Perfect Curls

This extraordinary updo is a breathtaking feat of hairdressing: a dense, full arrangement of perfectly formed pin curls and rosette curls that covers the head in an unbroken carpet of controlled, gleaming beauty. It is one of the most impressive hairstyles of its era.

The hair is a warm, medium brown with chestnut undertones, and it has been set into tight, round curls throughout, from the back all the way up and over the crown. Each curl is well-defined, and together they create a continuous, richly textured surface that looks simultaneously like a garden of flowers, a honeycomb, and a piece of particularly fine embroidered fabric. It is intricate, densely worked, and magnificent.

What is most striking about this hairstyle is its completeness. There is no part of the head where the arrangement becomes less precise. The back of the head is every bit as beautiful as the front. Each curl has been created with care, and the overall architecture of the arrangement has been thought through from every angle.

The silhouette is broad and rounded, creating a wide, generous dome that rises well above the natural head shape. The base of the style is cleanly defined: the hair is swept up from the nape of the neck and the sides in smooth curves before breaking into the field of curls above. This gives the whole arrangement a sense of structure and containment.

This hairstyle is as beautiful from behind as it is from the side. You can see the elegant, long neck set off against the mass of curls above, and the pearl stud earrings are the only adornment needed. The white silk blouse with its lace detailing at the collar provides a clean, light backdrop.

In the world of 1914, mastering a style like this would have required enormous technical skill and probably a great deal of time. It likely involved long preparation the night before, with the curls set with rags or papers and then carefully arranged and pinned the following morning. The result was worth every minute.

©Hairfinder.com

See also: Vintage Hair