Bridal Hair Styles in the 1930s
Bridal hair styles in the 1930s reflected the relatively new popularity of short hair and the influence of Hollywood. Shorter hair represented women's new-found social freedom, yet styles were still feminine, sleek and sophisticated. The boyish flapper haircuts of the 1920s were replaced with hair styles that emphasized womanly elegance and the curve of curls during the Great Depression. In addition, women wanted to copy how their favorite film stars wore their hair, so brides chose a variety of looks from an evolving and fast-growing enterprise--the hair salon. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Popularity of the Perm
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Tightly curled hair was popular in the 1930s. For many women, 1930's hair styles meant adding curl to their straight hair. S-shaped, undulating waves could be created with the help of a perm. Although getting a perm was a lengthy and uncomfortable process--and sometimes dangerous to a bride's scalp and hair because of the heated rods that were used--salon businesses boomed during the Great Depression.
The Bob
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Women wore hair styles that accommodated wearing hats. Many women wore their hair in a short bob. This style featured curls around the edges of the face while the crown of the head remained smooth. Bridal veils were often attached to a close-fitting, sheer headpiece, so a bride's curls framed her face. The cloche hat typically worn with daytime outfits fit the head snugly, so women wanted a hair style that remained smooth on top.
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The Side Wave
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Depression-era brides copied hair styles glimpsed in movie magazines. Another popular hair style made famous in the 1930s and one that would have been chosen by a bride who wanted to emulate a screen siren was the side wave. This was a style for medium- or shoulder-length hair, and featured a side part and fuller, looser curl.
The Up Do
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A modern variation of the 1930s Coronet hair style. For brides with longer hair, the Coronet was a braided hairstyle worn in the 1930s--most notably by Ginger Rogers in her most famous dance scene in "Top Hat." The hair is center parted and pulled back into a pair of braids. The braids are wound around the head from behind the ears to the top of the head where the braids meet, then the braids are tucked one under the other and secured with bobby pins.
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References
- Photo Credit George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
