Don’t you just adore those perfect, classy 1930s hairstyles? The soft, romantic curls; the glamorous waves; even the iconic hair rolls. Ah! It’s all about grace and elegance. I simply cannot resist this stunning fashion when it comes to doing my hair – no matter how many times it has been done before. When it comes to special occasions such as proms or weddings, there is never an exception if 1930s-style dresses are in the picture – these two items go hand in hand after all!
So I decided to show off some of my favorite 30s styles, and maybe they’ll inspire you too if you’re looking for ideas on how to do your own hair. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of retro hairstyles like old Hollywood stars such as Bette Davis, Vivian Leigh or Katherine Hepburn who might’ve looked like back then when they were younger!
Popular 1930s Hairstyles Wavy Women
Marcel Waves
Any mention of 1930s hairstyles would be incomplete without adding marcel waves to the list. A typical example of this style was Lady Edith Crawley from Downton Abbey. Her hair never looked fake – her curly locks were constantly showing off how she liked to wear them, whether they were pinned up in an elegant high ponytail or left loose and natural. This popular style required the use of a curling iron that could produce tightly-wound curls throughout your hair; there are usually two options for these faux-waves: you can leave them loose or roll them up into what’s known as a chignon.
The name Marcel came from the inventor of the first ever straightening comb, Marcel Grateau. Being electric-powered and able to be operated at home – it did away with needing a professional hairstylist for your cut, making it possible for females to style their locks themselves everyday instead of going to the salon. A symbol of female empowerment during this time period – this was THE revolutionary hairstyle for women everywhere in 1930s America.
Side Chignon
This is one of the easier styles from the 1930s. You do have to add some waves or curls (marcel) to give the side bun a retro look, but other than that it’s relatively simple to achieve. Start by curling/waving your bangs for an instant vintage-feel. Then, pull your hair into a low ponytail in the side.
Loop the hair around itself to form a small bun at the top of your head. If you would like it messier, use bobby pins to keep stray hairs in place. Holding all but one strand of hair on either side, wrap them loosely behind your head so they start from just under your ears and meet at the nape of your neck at about 10 inches below where you want them secured. Keep these strands loose by using some bobby pins once again to secure them in place. This is an easy way to get a quick updo that looks chic when paired with longer locks or sleek bangs!
Wet Waves
The wet looks and waves were one of the most popular black hairstyles in the 1930s. Jazz musicians from that time period made this particular style so prevalent due to its popularity among them. To create this look, simply set finger curled hair with gel or pomade – whichever you prefer.
Although I prefer the glossy sheen that gels give you, there are many options besides clay and pomade if you want a matte finish. You can style just the front pieces of your hair to give it a retro touch or go for an entire wet look with waves and fancy hairdos.
Finger Curls
Finger waves had been popular since the early 1920s, and continued to be throughout the entire decade. They are particularly efficient at cutting down hair length–yet they remained one of the most common styles for shorter haircuts during this time period as well. If you have either a long bob or medium-length hair, finger waves can instantly update your look with an elegant vintage feel.
Waves with a Side Part
Waves and a side part were just some of the many simple hairstyles available in the 30s. A few minutes would be all you needed, without having to worry about things like bobby pins or hairclips getting lost because you didn’t have them, which was usually just an old fashioned way of doing things back then. Next, apply some hairspray at least once every other day to keep it from going flat as each day progresses.
This hairstyle will give women with fine hair the appearance of having more volume. With this style, you can also use a side part to bring out the angularity in your face shape if you have a rounded chin or full cheeks. This hairstyle may not work well if you have an oblong shaped face since it might be too short for you.
Pixie With Waves
I really love short hairstyles from the 1930s. They manage to keep the sharpness and boldness of the roaring twenties while still being elegant and delicate – not unlike what you see in women’s fashion during that time period. If you want to emulate this look, all you need are some curls! For an even more dramatic effect, use some hair wax to make your hair stand up straight or apply a thin layer of hairspray for that wet-look finish.
Hollywood Waves
If you were to watch old Hollywood classics, you would notice that women in the 1930s rocked a particular hairstyle –the Hollywood wave. From Veronica Lake to Sally Gray, most Hollywood starlets wore their hair in large voluminous waves and sometimes parting it down one side.
This hairstyle can be easily duplicated and is perfect for anyone who wants to add some volume to their otherwise fine hair. To avoid pulling your hair down, use a light-weight spray that will keep it up rather than weigh it down.
Tight Curls
Tight curls, which are also known as pin curls or finger waves, originated in the 1930s and remained popular for several decades afterward. These tight curls replaced the Marcel waves that had been fashionable during the 1920s.
A woman’s scalp would often be burned by curling irons as they’re heated to extreme temperatures so that they can create waves in a person’s hair. As such, there was an increasing preference towards tight curls because these don’t need to touch the scalp at all and are only gently brushed through the length of one’s tresses. These type of ‘tight’ curls were most commonly seen with Marcel Waves where free-flowing strands are lightly pinned together while all other locks remain tangled.
However, after the late 1930s – women instead desired having long pin curled sections throughout their head rather than just loosely brushing them up into spirals. It wouldn’t be until much later when child star Shirley Temple would make her way onto the scene and revive this now iconic curly style from decades ago!
All-Over Rolls / Glory Rolls/ Victory Rolls
In the 1930s, many famous hairstyles were born; however, one of the most identifiable styles was the roll haircut.
The hair-style required the use of a curling iron to produce large, yet tight curls that created hollow tubes. These were then carefully arranged on top of one another atop the head and pinned firmly in place with some hairspray for lasting power.
Curly Half-Up Half-Down 1930s Hairstyle
If you are someone with medium-length hair or even long hair, then getting this iconic hairstyle from the 30s will be easy for you. You’ll first want to use a curling iron to curl all of your locks, but make sure that the rod is thin so as not to damage your strands. Next up, using a clip or tie, twist your hair into two high ponytails on both sides of your head and tuck them back behind you when done. If instead of doing curls, you wanted waves instead – just alternate between rolling up each strand around its barrel while they’re still wet (after towel drying) before drying off completely and pulling them into place once they’ve dried off completely.
Bun Updo With Rolls
If you want to create a fancy hairstyle for attending a wedding ceremony, combining the victory rolls with an elaborate bun would do just fine. You’ll need to leave out some small sections of hair from in front and tightly tie the rest up into a neat bun at the nape of your neck.
Next you can take a hair styling tool and make nice little rolls on your curl them so they’re all over your head. Pin these curls up neatly so that they’re arranged in whichever way you please, adding some extra curls at the base of the braid using any loose hairs poking out. You could also just let it be, or put an accessory atop it to finish off this look!
Curled Bangs
If you want 1930s hairstyles with bangs here they are! Pinning up your fringe isn’t necessary when you’re going vintage. Try these few different types of bangs styles out if you want a classic look for the past decade. This one is called curly bangs – which were usually done either with an updo or elaborate rolling style (glory roll).
Nowadays, there’s no shortage of women looking to go back in time and experience what life might have been like if they lived during the 1930s. And while things may seem old-fashioned at first glance, a lot has changed since then; so don’t worry if you think your grandmother or great-grandmother’s hairstyle won’t work with today’s trends. A number of stylish stars throughout Hollywood history have rocked various ’30s styles such as Marcel Waves or long bobs paired with sleek pin curls – which are still making major headlines this decade! From Sherilyn Fenn in Twin Peaks to Kaley Cuoco on The Big Bang Theory, we’re sure to see more fashionable celebs wear these timeless hairstyles next season too!
