How to tie a 1940s turban

A while ago I came across this 1940s British Pathe video on tying turbans. I was hooked instantly. They seem to be seeing quite a revival right now, and with good reason: they're awesome.

I do them on days my hair is a mess, or just when it would seem to suit an outfit. I think they are great to sport poolside too! So take a look at the video clip if you have a chance, and the others that are related, they are really interesting! But here's my little interpretation :)

You will need all the things pictured above for this turban. You can always replace a pretty brooch or bunch of silk flowers for the hatpin though :)

If you have long hair, pin it up. 

Wrap the cotton headscarf around your head. This creates some volume, so the turban isn't flat, and acts as a gripping point between your hair and the silk scarves. 

Take the large silk scarf and fold it into a triangle. 

Place it on your head with the point at your back. Pin each side at your browline. 

Take the sides of the scarf and bring them right up, and tie once. The pins just placed at the side will act well to hold as you are folding. 

Tuck in the crown. 

Bring the tip of one of your floppy ears to the center, and use a bobby pin to hold in place. 

Same on the other side. 

Now take your small scarf and thread it through the knotted bit. 

Bring the ends to the center, just as with the other scarf. 

Pin the this scarf with the hatpin. 

Open up the loops. 

Fluff fluff fluff!

Tuck the back point under the first cotton scarf, it should hold well. 

Ta da! You are now effortlessly chic.

How to look good in finger waves when you don't look good in finger waves.

This isn't the best finger wave attempt in the world, but I consider it a success since I didn't burst into tears.

Not once!

Honestly I'm most proud of the fact that my bangs swept away so well, and that it stayed intact all day. I did get a haircut, but it's not this short, the ends are pinned to the back of my head and hidden by the beret. My square/full face shape looks a little off in such a clingy style, so I have to add height to my crown with a hat to not look squished. Since the right side of my hair had more length and wave than the left, I pulled the hat to the side, and added a pretty decorative hat pin to balance it out, pointing the pin upward to bring the eye up, again, so the overall look doesn't appear so flat.

So there you go. If I were to leave the hat behind, it would have a completely different impact.

Oh the magic of a hat.

What's old is new again

Back to bangs!

I feel more like myself now. I'm keeping them longer this time, more Chuck and less Bettie.

Also, something I don't think I've ever mentioned before, bloomers! I wear them every day with skirts or dresses, you never know when a gust of wind will attack, so they're good to have. I've seen way too many knickers on girls who don't know how to wear a dress, better safe than sorry!

Later edit: I had a feeling some people would overanalyze my words, perhaps this is the reason I am a quiet person when I'm not behind a computer? I did not mean to offend anyone, when I say "don't know how to wear a skirt" I mean sitting with legs spread open, bouncing up stairs to the point where skirts spring up, revealing everything, things like that. These, and more, are all situations I've unintentionally seen, and I like to learn from mine, and other people's mishaps. So I started wearing bloomers for modesty's sake. Some people wear shorts, shapewear, slips, or are simply just self aware and careful, but at work I'm kneeling down, climbing up ladders, sitting on stools, and don't want to accidentally show a customer anything other than my knees. Bloomers are a security, one less thing to worry about, so I wear them. Do I think people who don't wear bloomers are less stylish or modest? Of course not. I simply mentioned them because I know a lot of girls have issues with wearing dresses because there can be little mishaps, and mannerisms you have to get used to. I thought it might help someone know that you can still wear a dress and not have to worry about silly little things. Thats all.



Dress, shoes, socks, and petticoat-Urban Eccentric Vintage

Bloomers-The Red Light

Hat-don't remember, it's ooolllld.

40s casual

Photos by Sam

I think it's the casual vintage looks that can be most difficult to put together. And the most difficult pieces to find! It took my quite a while to find an affordable pair of 50s jeans, old oxfords seem to be rare, and regular old 40s cardigans are a treasure to be had. I suppose people wore those casual things so often, they didn't last this far in the future.
This weekend I was lucky enough to find four 1940s yearbooks, and one 1950s, and have been pining over the casual little high school outfits the girls wore. I'll be sharing scans of the yearbooks soon, especially of some of the pretty hairstyles in the headshots.

49er jacket, socks, and purse-Urban Eccentric Vintage

Knit blouse-Part of a skirt/top outfit, Antique Expo

Slacks-Made by me, using a 1933 pattern

Shoes-Gift from my mother

Scarves and belt-thrifted

How I do 1940s hair

Ok, I FINALLY got a little tutorial done on how I've been doing my hair lately. I won't go into pin-curl basics, but you can watch this video, these vintage directions, or get this book (I swear that's not a sponsored link, I just love the book).

If you know how to do pin-curls already, then this will be a cinch, it just takes it a step further by doing upright pincurls, and pinning the finished curls in a 40s style. I've been pin purling my hair for about a year, and it takes me 5 to 10 minutes to pin everything at night, and about 1 minute in the morning to brush it out and style it. So for anyone saying they don't have an hour to style their hair in the morning: Seriously, one minute.


Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet, from root to end. I take showers at night, so that's not an issue. Otherwise stick your head under a sink!
I have thick hair that holds curl very well, so I don't use any sort of setting lotion. But if you have fine hair, or you just need extra help holding the curl, I've heard great things about Lottabody setting lotion. So, if you need a setting lotion, now is the time to apply it, and brush your hair smooth.
Part your hair at the side, then section off a portion of locks between your side part, and a middle part...

...brush the section in the opposite direction, at a diagonal. Now, instead of rolling the curl flat on your head, roll the curl upright, and pin at the base of your hair, right where the little arrow is.

Continue to do three more upright pin curls, in the directions shown in pink.

As for the rest, I do a back an forth, flat pincurl technique, and secure a hair net. The front actually looks like a style, so if you want to make it pretty, and show off the front curls, add a headscarf using this tutorial.

At this point I sleep, and let time do the work for me. If you are pressed on time, or wake up to some dampness, sit under a hood dryer until the set is completely dry. I always do a heat setting, and once dry, do a few minutes of cool to strengthen the curls and add a bit of shine ;)


Once your set has dried, take the bobby pins out and use a large brush if you have a strong curl hold, or use your fingers if you have a weak hold. Fluff everything up, I take my brush and brush out instead of down. You will look like an 80s rock star. Don't panic.

Brush the upright pincurls up, then add a little pomade and work that through with your fingers. Play with it a bit, brush more if needed, fluff it up, and once it looks like a nice, even set of curls, take a bobby pin, and pin from the back forward. Do this at various places on your crown, until it looks satisfactory. It should have lots of body, and the pins should be hidden from the front view. It takes me about three to four pins, but use as many as necessary.

Now, take the side of your hair, and pull back, pinning right above the back of your ear. Criss cross the pins if needed. You can also nix the pins and use some pretty combs! The photo on the right shows the difference between one side being finished, and the other only being half done. The pinning back makes a world of difference.

The finished style will look something like this. Add a ribbon, scarf, hat, or leave it be, you now have an authentic 1940s hairstyle :)

Long hair wishlist

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

I was going to do a Christmas wish list, but there's not really much I want. A new lense for my camera. Short post. Goodness knows I have enough clothes, hats, gloves, and whatnot to fill our apartment and then some (not that it stops me from buying the occasional hat, I last counted at......*ahem*.....122....)

So I thought I would post a few photos of girls with long hair, since thats what I've been really wanting.

Not a girl with long hair. Just the hair part.

As much as I love vintage styles, I am often drawn to a more natural look, and am really happy when I see girls embracing their natural hair texture. It just kills me when I see women fry their wavy hair in order "smooth it out". Honestly I love the look of a bit of frizz, a bit of fluff. Paired with a fresh face, it looks a little wild, in a good way.
But of course, the grass is always greener on the other side, and many ladies with straight hair will do whatever it takes to get curls.

Le sigh.

Hope you enjoy this little collection, and hope it inspires those of you who are trying to grow out your hair to keep away from the scissors!

Period Perfect Hair Workshop!

This weekend was the wonderful Period Perfect Hair Workshop with Kristen Behlings! (She's the gal in the second picture, with the mesmerizing hair!!!) The event was put on by Kristen, Julie, and Alyssa, and held at The Beauty Bar. As you can see, The Beauty Bar is a must if you are ever in Portland. You can have a cocktail and a manicure! And it's how my bathroom should look. And they have a photobooth. Eeee!

About 15 ladies attended the workshop, arriving in pretty candy colored curlers and scarves. After settling in with drinks and bobby pins, Kristen taught us a few 1940s roll variations. Unfortunately me and my amateur camera skills didn't capture the finished styles at the end of the day, it got a bit hectic when they opened the doors to the public, but I'll be doing my hair in rolls more often, so you can see those results!

If you missed this workshop, make sure and follow the Period Perfect Hair page on Facebook for future workshop updates.

Thank you to the lovely ladies who put on the event, Kristen for having the patience to teach us, and the Beauty Bar for accommodating us! (The bartenders were awesome).

xoxo

Vintage hairstyling lesson!

Hey Portland gals, there's FINALLY a fabulous vintage hairstyling workshop you just can't miss! Kristin Behlings, vintage hairstylist extraordinaire, will teach two vintage styles, and by the time class ends, you will have a beautiful coiffure for a night on the town!

The event is sponsored by myself, Alyssa of Period Perfect Houses, Julie of Fab Gabs, and The Beauty Bar!. If you've never been to The Beauty Bar, you are missing out, it's adorned in powder pinks and baby blues, with striped walls, and hood dryer chairs for lounging with a cocktail! Perfect setting for hairstyling and drinks if you so choose :)

The session is only $20, and trust me, Kristin's knowledge is worth every penny and more! (She did this hairstyle on me a few months back). This would make such a fun girlfriends night out :)

I would love to see you there, it's going to be fabulous! But buy your tickets soon, space it limited!

"Fingerwaves"

Last night I had the bright idea of doing an overnight set of fingerwaves. How does one do that you ask?

By not really sleeping.

I pinned my hair up before bed and slept like Lily Munster, waking up about a dozen times and telling myself "don't move your head, you'll mess up your hair..." No pain no gain!

I think it turned out pretty nice, considering there's no product in it, but a little too mild for all that effort (if thats what you call not moving your head). I need a hood dryer so I can do some crazy cool finger waves! Any recommendations?