Do it Yourself 50s Hairstyles

The hairstyles of the 1950s were elegant, classical and always beautiful. Hair was often worn above or at the ears and curled into coiled waves. Stars like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable often wore their hair in traditional short curls typical of the decade. The process of achieving this look was arduous and time-consuming, involving the use of pin curls and hot rollers. Handheld blow dryers were not available in the 1950s and women had to wait for hair to air dry. However, the intricate results were always worth the wait.

Pin Curls

Pin curls were one of the most popular hairstyles for women of the 1950s. The glamorous coiled look was often seen on actresses from the decade like Lucille Ball. This hairstyle does not require the use of any chemicals or hot styling tools and is safe for the hair. It looks best on hair that is no longer than chin length.

To DIY: Wet hair slightly, or begin styling on towel-dried hair that is still damp. Take a half-inch wide strand of hair, apply a small amount of styling gel and twist the strand around your finger. Pin down flat onto your head with a pin curl. Continue until all of the hair has been twisted and pinned down. Allow to air dry or use a blow dryer to set with heat. You can also leave the curls in overnight--the longer the curls stay pinned, the tighter and more defined they will be.

Large Curls

In addition to tight pin curls, large hot roller curls were also fashionable during the 1950s. For this hairstyle, look to movie stars like Grace Kelly and Lauren Bacall for inspiration. Hair must be short, no more than an inch below the chin, for this look to be properly executed.

To DIY: Prior to curling, comb a dollop of gel or mousse through your locks. Wrap individual strands around the perimeter of your head in hot rollers. You can either roll the hair forward or backward depending on the direction you want the curl to lie. Secure with bobby pins to hold the rollers in place. Allow to air dry as was done in the fifties, or speed up the process with a blow dryer. Gently remove the curlers once hair is dry, but do not brush or comb your hair. Use your fingers to shape the curls. Apply hair spray for hold.

Updos

Women in the 1950s were fond of elegant updos. Audrey Hepburn, one of the major stars of the decade, often wore her dark tresses in a sophisticated updo with short, blunt bangs to bring out her eyes. For this hairstyle, hair can be slightly longer--about three to four inches below the chin to shoulder length.

To DIY: Brush hair back into a full, high ponytail and secure with an elastic. If you have fine hair, tease it slightly to add some volume. Pin the end of the ponytail directly under the base with bobby pins. Spritz with hairspray for hold. If you have bangs, brush them forward onto your forehead and sweep slightly to the left and right. If you don't have bangs, brush hair back to conceal your natural part and tease slightly for height.

References

• 1950s Hairstyles
• Fifties Curly Hairstyles
• Audrey Hepburn Updo