Vintage Hairstyles 1915 - 1920
Vintage Working Woman Hairstyle
Here we see the birth of the "working woman" hairstyle. The waves in her hair are very relaxed and natural-looking. Her hair is styled with a prominent side part, while the thickness of the hair on top of her head is exaggerated with hairpieces covered by her own hair.
She wears her fringe low on her forehead, almost touching her eyebrows, while the tips of her ears are visible.
Even though this style is much more asexual than what women were accustomed to wearing, the soft waves around her face and ears make it feminine. Note the absence of hair accessories and the work shirt 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 hairpiece attached to her fringe area, styled in Marcel waves, flowing to the back of her head. The hairline 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 jeweled 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 in the occipital bone area inevitably creates 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-part 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 her forehead toward the back of her head.
Note the uncluttered and simple outline of the style and the complete absence of exaggerated width or height. The outline follows the natural silhouette of her head shape, culminating in 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 woman who tried her best to resist letting the horrors of war take a toll on her appearance. There was a movement among many wealthy women to maintain their appearance in an effort to boost the morale of their men by refusing to appear drab and depressed.
This woman wears a hairpiece attached to her fringe area, creating a faux fringe styled in Marcel waves. The waves frame her face and join the hair at the back in a beautifully elaborate pile-up structure in the parietal bone area, created with a hair-hat, supporting hairpieces, and hair accessories.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1915
War-Time Hairstyle
Here we have a stunning example of a hair-hat used to create the structure of a constructed hairstyle. The hair-hat is attached over the occipital bone area and covered with the woman's own hair, along with supporting sections of hairpieces, rendering the hair-hat completely invisible.
Her hair is styled into Marcel waves that frame her face and cover most of her ears. The exaggerated height and thickness in the occipital and parietal regions create a prevalent oval shape from all sides of the head. Note the serious and intense facial expression, echoing the emotions common during wartime.
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 positive outcome was that women were forced to step up, consequently realizing their own self-worth both personally and socially.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, March 1920
Ringlets and a Faux Fringe
Here we see many ringlets framing the face. She wears a faux fringe attached to her natural fringe area. The fringe is styled into a side part, which progresses down the sides of her face and over her ears.
The rest of the hair is styled into waves, which are combed toward 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 woman’s own hair and extra hairpieces.
A hair accessory, most likely made of sterling silver and marcasite as was customary in those days, adds aesthetic value and support for the hair-hat.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, April 1920
Little Ringlets
Here we see a side part and many 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, forming a constructed pile-up style at the back. The hair-hat is meticulously covered by the woman’s own hair and extra hairpieces, creating an even and flawless look.
The pile-up is exaggerated in height and thickness, 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 fashionable during 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 style resembles the modern short bob from the front. This would have been cutting-edge fashion in this era, as prior styles primarily used long hair with elaborate up-styles, hair-hats, and many hairpieces.
The sharp lines of the style accentuate the woman’s cheekbones and striking facial features. Note her liberated and enlightened facial expression, her beautiful headdress attached to the occipital bone area, the low neckline of her clothing, and the absence of jewelry.
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 styled in Marcel waves, creating extra length and especially width from the front view. Note her own hair styled similarly, with waves cascading from beneath the hairpiece to cover her ears.
The faux fringe is styled into a slight side part and is thick and long, touching her eyebrows before being swept to the back of the style. The frontal waves are brushed backward to join the rest of the style at the back.
Additional hairpieces are added to create a seamless look. Note the absence of plumes or extravagant hair accessories, creating 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 from this era. Her hair is styled into brushed-out waves, with a side part framing the face in waves that cascade down the sides and over the tops of her ears. The waves around her face soften the overall look, giving it an undeniably feminine appearance.
The length of her hair is beautifully twisted 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 at the back.
Note her animated facial expression, low neckline, and the complete absence of jewelry, accentuating her long neck and strong cheekbones.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, February 1920
The Great Gatsby Look
Here we have a style that undeniably reminds us of "The Great Gatsby." A single lock of hair falls down the center 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 hairpieces were 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 makeup, engaging facial expression, and low neckline.
Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, April 1920
