Eileen Casey reports on hair transformations from the humble ‘cropped bob’ to ‘silver screen goddess’
During the 1920s or ‘Flapper Era,’ as it is also called, fashions for women were quite boyish. Feminine curves were hidden beneath straight cut dresses, hemlines became shorter and so did hair lengths. Cropped bobs were very popular and were first seen in Hollywood on actresses like Irene Castle. Then along came ‘The Finger Wave’ hairstyle. Finger waves were used to soften the ‘hard edge’ of the bob.
Finger waves were often seen alongside pin curls, which were used to style and finish the ends of the hair. In old-fashioned hairdressing, the rule was to have three waves and two rows of pin curls. Film stars such as Scarlett Johansson are synonymous with ‘The Peek-a-Boo,’ considered to be one of the most seductive styles.
It transforms the wearer to the status of silver screen goddess.
This style is made up of sleek, shiny shoulder length hair with one side dipping over the eye.
By contrast, during the war years, screen greats like Rita Hayworth popularised ‘Victory Rolls’, a style that brought the hair back from the face.
While women rolled up their sleeves and got involved with the war effort, they also rolled their hair. Fashion was rapidly changing due to shortage of fabric and the need to ration.
Hairstyles had to be practical as women worked in the factories while their husbands went to war. ‘The Victory Roll’ was named after the manoeuvres of fighter planes and it was a safe way to dress the hair, keeping it away from machinery and leaving room to put on a hat without squashing the style.