Search hard enough, and vintage enthusiasts should be able to find '50s hair styles to suit long, short, thick, fine, wavy, curly or straight hair.
Hair Styles From Films Made in the 1950s
Most girls during the fifties were trying to copy movie stars’ hair, so films are a great place to look for inspiration! Watching the films themselves is often the best way to see various angles of a hairstyle, but screenshots can give a general idea. A few noteworthy 50s films include:
- Funny Face (1957). A different look at 'fifties hair styles. Audrey Hepburn starts out with an unfashionable bohemian cut and ends up with an unusually sleek, pulled-back catwalk hairdo. Good inspiration for those with straight hair.
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
- Rear Window (1954)
Hair Styles By Films Set in the 1950s
Many filmmakers have been captured by the lush costuming and sets of the 1950s. Most films set in the fifties are fairly accurate in terms of hairstyling and clothing, as the period was recent enough to provide plenty of historical data. Some films include:
- Grease (1978). Big, curly hair!
- Far From Heaven (2002). The poster for this film features Julianne Moore wearing a scarf over her head and roller curls. Good inspiration for styles for somewhat longer hair and/or more mature women.
- Pleasantville (1998).
- The Truman Show (1998). Although this film is set in a created film-set world, the references to 1950s Americana are obvious, and Laura Linney’s youthful hairstyle is a typical bobby-soxer curled ponytail.
Modern-Day Retro Hair on the Red Carpet
Retro is in vogue right now, so it’s worth looking at photos from premieres and award ceremonies for 40 and 50s-style hairdos. Burlesque performer Dita von Teese typically wears retro hairstyles, and other actresses such as Zooey Deschanel, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johanssen wear them on occasion.
Vintage Styling Websites
Vintage enthusiasm has caught on to the point that there are several vibrant online communities devoted to vintage style. The Fedora Lounge has a very long thread specifically devoted to photos of members’ vintage hair styles – be sure to check the period, though, as 40s and 60s hairdos are included as well as 50s styles. Another popular site, Sewretro, is devoted to vintage costuming but includes plenty of “action shots” with full hair and makeup.
Finding Old Photographs From the 1950s
Sifting through old photos is a good way to see hair styles on a range of face shapes in real-life situations, as opposed to carefully-constructed magazine creations. Vintage enthusiasts can take note of which hairstyles are windproof, which work with which hairtypes, and which styles tend to look messy, indicating they are tricky to do.
Old family photos are a good source, but try some creative Google searches as well. There are sites devoted, for example, to photos from the early days of Disneyland (which opened in 1955). Look at crowd photos from historical events such as elections, riots and Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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