No matter what kind of hair you have, vintage styles are something worth considering. Not only do they provide an elegant look – reminiscent of simpler times – but also offer the opportunity for creativity and experimentation. Whether you have curly locks or straight strands, these timeless updos will suit anyone looking to create a classy ensemble with their hairstyle.
How were women able to style their hair so intricately before the invention of modern hair care products? I wondered. And not only that – the styling for vintage hairstyles was much different than what we use now. My favorite part about it is that it can work for all types of hair whether you have long, medium, or short locks and regardless if you’re sporting curly or straight tresses; its perfect for every texture out there. One glance at a classic hairstyle will tell you why- because they’ve been around since forever! So if you want to learn more about some of my favorite vintage styles, keep reading below!
20 Best Vintage Hairstyles for Women:
To reflect on one’s past to better understand oneself – this is the blessing bestowed upon us all. It may be through memories or by revisiting styles from yesteryear, but either way there will always be something to learn about oneself in such an examination. Here you will find some of the best vintage hairstyles that are currently trending today, as well as some old-timey photographs for your perusal; each with their own sense of drama and timelessness. Bobs, waves, retro hair dos, bangs – come check them out!
1. Vintage Curly Hairdo Female Hairstyle:
If you’re interested in trying out a new hairstyle, try recreating this old-fashioned hairstyle for girls with medium-length hair. This classic hairdo will transform your look from ordinary to classy and timelessly elegant! The coiled twisty braids offer a sense of playfulness while being sophisticated at the same time; just what any woman needs! It can be worn in many different ways depending on where she goes or who she meets up with.
2. Victorian Vintage Hair:
Who doesn’t want to recreate the charm of the Victorian era? From looking at these clothing choices, there are many outfits that a woman could choose from to create her own personal style and glamour. One hairstyle women with blonde hair could experiment with is this simple yet elegant look which radiates femininity, classiness and charm.
3. Simple Vintage Hairstyles for Short Hair:
If you are looking for more subtle retro-inspired styles, there are some simple choices for women with short hair. This shoulder-length style features a classic wavy haircut and side bangs – it is delicate yet charming. It suits every woman, regardless of face shape or type; try it to instantly enhance your beauty! What do you think?
4. Vintage Hairstyles for Long Hair:
These hairstyles are perfect for anyone who wants to revive their old-fashioned look. By recreating one of the most iconic women’s hairstyles from history, there is no chance you won’t pull it off flawlessly without fail.
5. Vintage French Hairstyles for Medium Hair:
Women who want to wear an elegant French vintage hairstyle may try the tips provided in this article. This style is different from English variants because it takes inspiration from common female lives at the end of the 18th century. Women with oval and rectangular face shapes will also find it easy to recreate its beauty. For those with curly or wavy locks, this can be a chance for you to switch up your regular look for something classy and sophisticated.
6. Victory Rolls:
A popular hairstyle from the 1940s which has stood the test of time, Victory Rolls are an attractive and easy way to wear your locks. To achieve these fashionable waves, hair needs to be shoulder-length or longer, so they’re perfect for those with medium to long locks. After smoothing damp locks back into a ponytail at the top of your head, you divide it into two sections before rolling each one away from your face and securing them tightly with bobby pins on either side. These retro curls work well if you want something that will make you look younger.
Best Suitable hair type: Wavy or straight hair with no tangles
Suitable face type: Heart-shaped face or diamond face shape
Suitable occasion: School or college occasions
Preferred age: Teens
Best season to wear: Winter and monsoon
Suitable dress: Formal wear with a collared neck.
7. 50’s Pinned up Curled Hairstyle:
One of the most popular vintage hairstyles is inspired by the late 1950s: a pinned-up curled style. Although it offers a simple yet elegant look, this hairstyle takes more than just a little time to complete. Accessories such as bright bows or adorable hair buns may be added to create an even lovelier do; which will give this updo an extra kick for any special event!
The Suitable hair type: Wavy straight hair
Best Suitable face type: Square face shape or rectangle face shape
Suitable occasion: Any special occasions
Preferred age: Girls, women of young age
Best season to wear: Spring and fall
Suitable dress: Any occasional wear
8. Asymmetric Bob:
One of the most sought-after retro hairstyles for short hair- this style has become very popular in modern society. Inspired by the 60s and best suited for shorter to medium-length locks, this style frames an oval or long-shaped face well – though it may also look good on rounder faces too.
Adaptable Suitable hair type: Silky smooth hair
Best Suitable face type: Small face shape
The Suitable occasion: Casual occasion
Preferred age: Teens
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons
Suitable dress: Any casual dress, with or without sleeves
9. The Milk Maid Braid:
Yet another cool and sophisticated retro-inspired hairstyle, the milk maid braid, has proven its timeless popularity once again by being chosen as one of the most popular haircuts among fashionistas. This style was inspired by 1940s Hollywood actresses who sported this vintage hairstyle while they were onscreen. For those lucky enough to have long, straight hair (and even shorter curly or wavy hair), this vintage braid will look fantastic; adding glitz to an already glamorous style.
