Vintage Hairstyles 1909 - 1914

These pictures take us on a walk down memory lane, starting with a 1909 example of the iconic Gibson Girl, created by Charles Dana Gibson. These images began appearing in the 1880s.

We progress through the World War One era, observing firsthand how hairstyles changed during times of war and famine, with snippets of WWI history interspersed. Enjoy!

Waves and an Oblong Shape

The woman in this illustration wears a horizontally oblong hairstyle. This hairstyle is flat on top while exaggerated to the sides, using different directions of styled waves to create the oblong shape.

All the hair is styled in waves that move away from the face, enhancing the illusion of youthfulness. Note that the fringe is parted slightly off-center and styled in finger-wave-like waves that move to the back, blending with the rest of the hair.

In those days, these waves were created using Marcel tongs, which were heated in a fire and then used to curl the hair.

Illustration Source: Hairdressing, July 1909

Vintage Formal Hairstyle

The lady in this depiction is illustrated with an intricately formal hairstyle, incorporating curls and waves styled away from the face at the front, leading down to a chignon at the nape of the neck.

Note that all the hair is styled from front to back to keep the face open and create the impression of a fresh and youthful appearance.

Big hair and immensely intricate styles were de rigueur, and at evening functions, hair was expected to be even bigger and more impressive. Thus, beautiful hair accessories such as jeweled combs and plumes were used.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, March 1912

Edwardian Era Hairstyle

Here is an illustration of a typical Edwardian era (1901-1910) hairstyle with Grecian style influence. This hairstyle is shaped in an oblong style, created by using waves styled away from the face towards the back.

The waves were styled using Marcel tongs, which maids warmed in a fire to create waves in their mistresses' hair. The front side of this illustration shows a slightly off-center parting with a single rolled curl in the fringe area.

The rest of the hair is styled in soft waves to the back, held in place with an elaborate jeweled comb resting on the parietal bone area. The waves are incorporated into an ostentatious chignon just above the nape of the neck.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, May 1912

Waves and a Bird Feather

Here we see a slightly off-center parting, with the fringe section styled down the sides of her face. The rest of the hair is styled in Marcel-tong created waves, constructed to the back of her head. Note that the waves follow a uniform pattern, much like modern finger waves.

She is wearing a delicate bird feather on the left side of her head. This was very modern in the pre-World War I era, as "big hair" was the norm, and what better way to add length to your hairstyle than with a beautiful feather adornment? Also note her jeweled hair accessories that add sparkle and shine.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1912

Pre World War I Hairstyle

Here we see the hair piled up on the lady's head. This was very common in the pre-World War I (1910-1912) era, as hair was mostly styled to add length and width to the face. Hairpieces and hair hats were used to exaggerate the length and width of the styles.

Here, the hair is curled into ringlets and pinned up in the area between the occipital and parietal bones. Her fringe is parted in the middle, styled in soft curls around her face. She is also wearing a jeweled headdress to support the hairstyle and add some flair.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, September 1910

Gatsby Hairstyle

This hairstyle evokes the beautiful women from "The Great Gatsby" movie. The Gatsby hair is styled in Marcel-tong created waves, with an off-center parting in the fringe area. Note the flipped fringe at the front, connected to the waves styled down the sides of her face.

She wears a jeweled and feathered headdress to add width and length to the style. A hairpiece was most certainly used at the back. Hairpieces were made with real human hair and were used to add support and thickness to the styles. These beautifully elaborate styles had no limits, as any limitations were fixed with hairpieces.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, March 1912

Edwardian Era Influence

Here we still see Edwardian era influence in this hairstyle. The hair is styled in Marcel-tong created waves, with little ringlets at the off-center fringe area. The ringlets are styled to frame her face, while the waves are constructed to the back of the head.

A hairpiece is attached on top of the head, curving in a V-shape towards the nape area, where the length of the hair is clasped together with a beautiful jeweled hair accessory. A feather is pinned into the area just behind the off-center parting. Hairpieces and feathers were used as decoration and to add length and width.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, February 1912

Winged Hair Accessory

In this image, the hair is styled in Marcel-tong created curls. Emphasis is placed on creating horizontal length, spanning from the fringe area to the extended construction at the back. A hair hat (hairpiece) was most probably used to provide support for this elaborate hairstyle.

The hair is styled in a bun-like fashion at the back while also making use of an intricate winged hair accessory to create extra height on top of the head, maintaining the overall balance of the style. Note that the hairstyles of this era typically covered the ears, and waves were styled to frame the face.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, January 1912

Curled Hair

Here, the hair has been curled with Marcel tongs, gently brushed out, and styled from the fringe area towards the back of the head. Note that the fringe at the front is full and short, resting on the forehead and ultimately softening the look. Also note that the ears are completely covered with hair, as was customary in this era.

The hair is styled towards the back, concentrating on horizontal length. A hairpiece or hair hat was probably used for extra support and thickness, while the hair is secured with a jeweled hair band at the front and a beautiful clasp at the back.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, January 1912

Braided Vintage Hair

In this picture, the short fringe is slightly parted in the middle but full and resting on the forehead. The hair is braided loosely in the direction of both sides of the head, creating a braided frame around the face. The hair is also styled around a flower-adorned hair band, which offers structural support and acts as decoration.

The curls are styled into a bun at the back of her head, resting on the occipital bone area. This creates a look that lacks height at the front but provides a very aesthetically pleasing overall head shape from the sides and back.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, June 1912

Vintage Hair-Hat

Vintage hairstyle with a hair-hat and hairpiece

In this image, a V-shaped hairpiece was inserted in the fringe area, creating a side parting that runs in opposite directions towards the back. In this era, it was customary to use hairpieces and hair-hats to create large and extravagant hairstyles.

Note that the ears are not visible, and exaggerated height is created with the use of a hair-hat and a feather, adding extra inches to the woman's height. This elongates the face and creates the illusion of length.

The second hair band helps to keep the feather and hair-hat in place. A hair-hat was literally hair constructed around a metal frame, placed on top of the head, and incorporated into the rest of the person's natural hair to create exaggerated and large hairstyles.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, October 1913

1914 Hairstyle

Here, the focus was on creating height in the region of the occipital bone. She has a middle parting, with Marcel-tong created waves styled in opposite directions to form a soft frame around the face. A hair hat was most probably used to create the height of this hairstyle.

The jeweled hair accessory helps to keep this elaborate construction in place, adding support to the structure while also serving as an aesthetic element. Note that the style is quite flat at the front, but the elevated hairpiece equalizes the shape from the front. From the side, you'll note that her ears are covered, and the overall shape is a beautiful oval.

Illustration Source: Hairdressers' Weekly Journal, May 1914