Vintage Hairstyles 1915 - 1920
Vintage Working Woman Hairstyle
Here we see the birth of the "working woman" hairstyle. The waves of her hair are very relaxed and natural-looking. Her hair is worn in a prominent side-part, while the thickness of the hair on top of her head is exaggerated with hair-pieces that are covered with her own hair.
She wears her fringe low on her forehead, almost touching her eyebrows, while the tips of her lobes are visible.
Even though this style is much more a-sexual than ladies were costumed to wear, the soft waves around her face and ears make it feminine. Note the absence of hair-accessories and the work shirt that she is wearing.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, February 1916
Simple Vintage Up Style
Here we see an up style that is relatively simple compared to pre-war styles. She wears a hair-piece attached to her fringe area, styled in Marcel-waves, flowing to the back of the head. The hair-line is clean and uncluttered, emphasizing her oval facial shape.
The Marcel-waves are styled in a slight pile-up constructed in the occipital bone area. A jewelled hair-accessory, (probably made of sterling silver and marcasite, as was customary in this era), adds aesthetic value and structural support.
Note that the style follows the silhouette of her head, even though the slight elevation on the occipital bone area will inevitably create a flattering oval shape from the side view.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1915
Vintage Professional Woman Hairstyle
Here we have another beautiful glimpse of the birth of the modern "professional woman" hairstyle. A hairpiece is attached to create a faux side-parting in the fringe area.
The hairpiece is styled in waves, creating a v-shaped structure of subsequent waves radiating to the sides of her face and from the forehead towards the back of her head.
Note the uncluttered and simple outline of the style, and the complete absence of exaggerated width or height of this style. The outline follows the natural silhouette of her head-shape, culminating a natural and youthful appearance. Note the grave and weary facial expression.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1915
Elaborate Hairstyle
Here we have another exquisite example of a lady that tried her best to refuse to let the horrors of war take its toll on her appearance. There was a crusade among a large number of the wealthy women to continue doing their best with their appearance, in an attempt to keep the morale of their men up by refusing to become visibly drab and depressed.
This woman wears a hairpiece attached to the fringe area, creating a faux-fringe styled in Marcel waves. The waves frame her face, joining the hair at the back in a beautifully elaborate pile-up structure in the parietal bone area, constructed by a hair-hat and supporting hair-pieces and hair-accessories.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1915
War-Time Hairstyle
Here we have an absolutely beautiful example of a hair-hat being used to create the structure of a constructed hairstyle. The hair-hat is attached over the occipital bone area. This structure is then covered with the woman's own hair and supporting sections of hair-pieces, in order to render the hair-hat completely invisible.
Her hair is styled into Marcel-waves, framing her face and covering the most of her ears. The exaggerated height and thickness in the occipital- and parietal region creates a prevalent oval shape from all sides of the head. Note the serious and intense facial expression, echoing the emotions ubiquitous in war-time.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, April 1915
1920s Hairstyle
Here we have a beautiful picture of feminine freedom and progress. The ravages of war were indescribably horrible, but one good thing that came from it was that women were forced to step up to the plate, consequently realizing their own self-worth in personal capacity and as a whole with regards to the society.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, March 1920
Ringlets and a Faux-Fringe
Here we see lots of ringlets framing the face. She wears a faux-fringe, attached to her natural fringe area. The fringe is styled into a side-parting, which progresses down the sides of the face and over the ears.
The rest of the hair is styled into waves which are combed to the back of the head. An exaggerated construction is styled in the area above the occipital bone. A hair-hat is used to create this horizontal shape, which is camouflaged with the lady's own hair as well as extra hairpieces.
A hair-accessory, (most probably made of sterling silver and marcasite as was customary in those days), serves as aesthetic value as well as support for the hair-hat.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, April 1920
Little Ringlets
Here we see a side-part, and lots of little ringlets framing the face, and covering the ears. Combed out waves are styled to the back. A hair-hat is attached to the area just above the occipital bone, to form a constructed pile-up style at the back. The hair-hat is meticulously covered by the lady's own hair and extra hair-pieces so that the covering seems even and flawless.
The pile-up is exaggerated in height and thickness, consequently creating an oblong-oval silhouette from the back and side views. Note the hair-accessories, most certainly made of marcasite and sterling silver as was fashion in this era.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, December 1920
1920s Wavy Bob
Here we see a wide side-part, with Marcel-waves combed in opposite directions. The waves frame the face flatteringly, while covering the ears completely. Note that this looks akin to the modern-day short bob from the front. This would have been cutting-edge fashion in this era, as the styles leading up to this era were all created by using long hair and accentuating big and elaborate up-styles with hair-hats and lots of hair-pieces.
The sharp line of the style exaggerates the lady's cheekbones and striking facial features. Note the liberated and enlightened facial-expression, beautiful headdress attached to the occipital bone area, the low neck-line of her clothes and absence of jewellery.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, December 1920
1920s Modern Woman Look
Here we see a V-shaped faux-fringe hairpiece attached to her natural fringe area. The hairpiece is style in Marcel-waves, creating extra length and especially width from the front view. Note her own hair styled in the same fashion, waving from beneath the hair-piece to cover her ears.
The faux-fringe is styled into a slight side-path, and is thick and long, touching her eye-brows before being swept to the back of the style. The frontal waves are brushed backwards to join the rest of the style at the back.
Additional hair-pieces are added to create a seamless look. Note the absence of plumes or extravagant hair-accessories, crafting a more "modern woman" look of this era.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, January 1920
Brushed-Out Waves
Here we have another "modern woman" look of this era. Her hair is styled into brushed-out waves, fashioned into a side-part and framing the face in waves that cascade down the sides and over the tops of the ears. The waves styled around the face soften the whole look, giving it an undeniably feminine look.
The length of her hair is twisted beautifully and pinned up at the back in the occipital bone area. The style mainly follows the silhouette of her head, though it is slightly exaggerated in height and thickness in the back.
Note her animated facial expression, low neckline and complete absence of jewellery, accentuating her long neck and strong cheekbones.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, February 1920
The Great Gatsby Look
Here we have another picture that undeniably reminds us of "The Great Gatsby". A single lock of hair falls down the centre of her forehead, while the hair at the sides of her head is curled in relatively tight ringlets. She wears a wide headband around her head, with waves spilling out from the top of the band.
A hair-hat and additional hair-pieces was used to create the exaggerated height and thickness on top of her head. Strings of pearls are attached to the headband, hanging in three rows of different lengths down the front of her neck.
Note the modern make-up, engaging facial expression and low-neckline.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, April 1920