Best Suitable hair type: Wavy or straight hair without any tangles
Suitable face type: Round face shape with a sharp chin
Suitable occasion: Weddings, birthday parties, engagements, bridesmaid
Preferred age: Young women
Best season to wear: Spring and fall
Suitable dress: Partywear
10. Classy 1950’s:
For an elegant vintage hairstyle that can be worn at a wedding, this one you see here would do nicely. Even so if your hair is curly. The darling hair clip is perfection when you wear it with a black dress too. Don’t forget your necklace and other accessories; these are just the final details to complete your entire look for you. It’s dramatic on its own – perfect for short-haired ladies who want something different from their usual straight locks – but remember to keep some hair gel handy in case you need to work some extra styling into your style later on as well.
The Suitable hair type: Slightly curly hair or wavy hair
Suitable face type: Small face shape
Suitable occasion: Night party, award shows or any special occasions
Preferred age: Teens and young women
Best season to wear: Summer and fall
Suitable dress: Partywear
11. Quick Quiff:
If you’re looking for a quick way to seem 10 years younger than your age, just put on this cute and chic up-do hairstyle. All it needs is some simple styling – no elaborate setting required! It’s perfect if you have curly hair because it’ll give a boost of youthful energy. With the right makeup – voila! You will definitely catch people off guard with how great it looks on you!
Which type of hair is suitable: Wavy or slightly curly hair
Suitable face type: Oval or thin face shape
Suitable occasion: Party, music shows, award nights
Preferred age: Teens and younger women
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons, especially spring and autumn
Suitable dress: Any casual dress
12. Pompadour Hairstyle:
Inspired by 1940, the pompadour style is a well-known hairstyle that never goes out of style and will always be recognizable. This retro hairstyle best suits rounder face shapes or those with shorter hair lengths. If you want to stand out from the crowd without being too outlandish, try this old fashioned yet modern hairstyle for women who love feeling glamorous yet subtle – because it’s timeless!
Preferred hair type: Silky straight hair
Suitable face type: Slim face shape with sharp jaws and chin
Suitable occasion: Suitable for any occasion, preferably casual occasion
Preferred age: Women of age group 25-35yrs
Best season to wear: Summer
Suitable dress: Casual or party wear
13. Famous Veronica Lake Curls:
This old-fashioned hairstyle has recently become very popular among movie stars and awards show attendees alike. It complemented their extravagant outfits perfectly when they walked the red carpet looking radiant. The soft curls of this Veronica Lake-inspired hairstyle is what makes it so eye catching. This look is perfect for those with long, thick hair but also suits people who don’t have much time to curl or dry their locks.
Suitable hair type: Wavy or curly hair
Best Suitable face type: Oval-shaped face
Suitable occasion: Nightwear, party wear
Preferred age: Women of young age
Best season to wear: Winter or monsoon
Suitable dress: Gown, frocks, maxi dress
14. Soft Curls For Medium Hair:
This hairstyle was created during the 50s and has since been brought back with many variations. A soft curl look is simple yet versatile – suitable for medium to long hair. The curls also work well on thin or thinning hair, making it appear full again. There are many types of this vintage hairstyle such as tighter or looser curls; long or short; or in a variety of widths that suit any individual preference.
Adaptable hair type: Curly or wavy hair with slight curls on the end
Best Suitable face type: Square face shape
Suitable occasion: Photoshoots, party
Preferred age: Teens and young women
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons, preferably summer
Suitable dress: Sleeveless casual or party wear
15. Marilyn Curls:
If you are looking for a vintage look but have short hair, this styling technique is perfect for you. Curl each section of your hair before clipping it up and letting it cool completely. Brush the curls back while rolling them against one another so they all stay together. This hairdo looks best with faces shaped like ovals or rectangles; however, if yours has a small forehead, then consider getting bangs to cover it up instead of sweeping them back under.
Best Suitable hair type: Wavy or curly hair
Adaptable face type: Square face shape with a sharp chin
Acceptable occasions: Party, weddings, engagements
Preferred age: Women of all age groups, especially young women
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons, preferably summer
Suitable dress: Partywear
16. Wrapped Up Twisted Bun For Wedding:
The classic updo hairstyle of the 60’s is beautifully portrayed in this photo. This style should be added to your list of things to do before getting married because you won’t regret it. With a well-bunned and groomed hair, this will suit those who have short or long hair either way! Add some lace fabric over the top of all these layers of locks, and soon enough, this head turner will leave guests speechless. It all depends on whether you want something simple or extraordinary but definitely elegant when considering your hairstyles for weddings – which does indeed depend on what type of facial shape you are sporting too!
