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Timeless & Romantic Wedding Inspiration

Beauty & Hair

Pin Curls – Ultra Glamorous Hair of the Roaring Forties

Hairstyles in the roaring forties were vivid and elegant and I don’t think there is any hair style (other than, perhaps, the Finger Waves or Marcel Waves of the 1920s) more elegant than the loose Pin Curls, so synonymous with the Golden Age of Hollywood and sultry stars like Veronica Lake!

Veronica Lake Peek-a-Boo hairstyle

With her infamous peek-a-boo hairstyle!

Screen siren Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers 1940s Pin Curls

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner Pin Curls

And Rita Hayworth – the lady who made me realise my red hair was beautiful!

Rita Hayworth Pin Curls

 

With World War II and the rationing of clothing and fabric, women concentrated on making their hair (and makeup) as glamorous as possible – with styles elaborately planned for secret assignations with soldiers and sailors on leave.

The Goodbye Kiss

Todays nod to the pin curls of the roaring forties is sleeker and shinier – created with heated irons rather than damp hair and bobby pins.

Diane Kruger 1940s Pin Curls

Dita Von Teeses 1940s Pin Curls

and would be perfect for any bride wanting to channel their inner 40s starlet.

 Alicia Keyes 1940s Pin Curls

 Amanda Seyfried 1940s Waves

Although easier to recreate on luscious long locks, the look can be achieved (and was sported by stars of the day) with short or shoulder length hair……

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney short 1940s Pin Curls

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall Shoulder length 1940s Pin Curls

Jane Russell

Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese short 1940s Pin Curls

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon short 1940s Pin Curls

For brides, this is such a glamorous style it needs little decoration other than the shine!……

Bridal glamorous 1940s hairstyleBridal 1940s Pin Curls

Oh and some scarlet lipstick, a la Miss Miller!……

Sienna Miller 1940s look

Maybe some equally glamorous earrings like Scarlett Johannson.….

Scarlett Johansson sleek 1940s pin curls updo

Or a vintage hair clip on one side like the lovely Amanda Siefried (paired here with equally glamorous plum lipstick and eyeshadow)……

Amanda Seyfried Old Hollywood Hair

There is a very good reason the red carpet still sees this look today, some 70 years later.

Marianne Cotillard 1940s Pin Curls

Kate Bosworth 1940s Pin Curls

Megan Fox 1940s Waves

Long or short, loose Pin Curls never fails to look graceful, glamorous and gorgeous!

Amy

x

P.S. – if you  the roaring forties look out for a Victory Rolls post, that I’m just working on!