Fashionable hairstyles of the 40s of the last century

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A little history
Popular hairstyles of the 40s
Short hair in the 40s
Medium hair in the 40s
Stars of the 40s
40s style in modern times
Rules for the perfect retro hairstyle
How to do a hairstyle with rollers?
Other 40s Hairstyles

The 40s of the last century were saddened by the height of the world war. Armed clashes always become a test for fashion. The approach to things, views on the world, and presentation of oneself change. Durability and convenience come first. People's destinies change, and representatives of the fashion world are no exception. Many had to adapt to events or stop work. The fashion of that era was full of different events, both sad and happy.

A little history

So, let's tell you some facts from the history of that time.

During the period of military clashes, the only option for the fairer sex to change the dullness of the image and add variety to it was hats. Clothes were expensive, but buying or sewing a hat was always easier. Almost all the hats were in the form of a turban that rose above the head, because this model matched the hairstyle. The combed curls were lifted up, they were made into a bun, hidden in a net. In the Soviet Union, such installations were called “lousy houses.” This was actually true, because due to savings, hair was washed rarely, no more than a couple of times a month.

The purpose of the headdress is to hide the curls, and this shape of the hat did an excellent job of this task. The fashion for wearing turbans came from the countries of South America. During the war, France was “cut off” from America, the main consumer of fashion, so the United States turned its attention to these countries: Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.

Women who worked on plantations in Latin American countries tied a cloth on their heads, something like a turban. This is how they hid from the heat. And the Brazilian actress Miranda, who was famous in Hollywood, introduced platform shoes into fashion. She was short, so in order to look taller, she wore shoes with 20 cm long heels and a platform, and tied a turban on her head. It was sewn from scraps.

Now everything that was popular at the beginning of the last century is coming back into fashion. And fashionable styling is no exception.

Everything new is long-forgotten old. All newfangled trends are based on this truth. Fashion collections are filled with hairstyles that were created based on the main elements of the last century. The 20s, 40s, 50s are distinguished by special styling details.

Popular hairstyles of the 40s

A distinctive feature of the fashion of that era is the style of the femme fatale. This image remained an inseparable element of the appearance of Hollywood stars of that time. The desired effect was achieved by carefully twisting the strands from approximately the middle of the length to the ends.

In addition, the classic smooth bun was popular in the 40s. And a bob with hair curled from the center to the ends looked great on hair of different shades. It was considered attractive when the hair was curled into a roll in front. Such styling is actively used during fashion shows of our time.

If you want to try out a retro style, then think about the popular hairstyles of the 40s. This period was difficult for all humanity, but even during it women wanted to remain attractive. For styling, they used various improvised means. We have a much wider choice of products, so repeating the styling is much easier.

At the peak of the popularity of hairstyles of that era was the Victory Rolls with rollers (curls on both sides of the parting). At that time, medium-length hair was preferred; it was easier to wrap rolls and make curls from it.

In this styling, symmetry was the main weapon. The hair was divided into clear halves with a regular parting. On both sides of it, the upper strands were formed into rollers; they needed to be secured with hairpins. The back curls could also be gathered into a roll or left loose, twisted into spiral strands.

The most popular hairstyle of the 40s were hair rollers. This is a kind of symbol of that era.

With such a styling, the bangs did not look good; they were let go and hidden up, pinned with hairpins. The parting was so neat from the very beginning of the hairline. In addition to the 2 rollers, they made a single roller that rose above the forehead. It was twisted from the bangs, lifted up and pinned near the roots. At the back, they also made a roller from the strands or twisted them.

Small curls on short hair

Curls for this hairstyle can be done in different ways: braided, curled with curlers or special curling irons. But we’ll probably take the most original method - we’ll try to wrap our hair around juice straws. The curls turn out beautiful and springy. So, let's stock up on tubes and bobby pins, and let's go! Wet your hair and part it. We will wind from the lower strands to the upper ones.

We wind the tube onto the strands - bend one end of it at the root of the hair and secure it with a bobby pin. We wind the strand around the tube and secure the end of the strand with a bobby pin. This way you need to make curls all over your head.
Let the tubes sit for several hours.
We sort the hair with our fingers.
You can make a lot of hairstyles out of the resulting curls or leave them loose, decorating your head with a retro-style headband.
To create a popular retro hairstyle with a scarf, you need to take a colorful or bright scarf. Comb the hair forward from the back of the head and fix it with hairspray. We tie a scarf to the place where the comb begins and tie it in a beautiful knot. Spray the back of the hair with hairspray. Ready!

