Vintage Hairstyles 1914
Little Curls
Here we see a cascade of little curls framing the face on both sides, also covering the ears as was customary in this era. Extra hairpieces were most likely fitted on the sides of her head to create the exaggerated thickness framing the face.
The curls are styled in a downward direction, spanning from the fringe area down to covering the earlobes. A jeweled hairband is used for support of the extra hairpieces and for aesthetic appeal.
A hair-hat was used to create extra thickness in the occipital bone area. Note that the hair is constructed around the hairband.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, November 1913
Waves and a Feather
Here we see a side parting of the fringe, styled into relaxed Marcel-tong waves that frame the face. The waves span from the off-center base in a downward direction, covering the ears. Note how the waves from the back of the head connect with the frontal waves, creating a seemingly fluid wave pattern. Hairpieces were most likely used to create some of the waves, adding thickness to the style.
A jewel-and-feather hair accessory was used to add extra height and complete the equilibrium of the exaggerated width of the style. A hair-hat was most likely also used to create the height in the occipital bone area.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, November 1913
World War One Hairstyle
World War One was sparked by the brutal assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. From this point, fashion, and inevitably hairstyles, became less extravagant and more practical.
Here we see a fringe hairpiece attached to the center of her fringe area. The hair is styled into Marcel-tong waves, which spread outwards from the original base point in the center fringe area.
The waves frame her face, still covering the ears, and connect at the back to form height at the occipital area and thickness in the nape area. Note how the neckline is left bare to accentuate the jawline and neck silhouette.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1914
Cone-Shaped Hairstyle
Here we have a slightly asymmetrical cone-shaped hairstyle with exaggerated height, with a baseline spanning from the nape area, over the occipital bone, and constructed in a pile-up fashion over the parietal bone area.
Multiple hairpieces and a hair-hat were used to construct this hairstyle. A hairpiece was attached in the fringe area to create the perfect faux fringe, swept to the back, and incorporated into the cone area of the hairstyle.
The hair is styled into Marcel-tong waves, covering the ears while framing the face to soften the look. Note the jeweled hair accessory used to stabilize the hair-hat and serve as an aesthetic adornment.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1914
Start of WW1 Hairstyle
Here is another example of hairdressing turning down the glitz and glam in the face of the start of World War I in June 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife while on a visit to Bosnia.
Note the toned-down height and width. The style is still elaborate and feminine but much less extravagant. Marcel-tong waves are styled in different directions, flowing into one another, and pulled together at the back in a fashion resembling the French roll.
Note the beautiful oval shape from the side, with only the tips of the earlobes showing.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, July 1914
World War 1 Look
Note the somber mood created in this picture. This is around the time World War I started, sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The hair is styled into relaxed Marcel-tong waves, with an off-center parting at the fringe, and loose waves gently cascading down the sides of the face.
Note that the ears are showing in this picture, which was uncommon before the World War I era.
The front waves are seamlessly incorporated with the back of the hairstyle, likely created with hairpieces supported by hair accessories. Note that the style is based on the natural shape and proportion of the head.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, July 1914
World War One Hair
In August 1914, the stark reality of World War I began to dawn on the people. More than five countries declared war during this period, and many lives were lost even at the very beginning.
Fashion, and inevitably hairstyles, started to reflect a more solemn and toned-down sense of emotion. Note the absence of elaborate feathers or headdresses in this era. The silhouette of this style is clear and unfussy.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, August 1914
World War I Era Hairstyle
On September 5, 1914, the First Battle of the Marne began. Trench warfare commenced as soldiers on both sides dug in. Women lost their husbands and sons, and children lost their fathers and brothers in the many battles.
People began to realize the immense peril that the future held, and this is reflected in the pictures, fashion, and hairstyles of this era. Gone are the ostentatious feather-and-jewel hair accessories. Note the toned-down and natural silhouette of this hairstyle.
The ears are covered, with Marcel waves styled to frame the face, seamlessly blending into the back waves, connected to form a beautiful pile-up in the occipital bone area.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, September 1914
Marcel Waves
Note the toned-down look of this hairstyle. With World War I raging among several countries, extravagant feathers and horizontally wide hairstyles have disappeared.
Here we see an off-center parting in the fringe area, with Marcel waves styled in a V-shape, originating in the base area of the parted fringe. The waves flow in opposite directions to create a wavy frame around the face, flowing over the ears and blending into the back area of the hairstyle.
A hair-hat was used for exaggerated height in the occipital bone area, while the hair-hat is disguised by seamlessly incorporating the lady's own hair and making use of several hairpieces.
Illustration Source: Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, September 1914
Hair Swept Backwards
Here we see the hair swept backwards, away from the face, held in place by a hairband. The hair is styled in a combination of Marcel waves and curls, with the base of the hair featuring Marcel waves and the tips ending in curls.
Note that the ears are once again covered, and the silhouette line of the style follows the natural shape of her head, even though the parietal bone and occipital area are exaggerated in height. A hair-hat and several hairpieces were most likely used to construct this hairstyle, with the hairband acting as extra support for the structure of the hair-hat.
Illustration Source: Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, August 1914
1914 War Look
By October 1914, the First Battle of Ypres began, consequently ending the Race to the Sea during World War I. By this time, war had ravaged many lives, and the horror began to dawn upon the people. The echoes of fear can be clearly seen in the changes in fashion and hairstyles.
Here we see no bright feathers or flashy jewelry in her hair. Plain Marcel-tong waves, styled with a side part at the fringe area, frame the face and follow the natural curve of her head. Note the solemn and grave emotion in this picture.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, October 1914
Pile-Up Hairstyle
Even though the enormity and threat of World War I were becoming apparent, and the seriousness was reflected in clothing and hairstyles, there was a movement of women who felt it was their duty to continue dressing beautifully and flamboyantly to keep the spirits of their men up, even in the face of war's horrors.
Here we see a lady with an exaggerated pile-up hairstyle, created with Marcel-tong waves, extra hairpieces, a hair-hat, and jeweled hair accessories. She has a short fringe and waves framing her face, while the front and back waves integrate seamlessly.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, October 1914
