1940s Fashion - Women's Hairstyles during the War

Vintage 1940's Hairstyles - Womens Hair Safety in the Second World War.

As women took to the factory and to the plough and tractor during the war years - hairstyles - by necessity  were tied up in scarves or Turbans, cut to shorter lengths or pinned up in the many and various rolls known as Victory Hairstyles .What became known as the Rosie the Riveter look, was daily wear for both Factory girls and the famous Land Girls.

Whilst Dresses and Femininity were still emphasised in the fashion magazines , every womans wardrobe had trousers and a good stout pair of boots. 'Rosies' still wore makeup though,and kept those eyebrows manicured,and went nowhere without some emergency Lippy!



The following safety consious ' Victory' Hairstyles were hugely popular.

1.The Vingle -  [ consisting of four partings,  forming V shapes ].
2.The Victory Roll -A woman parted her hair to suit her face shape the best  [ either a centre part, side part or extreme side part !]. Then she rolled her hair up over foam Hair Rats - which were made from rolled up shed hair [ yes it sounds yickh but it worked ! ]. Then she positioned to her taste and secured with Bobby Pins. Et Voila !
3.The Turban equalised people of all means and social backgrounds. Starting as a simple safety  precaution to prevent hair entangling in machinery at the factory or in the farm, the usual resourcefulness of the female sex quickly turned it into a fashion accessory, in much the same way that Turbans and Headscarves do for women who undergo chemotherapy these days.

Check out Lauren Rennells tutorial on how to wear a Turban

These Hairstyles are becoming popular again thanks to the growing vintage fashion and hairstyle enthusiasts like Lisa Freemont.She really is amazing.
Also the aforementioned Bobby Pin Blog author Lauren Rennell [ who also penned the well known Vintage Hairstyling - see below at Amazon] .


Another must have resource for 1940's Hairstyles is Daniela Turudichs excellent book
"1940s Hairstyles"

Finally - kick off the shoes and enjoy both of these vintage hairstyle films from the archive featuring Womens Victory ! Hairstyles from the Second World War !