Author of the article: Miragovic Maria

Fashion specialist.

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Short hair in the 40s

In the 40s, short hair, like long hair, was also popular. For example, they made small curls from them, winding them on small curlers, and then carefully combed them so as not to break the curls. They needed to be made as small as possible, no more than 2 centimeters in diameter. In order for the styling to hold better, the hair was first moisturized and then attached to the base of the hair.

Small curls were created more often on short hair, because... hair of medium or long length is not able to maintain the shape of such curls for a long time; they unwind due to the heaviness of the hair.

By changing the diameter, direction, and location of the curls, you can add variety to your look. It will take a lot of time to get long-lasting curls. This hairstyle is not created in an hour. For this reason, the curlers were left on all night.

Double haircuts for women 40-50 years old - hairstyles that transcend time and space!

Beautiful, original hairstyle - double cascade. The haircut is somewhat similar to the classic cascade, but with a clear division into two level zones. This hairstyle is a great option for women aged 40-50 years.

It consists of a voluminous “cap” on top and longer lower hair.

The hairstyle visually rejuvenates due to the elevation in the occipital and parietal parts. The ends can be curled with tongs or while drying.

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Who suits double haircuts at the age of 40-50?

Fade haircuts suit many women, but some face types need to choose these hairstyles with caution.

Those with a round face should cut the top part of their hair shorter, down to eye level. This technique will visually lengthen the oval of the face;
For women with regular oval or triangular face shapes, all options for double haircuts are available. They only get benefits from them;
Coarse hair is very difficult to take the shape of such hairstyles. In order not to exert maximum effort when laying, it is necessary to profile the upper part. Hair will become lighter and will better retain its shape and volume;
Curly-haired beauties must take a responsible approach to the choice of a hairdresser if they decide on a double cascade. Only an experienced hairdresser will be able to adjust the ends of the curls to the required position.

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Double cascade classification

Depending on the length of the hair, there are several main types of double haircuts. I propose to consider some of them.

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Double cascade with a short crown for women 40-50 years old

Whatever length you decide to keep your hair at the bottom, a shorter crown is sure to make your face look more oval. This method of adjustment is ideal for women over forty. Wrinkles and cheeks seem to be smoothed out, the double chin becomes less noticeable.

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Double haircut with bangs

It is quite rare to see such a haircut without bangs, since it does not suit everyone. With bangs, the image is complete and more harmonious.

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It is better to choose torn or oblique bangs, which are fashionable this season. The location of the parting in this hairstyle does not matter.

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Double cascading haircut for long and medium hair

The lower curls create the main length, while the upper ones - the cap, cut to the level of the earlobe - frame the face, making it more expressive. This haircut allows fans of long hair to have a stylish hairstyle while maintaining the length.

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Like any other haircut, the double haircut has many variations that suit a certain clothing style or hair color. After consulting with your master, you will definitely choose the most suitable option for you personally.

What kind of haircut do you have: double cascade, classic or do you prefer a bob? Or maybe a short pixie? Be sure to tell us about your choice in the comments.

Medium hair in the 40s

In the 40s, medium hair was often curled into large curls, with a backcomb on top. The parting was done either in the middle or on the side. The strands were combed and divided so that maximum volume was obtained.

The forehead was usually left open; at that time, bangs were not highly valued. The front curls were raised up and combed, or they were made into one large wave, turning into the main curls, which was laid on one of the sides.

A popular accessory at the time was the hairnet . It was easy to make with your own hands: knit or crochet. Sometimes it was undecorated, but more often it was decorated with various beads. The mesh held the tail, bun or roller. Often the hair was attached only at the back, so the mesh was not noticeable from the front; traditionally, there were rolls of curls in the foreground.

It was a convenient accessory: the mesh helped keep the hairstyle in shape, hold the hair in place, and hide imperfections in styling. She eliminated the hassle of creating hairstyles from back curls

Stars of the 40s

In every era, there are celebrities who reflect fashion. If we talk about which stars are a symbol of the 40s, then it is worth remembering these:

Marlene Dietrich. The sophisticated and elegant actress embodied the fashion of the World War era. She carefully monitored her styling, creating airy curls from her hair. I laid my hair on one side, giving preference to asymmetry.
Veronica Lake. This famous actress from the USA presented a hairstyle where waves of hair covered one eye. But at the same time, she was also noticed with Victory Rolls styling. This hairstyle, which reveals the entire face, suited her incredibly well.
Janes Russell. A magnificent symbol of the time, the US actress wore her locks in medium length. She used them to create asymmetrical styles and large curls. She often opened her forehead, allowing only a small strand of hair in front to hide her face.

