How to Do Flapper Hair Styles

Add a sparkly headband with a feather.

The flappers of the 1920s were a progressive group of women who dared to stray from the popular “Gibson Girl” styles and bobbed their hair short. They copied the short hairstyle of the popular ballroom dancer Irene Castle. The flappers' hairstyles were close to the head and either straight or curled with finger curls. With modern appliances, you can create a flapper look no matter how long your hair is.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• Hot iron
• Pomade
• Hair spray
• Styling gel
• Bobby pins

Instructions

The Bob

1. Part your hair in the middle or on the side. If you have bangs, comb them forward; if not, comb your hair off to the side.

2. Straighten your hair with a flat iron for a silky-smooth texture. Curl the ends slightly under using the flat iron.

3. Place a small amount of pomade, about the size of a quarter, in your hand and rub your hands together. Rub your palm over the top of your hair to smooth it down.

4. Place a bobby pin on both sides of your hair to pull it back from your face and keep it in place. Lightly spray your hair with hairspray to keep it in place.

Finger Waves

1. Shampoo your hair, apply conditioner, then rinse out the conditioner and towel dry your hair.

2. Apply a generous amount of setting gel throughout your hair. The setting gel is necessary to keep the finger waves in place.

3. Grasp a 2-inch-wide section of hair close to your face. Place your forefinger over the hair at your temple. Flip a bobby pin over this section.

4. Place your forefinger 1 inch lower than the bobby pin and push the hair slightly upward, creating a wave in the hair. Secure this wave in place with another bobby pin. Repeat this procedure down the entire length of the strand of hair

5. Grasp a 2-inch section of hair toward the back of the hair from the first section. Repeat the same procedure as before, pinning the hair while you make finger waves. Repeat this for the whole head of hair, then allow your hair to dry naturally or use a blow dryer with a diffuser to dry it faster.

6. Remove the bobby pins, then run a comb through your hair. Spray it with hairspray to hold the waves in place.

Tips & Warnings

• If your hair is long, pin it into a bun at the back and finger wave the front.

References

• Hair Archives: The Bob
• Become Gorgeous: '20s Flapper Hairstyles With Finger Waves