To achieve the perfect curls, people tried all sorts of things: comb and finger waving (these were some nice air-dry methods!), marcelling (which included the use of high-heat curling “tongs”) and chemicals (yes, perms have been a thing for a while and we wish we'd been around to pass out hair masks back then).
Marcelling is a hair styling technique in which hot curling tongs are used to induce a curl into the hair. Its appearance was similar to that of a finger wave but it is created using a different method. Marcelled hair was a popular style for women's hair in the 1920s, often in conjunction with a bob cut.
Hot Iron Curling: Women sometimes used heated iron rods or curling irons to create curls. These tools were heated over a fire and then wrapped around sections of hair. Braiding: Some women would braid their hair while it was damp and leave it to dry. Once the braids were undone, they would have soft waves or curls.
Wrap hair around the curling wand, away from your face. Using smaller sections of hair will produce a tighter wave, as will holding the wand in place for a few seconds. Continue curling your hair section by section, then affix your headband and spritz with hairspray.
The Roaring Twenties
The 1920s marked a dramatic departure from the Victorian era's conservatism. The flapper culture embraced short, bobbed hairstyles for women, symbolising freedom and rebellion. This era's fashion was characterised by the iconic "finger wave" and the use of hats and headbands as accessories.
To achieve the perfect curls, people tried all sorts of things: comb and finger waving (these were some nice air-dry methods!), marcelling (which included the use of high-heat curling “tongs”) and chemicals (yes, perms have been a thing for a while and we wish we'd been around to pass out hair masks back then).
Made popular in the 1960s with the help of prominent figures like Jackie Kennedy and Mary Tyler Moore, the flip hairstyle was one that defined the decade. Like many other trends of the past that have made a comeback in recent years, we've seen the flip start to make its way back onto the scene.
The tongs would have been heated over a flame and then sections of hair were curled around them. Each section of hair was folded first into a length of paper, called a curl-paper, to prevent the hair from burning. Though the paper would have only offered limited protection.
For those who didn't have the time or skill to fuss with hot tongs or gum solutions, there was always false hair. Ladies could purchase a variety of hair pieces—from clusters of false curls to pin at their temples to frizettes to wear at their foreheads.
The bob of choice for much of the 1920s was the “shingle”—a bob that covered the ears, but was cut shorter in a v-shape at the nape of the neck. Screen actress Louise Brooks popularized the shingle, and women flocked to their local barber shop to obtain the look.
His first patent for a “curling iron” was granted in 1905. The look took off in the 1920s, when bold women started cutting off their long locks after seeing the waves on Hollywood stars like Josephine Baker, Mary Pickford, and Claudette Cobert.
The 1980s ushered in an era of big, statement curly hairstyles including the mullet, feathered curls, tall mohawk hairstyles and the Jheri curls (made famous by Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson and Rick James) were among other popular styles.
A beachy wave is the effortless, relaxed yet polished hairstyle that just keeps standing up to the test of time. "Beach waves are relaxed curls that are great for an everyday textured hairstyle," says celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, inventor of The Beachwaver curling iron.
Place your finger on the hair right near the part. In a continuous motion, use the rattail comb to pull the hair forward and then back, creating a wave or “C shape. Continue styling the hair by moving your finger to hold this wave in place while you move down the hair to place a wave in the opposite direction.
Long Curls & Ringlets
These could be made by using curling tongs or setting the hair overnight. The tongs would be heated by flame with hair curled around them. In fact, they weren't much different from modern-day curling irons, except for the contemporary version being electric.
Known as the “bob”, this short hairstyle is iconic of the 1920s, a decade which saw dramatic changes in women's fashion and attitude. As in nineteenth century dress reform movements, a woman's fashion choices and outward appearance reflected but also affected the gender roles women would and could play.
The oldest known depiction of hair styling is hair braiding, which dates back about 30,000 years.