Katharine Hepburn. This actress tried on different hairstyles that were fashionable in the 40s. In addition to the hair, she created a tube of hair on the front of her head, rising above her forehead.

How to choose a short haircut for women over 40 years old

First of all, when choosing a hairstyle, you need to take into account general principles and take into account individual appearance features. Also, do not forget about the hair structure. It is important to choose a haircut that suits your face type:

Oval provides the largest selection - it is considered the standard, any option is suitable for it.
If a narrow chin and wide forehead form a triangle, you need to smooth out the difference by shifting attention from the lower part to the cheekbone line. Beveled or torn bangs and a classic bob will come to the rescue.
The round shape requires a little correction; a cascade or bob with strands on the sides will help to divert attention from full cheeks.
If the lower jaw has a square outline, it will be softened by a cascade that frames the face with graduated strands.
For ladies with a too elongated face, a bob with long bangs is suitable - it will change the proportions and visually increase the width.

As they age, many women face the problem of excess weight. Therefore, haircuts for short hair after 40 years become an opportunity for plump beauties to divert attention from curvaceous figures. You can disguise your chubby cheeks with an asymmetrical parting. Fat ladies should forget about sleek hairstyles. You can remove excess roundness by creating additional volume - this is achieved by thinning the ends.

Women over 40 can choose any length, but the condition and structure of the hair must be taken into account. If they remain thick and healthy, you don’t have to give up curls that reach your shoulders or below. But stylists advise giving preference to short haircuts - they are most capable of emphasizing mature femininity and sexuality. It is important that such hairstyles do not require complex care. The photo shows that even on thin hair without styling, short haircuts for women over 40 look very good.

Attention!
Ladies with curly hair should not cut their hair short. The average length is optimal for them.

A review of fashionable women's haircuts for short hair, relevant in 2021 for women over 40 with photos, will help you make your choice. It presents the most beautiful and modern anti-aging hairstyles that can highlight natural beauty and, if necessary, hide some imperfections.

40s style in modern times

In modern times, the style of the 40s is valued no less. Extravagant ladies who consider themselves to be extraordinary and special individuals try to repeat them. Vintage style is the precision not of a single detail, but of all of them at once.

Each era is marked by star symbols. In the 40s, the symbols of the era were Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Janes Russell

In other words, it is not enough just to put the hairstyle of that time on your head; you need to select the appropriate make-up, outfit, or suit for it. Light skin tone, red lipstick, and black eyeliner go better with such hairstyles.

Rules for the perfect retro hairstyle

If you want to stand out, then follow the rules for creating the perfect retro hairstyle. They depend on the years whose trends you want to take as a basis. Since the 20s of the last century, hair styling features have been constantly changing, but they are united by one thing: uniqueness and chic. Let's try to figure them out:

20s style - chic . This period of time was distinguished by the desire of women to win equality. Increasingly, representatives of the fairer sex cut off their long locks. Because of this, the garcon and page haircuts appeared. But elegance did not go away, so the girls created curls from their hair. If you want to repeat that style, then remember that the curls should be clear. Hair clips will help for this purpose;
30s style - naturalness . After 10 years, the tension subsided, and the ladies were tired of constantly emphasizing aggression. The waves became softer, and side partings and bangs came into fashion. In order to reproduce the styling of that time, it is important to remember naturalness. Curls are required to be neat and soft;

40s style – pin-up and retro . This style is truly special. If you are a bright lady who is used to shining, then this image will suit you perfectly. Remember the main thing: rollers, buns, curls or smooth strands. Sloppiness is not allowed, only elegant style and sexuality. By the way, note that the hair color is required to be rich and bright, halftones are not allowed;
50-60s style – volume . During this period, voluminous hairstyles appeared in fashion, displacing boring curls. It was during these years that the well-known “Babette” arose. In addition, girls began to cut their hair very short. To repeat the style, you will have to resort to rollers and backcombing. A distinctive feature is that you need to pull your hair back to emphasize your face shape;

To accurately follow the style, you will have to try to reproduce the details of the hairstyles. If you are making only a hint of retro, then a few styling details are enough.

70s style - freedom . During this era, ladies abandoned intricate hairstyles, choosing natural ones. But there are secrets here too: in order to repeat the style, you will have to create volume at the roots and achieve perfect smoothness of the hair.

