One of the more popular 1930s hairstyles for long hair, the brush curl involved twisting the ends of wet hair all the way to the root and pinning it in place with hair rollers (some girls even used soda cans back in the 30s).
One would curl strands of wet hair into circles, secure them flat to your head with bobby pins before going to bed and it would be dry and curly in the morning. Then came rollers and while some did go out in public with their hair in rollers, it was considered very low class.
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.
Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Hairstyle: To achieve Marilyn Monroe's famous hairstyle, you'll need to use hot rollers to create perfect curls. After that, you can add volume with teasing and hairspray and add shine with an oil or serum, like the Iles Formula Finishing Serum Haute Performance.
1930s Authentic Coiffures
Hair was primarily worn at chin or just above shoulder length with deeply set waves. The permanent wave was a popular method to aid the in setting of waves. The look of the thirties was clean, sleek, and sophisticated.
In the '80s, big hair was not only a status symbol, but also allowed women to take up space, Rachael Gibson, who runs the account The Hair Historian, told the outlet. It was a statement and, especially for artists in the limelight, “filling the screen with your hair felt like quite a power move,” she added.
The new generation's bobbed hair was a dramatic rejection of the norms of their mothers who laboriously styled their long hair into elegant updos or braids. While their mothers had deliberated over suffrage, the younger women sought greater gender equality through new fashion styles and attitudes.
A wet set is a method of styling Black hair immediately following a shampoo and conditioning session, while the hair is still wet. Also known as a "roller set" or a "wash and set," a wet set can either create curls or straighten hair, depending on the tools you decide to use.
Victory rolls are a women's hairstyle that was popular from 1940 to 1945, with a recent rise during the 21st century, characterized by voluminous curls of hair that are either on top of the head or frame the face.
Comb the hair next to your forefinger backward, and hold it there with your middle finger. Pinch your fingers together and secure the hair that lifts between them with a metal wave clamp. Keep making waves until you've created waves down the top of your ear. Wave the hair on the other side of the part.
To make permanent curls for wigs, the hair was wound around a clay curler steeped in boiling water and then heated. It was not unknown to take hair to the bakery where it was wrapped in brown paper inside a protective pastry crust and placed in the oven. No one knows who invented hair tongs.
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.
Hair trends of the '70s, '80s and '90s are back with a modern twist: From shixie shag to wolf cuts and the modern-day mullet, look out for these 2025 hairstyles.
It wasn't until the 1980s, that curly hair had once again been considered “in vogue.” The 80's gave us the poofy, extreme hair,the “jheri curl” and even that high side pony with the crimped or curly hair. Today, it's okay to have those stylized curls and waves.
Invented by the hairdresser Jheri Redding, the Jheri curl gives the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look. It was touted as a "wash and wear" style that was easier to care for than the other popular chemical treatment of the day, the relaxer.
Be Gentle on Your Hair
Heat can damage your hair and cause it to break. Try to go slow on blow dry and heat styling tools. Avoid over-combing your hair when wet, as it may damage the strands. Always comb your hair starting from the roots and working upwards with a wide-toothed styling comb when combing through knots.
Makeup that was Popular in the 30s
The beauty standard of the 1930s was softer than the 20s. It was not only influenced by Hollywood but also by the Great Depression. It was defined by striking eyes that relied on a lot of mascara, thin eyebrows, and soft or pale shades of eyeshadow.
A bob cut, also known as a bob, is a short to medium length haircut for women, in which the hair is typically cut straight around the head at approximately jaw level, and no longer than shoulder-length, often with a fringe at the front.
Turns out Monroe might have made dying her pubic hair part of her regular beauty routine, too.
Reproduction print of 1950s magazine ad of Marilyn Monroe "Yes, I use Lustre-Crème Shampoo" printed on metal.
True blue… Not brown, green, violet…or any other color. Despite rumors to the contrary, Marilyn's eyes were blue.