Waves and a Feather

Some hairstyles feel restrained, their beauty coming from what has been held back. And then there are hairstyles that seem to reach upward, as though the woman wearing them has something to announce to the world. This stunning updo from 1912 is very much in the second category.

The medium brown hair is styled into a high arrangement of deeply rippled finger waves. These waves travel across the crown of the head in long horizontal lines, creating a pattern of peaks and valleys that catches the light. The technique behind finger waving was already well established by this period, and when done well, the result is almost sculptural.

What lifts this look into something extraordinary is the double headband that wraps around the front of the waves. Made of silver-toned metal, the band features elongated oval links decorated with small marcasite or paste gem details, giving it a look that sits somewhere between a tiara and a flapper headband.

1910s updo with a headband and a feather

And then there is the feather. Rising from the side of the hair arrangement is a large, soft white feather. Feathers were enormously popular hair accessories during this era. A single well-placed feather could transform an already impressive updo into something that felt truly ceremonial.

From the back and side, you can see how thoughtfully the waves have been constructed. The hair is arranged in horizontal tiers, each wave slightly offset from the one above, before the whole thing is swept back and pinned into an updo.

This is the kind of hairstyle that makes you understand why the early 1910s are sometimes called the age of grand style. Before the relative simplicity of the 1920s changed everything, women of means and fashion invested enormous effort and artistry into their hair, and the results were magnificent.

©Hairfinder.com

See also: Vintage Hair