Facial hair

In the 1940s, most men preferred the clean-shaven look. The few who wore facial hair usually did so in the form of a mustache. Errol Flynn's thin mustache was popular in the 1930s after the actor made his silver screen debut. The area between the mustache and nose needed to be shaved so that the mustache line followed the contour of the upper lip. It was often trimmed so that it never became too fluffy. Several men continued to wear the style into the 1940s, including leader Clark Gable. His mustache was not as thin as the 30s style. They were a little fuller, but still thinned out enough to see the skin underneath the hair.

In 1947, a club was created to support men who decided not to shave their mustaches after serving in the army. All styles were allowed, but these were full bushy mustaches with long, curled ends.

Older men who could not thin out their mustaches mostly grew beards. It was very rare even among older people, but some actors made it a trademark, starring historical figures, detectives, doctors and scientists. Beards were also more common among British officers, such as the Duke of Edinburgh.

How to do a hairstyle with rollers?

So, let's figure out how to do a hairstyle with rollers - the most popular hairstyle of the 40s:

Part your hair . It must be perfect. Pin the front curls, including the bangs. Comb the curls from above and twist them into rollers from ends to roots. They need to be stabbed. It is important that the hairpins are not visible, and that the rollers lie loosely on the head; they must be twisted in the form of rings so that the gap is noticeable. As a result, you will get 2 rollers, one on each side. They need to be laid symmetrically, one should be a reflection of the other
Only the top hair is used to create rollers . The rest of the curls are collected into a ponytail with an elastic band. Secure it with bobby pins to remove the elastic, and twist the back strands into a roller and lift it to the back of the head. This entire structure needs to be pinned with studs.
Finally, fix the installation with varnish .

If the classic styling of this type required rigor and symmetry, today you can modify the image by adding asymmetry. Part it on the side so that there is more hair on one side. So one tuft is collected from the curls at the front and sides, the other from a smaller part. Remember to carefully backcomb the strands for the rollers.

Other 40s Hairstyles

If you've already tried the Victory Rolls style, then it's worth trying out other 40s hairstyles. It’s worth trying to build a layout from a famous wartime poster in the USA:

First, curl your hair with a curling iron or curlers.
Straighten your curls into spiral curls and secure with hairspray.
Comb the front strand back and backcomb it heavily to create volume. Afterwards it is wrapped in a high bun, pinned at the back so that it is high above the head.
Wrap the strands on the sides into thin strands and pull them back. There they need to be attached to the hair.
The hair is gathered up from the back, forming a roll.
The styling is topped with a wide red scarf with white polka dots. It needs to be tied so that the knot is at the top. There should be a tuft of front curls above the edge of the scarf.

If excessive effort is not your plan, then create a hairstyle that is similar to this style. For example, the roll of front curls is already a reference to the 40s. It is twisted upward so that it rises above the forehead. Curl the remaining curls with a curling iron.

Styling for voluminous hair

Rhapsody

The photo shows the fashion of the 8-0s for curvy women's hairstyles, which have quite a lot in common with each other:

Another option for a multi-layered haircut is rhapsody; its distinctive feature is the high raised back of the head.

At the front, you can cut your bangs and make a ladder, and at the back, the crown area is cut so that the strands overlap one another, creating maximum volume.

Rhapsody is perfect for those with curly hair. Curling, the curls will create the necessary volume on the top of the head, which you won’t even have to style.

This type of bangs is an ideal choice for chubby ladies. Stylish coloring such as shatush or balayage will perfectly modernize the rhapsody. Here no one will suspect you of moving through time - it’s immediately clear that you have a fresh, trendy hairstyle.

Aurora

One of the most characteristic and recognizable hairstyles in the style of the 80s, the aurora also has a lot in common with the cascade.

The hair at the top of the head is cut short like a bob or bob, while the lower half is left long. All hair is milled, which gives it lightness.

Do not forget to regularly visit the hairdresser and refresh your haircut, otherwise it will quickly lose its shape and lose its unique charm.

If you have manageable and not capricious hair, there should be no problems with styling Aurora. You don’t even have to blow dry your hair, just comb it after washing and leave it to dry naturally.

You can create a messy hairstyle out of Aurora by applying gel to the ends and tousling the hair with your fingers. A romantic styling option is to comb all your hair to one side and set the direction with a hairdryer. If some strands do not lie correctly, correct them with a curling iron.