The Suitable hair type: Wavy thick hair or curly hair
Suitable face type: Small square-shaped face with a sharp chin
Suitable occasion: Party, bridesmaid, wedding, engagement
Preferred age: Women of age group 25-40yrs
Best season to wear: Winter and monsoon
Suitable dress: Monsoon wear or winter wear
17. Vintage Hairstyle:
At first glance, she was dressed like Ariel from The Little Mermaid – complete with red bandana over her head and pointy eyeliner. This type of vintage hairstyle would work best for curly hair such as hers; and she made use of curlers to highlight the style shown here. She had separated a chunk of her locks over one shoulder while the other side just dangled down past her shoulder blades. Besides providing some length, this would also make it easier to tie back the rest which was usually unruly thanks to its thickness. And anyway – styling your hair is an essential part of getting ready for any special occasion whether big or small, so focus on doing well in that category will already put you halfway there to feeling great about yourself
Acceptable hair type: Curly hair
Suitable face type: Thin oval face shape
Suitable occasion: Party, birthday nights, wedding eves
Preferred age: Women of young age
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons and especially summer
Suitable dress: Summer wear or any cold shoulder tops with jeans
18. Rolled Up Vintage Hairstyle:
If you’re just looking for a simple solution to pulling off an appearance that appears mature enough for your age, there are plenty of quick and easy hairstyles you could try out from the comfort of home or while walking down the street without much effort at all. This particular celebrity-inspired hairstyle is easily achieved with just a few simple steps such as spraying your hair with hairspray and using bobby pins to create gentle curls at the top. These tousled locks are perfect when paired with shorter hair lengths – perfect if you’re looking to change things up but don’t want something drastic!
Which type of hair is suitable: Straight thick hair with no tangles
Suitable face type: Square face shape or rectangle-shaped face
Suitable occasion: Any occasion, preferably a party, wedding, engagement,
Preferred age: Girls and women of young age
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons
Suitable dress: Bridal wear, party wear or any occasional wear
19. Two Braid Hairstyle:
This vintage hairstyle is perfect for those who want something different than what they’re used to wearing. If your usual ponytail has been getting some attention, or if you’ve had people asking for more of it – then this style might be just what you’re looking for. Take a look at how well the person in the photo pulled off this classic look! You’ll need long hair that doesn’t have strands all over it. If your hair isn’t quite long enough yet, give this style a try when it does grow out.
Suitable hair type: Wavy hair without any tangles
Suitable face type: Square face shape
Acceptable occasion: Casual occasion
Preferred age: Teen and young women
Best Seasons to wear: Spring, autumn and summer
Suitable dress: Any casual wear
20. Side Bang Vintage Hairstyle:
The first thing you see may or may not be that hair pin, but either way it stands out in a very much appreciated way. Next, you will notice the mix of straight and wavy styles- which was so popular during the 80s – coming together for this flawless look.
The Suitable hair type: Wavy straight hair
Suitable face type: Heart-shaped face with a sharp chin
Suitable occasion: Any occasion, preferably weddings, parties or special events
Preferred age: Women of all age groups
Best season to wear: Suitable for all seasons
Suitable dress: Occasional wear
Style Tips on How to Maintain Vintage Hairstyle:
- Properly wash your hair with a good shampoo that won’t strip all the natural oils out. This will prevent grease buildup at your roots and keep you looking fresh. A vintage hairstyle, while it falls between shoulder-length to the neck, is much more susceptible to oiliness than longer lengths due to not having enough time for the excess sebum to travel down to the ends of your locks.
- Teasing my hair can also be a great way to add some texture and life to my otherwise uninteresting hairstyle. After taking the front sections of my hair, teasing them until they’re nice and voluminous (and not frizzy), then twisting them together and tucking them back behind my ear.
- Pinned curls are the other highlighting style of vintage hairdos. To pin the curls, work with little sections of hair at a time before going to bed. Curl your hair into a small twist and clip it in so that it lies flat. The next morning, when you wake up, remove the clips and gently brush the curls to get that perfect wavy retro look.
- Pinning curls may seem difficult at first. But once you know how to do it, pinning curls will become second nature! Divide your hair into sections or groups of twirls and twist them tightly before clipping them down for the night. In the morning, unclip the twists and gently brush through them until they achieve their desired shape.
This article will discuss how vintage hairstyles are feminine and gorgeous. Each of the vintage hairstyles mentioned here have a little bit of modern flair or something new to offer, which gives you confidence as you wear them. This article will focus on 15 different styles for your convenience, who knows maybe one might be just what you’re looking for!
FAQs
Should I Consider Face Shape While Opting for a Vintage Hairstyle?
Yes, shape matters when it comes to doing vintage hairstyles. Many women may not know this and make mistakes trying out these styles because of how they pull their hair up. But a woman needs to leave her hair up in order to fully show off her features and face shape. One also needs to consult with their stylist or hairdresser to find out which style would suit them the best.
How to Know if a Vintage Hairstyle Looks Good on Me?
To find out if an old-fashioned hairstyle suits you, consult with a good hairstylist. A hairstylist will know the most flattering style for your face shape.
How Much Maintenance is Required for a Vintage Hairstyle?
It varies depending on the style you choose. For example, styles like a side bang or two braids will require less upkeep while other styles such as pixie cuts may need constant combing.