Product Description

Essential to re-creating an authentic 1940s look, this resource guide to period styles covers everything from short hairdos popular in the early 1940s to the late 1940s "cut to fit" look made popular by Christian Dior. Hundreds of vintage illustrations, photographs, and diagrams accompany detailed instructions and techniques for replicating the styles of the decade. Fun facts and trivia related to the hairstyles of the time are included, as is a look at "War Time" hair and regulations brought about by the government. Comprehensive lists of the beauty tools needed to create these hairdos, where to purchase the various hard-to-find items discussed, and hairstyles based on hair length and type are all included for those interested in revisiting the period beauty of the 1940s.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #686728 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 114 pages

Review
"An inestimable record of hairstyles..." -- Amateur Stage, March 2002.

About the Author
Daniela Turudich is one of the principal experts on recreating period beauty styles and techniques. She lives in Long Beach, California.

Customer Reviews

Evoke Some of That 1940s Glamour.
In the 1940s, women's hairstyles evolved to become more practical for professional women, yet they conveyed glamour and sophistication that endures in movies of that period. Styles tended to be shorter in the War years and longer and looser in the late 1940s. "1940s Hairstyles" is a how-to guide to creating these lovely styles. There are tips and instructions for the original methods of styling the hair, as well as modern alternatives for many techniques. The instructions vary in degree of detail. They give as much detail as women got in the 1940s, as many of these instructions are taken from period publications. But those women were familiar with the basic techniques and accustomed to watching their hairdressers create these styles. Modern women will need to study the basics in Chapter 2 before moving on to the styles.

Chapter 1 provides instructions for "Basic Haircuts". 2 cuts for short hair are described and illustrated, 2 for medium-length hair, and 2 for long hair. You don't need a period haircut to create the styles in the book, but most styles do require a layered cut in order to make curls on the top and sides of your head. I've also noticed that, for someone with very thick hair like myself, there is simply too much hair for these styles if it's not layered.

Chapter 2, "The Basics", is the most important chapter. This is where you learn how to create the basic elements of 1940s hairstyles: pin curls, waves, hair parts, rolls, pompadours, and bangs. Pay particular attention to the section on pin curls. If 1940s hairstyles could be described with one term, it would be: pin curls. Chapter 3, "Selecting the Right Hairstyle", provides guidance in choosing a style based on the shape of your face and any imperfections you might want to camouflage.

Chapter 4 is "Basic Styles", divided into 2 parts: Casual Gal and Career Gal. There are some photographs of movie stars sporting some of the included styles. The instructions for each style include period illustrations and sometimes period instructions, presumably taken from old magazines. Some styles include diagrams of pin curl sets and some don't. Remember to pay attention to the direction of the curls in the diagram (clockwise or counterclockwise). "Casual Gal" includes styles for short, medium, and long hair and for women who wear glasses -about 18 styles total. "Career Girl" presents styles for short and medium-length hair, including those suitable for women who were in the military -about 15 styles total.

Chapter 5 is dedicated to "Formal and Up-Dos". Seven styles are pictured for various lengths of hair. Chapter 6 discusses styles that incorporate "Hair Accessories", such as braids and braided hair pieces, ribbons and bows, snoods and hairnets, scarves and turbans, and flowers.

There is a "Problem Solver Q+A" section at the end of the book, which includes answers to commonly asked questions and a little troubleshooting. Appendix A is a list of beauty supplies you will need, with descriptions. Appendix B, "Where to Find Beauty Supplies", gives general advice, not a list of suppliers. There is an index that lists page numbers according to what length of hair the styles are suited to.

Awesome!
I bought this book for a hair stylist friend of mine who works in a trendy salon with lots of rockabilly clients. It was the perfect gift for her because while most books just show photographs, Daniela Turudich went the extra mile and included cutting and styling techniques. The diagrams are very thorough and are basically a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect 1940's hairstyle. Not to say that there aren't great photographs included as well, because there most certainly are.

Needless to say, she loved the book. And I got a sassy new hairstyle out of it too!

Technically Perfect
I was hoping for more beautiful pictures within the book like the one on the cover, and was disappointed to find that there were only a few. BUT, this book is very precise in description and diagram on how to achieve the perfect vintage '40's coif. What else is nice about this is the way styles are broken down into hair lengths. I am not very skillful at hairstyling, but will give some a try.