How to create iconic 1950s hairstyles

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Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Marilyn Monroe – they all epitomised an era of elegance and glamour. Their looks remain timeless and, therefore, it’s no surprise that their influence on style still lives on today. Celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Dita Von Teese, Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera all embrace the hairstyles of the 1950’s, and successfully wear them with a modern twist. Here’s our guide on how you too can follow in the footsteps of the icons of the ‘50’s and get the perfect vintage hairstyle.

Pompadour – Even if you’ve not heard the name before, you’ve no doubt seen it, though you may recognise it as the iconic voluminous quiff-like style that many associate with the era. The pompadour was a style famously worn by male stars such as Elvis Presley but was also adopted by female stars such as actress Betty Grable.

Step 1 – Take a section of hair from the middle of your head at the front and divide it into 3 sections horizontally. Backcomb the back two sections of the hair and add some volumising product to add some much needed lift and volume. Don’t backcomb the front section though or you’ll risk losing a sleek finish.

Step 2 – Pull all three pieces of hair together and pinch the hair towards the bottom, then twist the hair one full turn. Push the whole ‘pomp’ forward to create extra height. Fix in place with hairpins.

Step 3 – As you’ve already backcombed your hair, your pompadour should be pretty tough so don’t be afraid to use a comb to smooth over your hair once it’s done before you use hairspray to keep the look in place.

Marilyn Monroe Curls – Did you know, Marilyn Monroe wasn’t a natural blonde? She was actually a brunette and was advised to dye her hair to help further her career.

Step 1 – Work a handful of mousse into damp hair to help hold your hair in place once styled.

Step 2 – Create a side parting using a thin comb.

Step 3 – Select a relatively large section of hair and wrap it around your curlers. The bigger the section of hair, the looser the curls.

Step 4 – Once you have your curls, add styling gel to get a more polished and elegant curl.

Rolled Fringe – This style is a quick and easy way to add a touch of 1950’s glamour to your look.

Step 1 – Take a relatively large section of hair from the middle of your head, ideally a piece that runs the width of one eye to the other. The section should be about an inch back.

Step 2 – Apply a small amount of hair wax to your fingers and run it through this section of hair. Backcomb the hair a little to add volume and use more wax if you need to smooth over any flyaway hairs after doing so.

Step 3 – Wrap the end of the section of hair around two fingers to create a circular shape. Spray this piece of hair with hairspray for hold. Then remove your fingers and whilst holding the circle in place with your thumb, roll the hair under and up towards your hairline.

Step 4 – Pin your hair in place at the bottom where the roll meets your hairline. Use hairspray to fix the look in place.

Let me know if you give any of these styles a go. In the meantime, I’ve got a little prize giveaway for you enter where you can win a set of John Frieda Luxurious Volume products, including 7 Day Volume Shampoo, 7 Day Volume Conditioner, and 7 Day Volume In-Shower Treatment. One lucky winner will scoop all three products to help them create the hairstyle of their dreams. Enter via the rafflecopter widget below now:

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The giveaway runs from 21st August – 30th August 2015 and is open to UK residents only.

Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