A pinup style for short hair

Start with towel-dried hair or spray dry hair with a bit of water.

Work about this much lightweight styling gel into the hair, concentrating at the sides and top of the head. You may need more or less gel depending on the length and density of the hair.

Blow dry the top section up and out of your way leaving the sides down and wet. For longer lengths use a clip.

Gather a section from across the top of your temples to the back of your ear and re-wet with a spray bottle if necessary.

roll a 1/2" section of hair around your fingertip and secure with a single prong curl clip to create a pin curl

rollin.

Repeat this to make as many pin curls as you want to frame the face; 3 or 4 should do. Don't bother if the hair is to short, simply smooth it back behind the ear to dry.

something like this.

Leave the curls to air dry as you style the top. For thick or longer hair you may want to use heat to speed up the process. The curls will not hold unless they are completely dry before you unclip them. If you happen to have access to a bonnet dryer this is the way to go.

A blow dryer set on low with a diffuser attachment works just as well.

Moving on up. Starting at the crown, spray 1/2" thick section of the top hair with a working hairspray.

Curl using a flat iron or curling iron and continue on towards the face, working in 1/2" sections.

like so

almost there...

don't for get the hairspray!

once the sides are completely dry remove the curl clips, brush, and smooth the pin curls around the face

side view

Brush out the curls on top using a natural or soft bristle brush.

Start in front by grabbing a chunk of curls and backcombing several times from the ends of the hair all the way down to the scalp. Continue this through the top of the hair up to the crown.

smooth the hair in front into a roll shape using your hands and lightly brushing the surface with a soft bristle brush. Smooth the top as well to cover your backcombing, but don't stress about it. You're going to cover that with a headscarf, anyway.

Spray it, spray it again, then spray it some more.

Fold 2 corners of a vintage scarf, napkin, or fabric scrap in to meet at the middle.

then, in half

one more time

wrap over the pouf and tie at the base of the neck

Use a the pointed end of a rattail comb to tuck strays under the scarf.

Spray everything with a firm hold hairspray

Ta-dah!