends, and then brush the curls out a little to form a continuous wave rather than separate curls.
Victory Rolls
An elegant, graceful look that works well on long straight hair, Victory Rolls can be worn asymmetrically (hair parted on one side) or like “wings” on either side of a centre part. To make Victory Rolls, simply roll a section of front hair away from the face as if you were making a pin curl. Pin the hollow curl to the side of the head behind the temple, arranging the hair gracefully. If you find this difficult, try one of the alternative methods for creating Victory Rolls.
Braided Pigtails with Curled Ends
Judy Garland’s girlish look in The Wizard of Oz was worn by many teenagers. The hair is parted in the centre, and can be given a little height at the front by backcombing or making Victory rolls if desired. Then each side is braided with an English braid, leaving a “tail” of several inches remaining. These ends are then curled into ringlets, and the braids are accented with bows.
For information on pin curling, how to tie a Rosie the Riveter headscarf and other '40s hair styling tips, see 1940s Women's Hairstyles for Short Hair.
Judy Garland's Braided Pigtail Look
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Veronica Lake's Peek-a-Boo Bangs
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Factory Workers in 1942 Wearing Snoods
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