1950s hairstyle for prom (heatless) ideas?

[Entangled]

I'm going to be dressed in a 1950s style prom dress this year, and I'm going for vintage, not just vintage-inspired. So, hair's tricky. I've got almost BCL hair. I'm open to all methods of heatless curling, as that seems a necessity, and I know I'm almost definitely going to have to go with a faux-short hairstyle, which is fine (I'm actually a little excited!). So, any suggestions? All I have right now is that I'll need to soften my hairline somehow. I could do a faux short ponytail, which is a fun style, but I don't know if it's really formal enough. Most tutorials I've seen in my brief perusal seem aimed at BSL long hair, which makes it trickier to modify. Suggestions? Also, do I need a hat or fascinator of some type?

[meteor]

1950s were going into bouffant territory, so since your hair is almost BCL, you could try an updo like some of these:
- Audrey Hepburn: pic 1 (http://img.qwled.com/i/b5c7be0e3c1a98739ca94a4ffc3d0a51.jpg), pic 2 (http://i1.wp.com/www.jointhestylehighclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/breakfast-at-tiffanys-audrey-hepburn-1961.jpg?resize=338%2C450)
- Grace Kelly: pic 1 (http://style.deltacity.rs/content/uploads/600full-grace-kelly.jpg), pic 2 (http://www.styleandthebride.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/27ab9c7a2c511dbbd65c3d1fdf72dcca.jpg), pic 3 (http://www.thejoye.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/grace_kelly_updo.jpg) (though it's more of a 60's look)

Chignons and French twists (with volume at the top - like this (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/10/d0/58/10d05874b2b2d720a1efb23c352feb09.jpg) or like this (http://www.hairarchives.com/private/archive2/frenchtwist/ft1.JPG)) were becoming pretty popular, so you could try that or a log roll twist... just make sure you add period-specific waves/curls in the front.

Some other updo styles: pic 1 (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2a/83/17/2a8317b62ab4b6627d8103515eb40ea9.jpg), pic 2 (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/25/fa/74/25fa740a7631301fbbdd48f8c57eb1f1.jpg)
Whatever style you choose, I'd highly recommend heat-free curling (with foam rollers, rag curls, etc) overnight before styling the hair in the morning, because it will really help with creating those slightly structured curls of the 1950s and add more overall volume and hold for the style. You'll probably need a good deal of dry shampoo (hair powder) and hairspray for volume and hold.

Short bangs (like this (http://www.pixie-cut.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Audrey-Hepburn-Short-Pixie-Hair.jpg) or this (http://pics.livejournal.com/requieminblack/pic/0005x666/s640x480)) were pretty popular for a good portion of the 1950s, so you could use clip-in bangs for that and it would immediately give it that vintage 50's look, too, even if the rest of the hair is styled simply (for example, short clip-in bangs with a faux short ponytail, which was really popular, too).

Hope some of these ideas might help. :)
I'd recommend digging up pictures for inspiration - as there were lots of popular different styles and some of them were relatively long-hair-friendly. ;)
For example, you could think of famous long-haired women who lived a portion of their lives in the 1950s and then google their styles.
And yes, 1950s hats or fascinators would definitely help pull off the overall look a lot! :D

[rosey4exclaim]

I agree with everything meteor suggested! Also, curlers were definitely in at the time, and I bet you could get a big one for some of that swoop-age in the front.

[Entangled]

Wow, those styles were gorgeous, meteor! The trend seems to be an updo with lots of volume. The swoop thing in the first Grace Kelly picture is what I wanted to fingers out how to do. But yikes, they look tricky to do. I've never had any success with a French twist, which seems the simplest style to do other than the faux short pony tail (I was thinking of a comet bun). On the bangs, I don't think I could find a color match quick enough, but I am growing out bangs (they're about nose length now). Do you think there's some way to falsely shorten them? Again, the other option is to figure out the swoop.

As for curls, a lot of them seem to be very close to the head, as in pincurl type effect. I've mainly done rag curls and long rag curls (like bandanna curls but you wrap the excess scarf up around the hair and tie it on top). Should I look into another method?

ETA: I've found this (https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5121430/il_570xN.313010666.jpg) picture, and the hairstyles are gorgeous; they just look a little too hard for me to do myself. I have the option of having a friend do my hair, but I usually avoid letting anyone style my hair as the majority of the population is much more rough with their own hair and by extension, mine, than I'm comfortable with. If I curl my hair and have a no teasing rule, should I consider enlisting help to do one a style? (specifically, pinning the curls where they need to go)

[meteor]

^ That picture has some awesome styles, Entangled! :thumbsup:

I think some of them should be easy enough to replicate, as long as you start off with curled (e.g. foam roller-set overnight, bandanna curls... - whatever method you like that doesn't tangle up your hair), *not* freshly washed hair, brushed out lightly with a BBB -> this gives that soft sheeny and wavy texture. Don't be afraid to use a good amount of oils/serums for smooth effect, by the way.

I'd recommend bunning the back area of the hair first and leaving the front sections out (for styling) and then twisting those frontal section(s) softly to create the swoop. Having that hair pre-curled will make it much easier to form the waves/swoops and pin them.

Also, once the back area is taken care of and bunned, for styling that frontal section, check out torrinpaige's Swoop Bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MJpFWIROE - the technique of creating a little swoop in the front doesn't have to be replicated, it's enough to just twist hair loosely and then pin the ends around, either simply around the bun or in a floret shape (twisted up around fingers and pinned in any way that looks nice). Or check out gossamer's twists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm7YcsdZX40 for creating a bit of volume in the front even with very long hair.

How to create a poof with your own hair (hair behind front section is braided and coiled and pinned and then covered with front section): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DnCi6pY1P4 (sorry, it's not in English, but it's pretty self-explanatory what she's doing). Alternatively, you can use "hair floss" (http://media.claires.co.uk/pws/client/images/catalogue/products/69821/xlarge/69821.jpg) or bump-its (https://ecs7.tokopedia.net/img/product-1/2015/5/28/13080435/13080435_9aa16d6e-051f-11e5-854f-3d8764efb121.jpg) (just avoid the ones with velcro for obvious tangle-prevention reasons). But it's probably best to use up some of your own hair (braided and coiled up under frontal sections) for volume in order to use up some length and compact down the style.

There are ways of faking bangs in updos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmOB9_WnWM), but it's harder to do it for specifically really short 1950's style bangs, unfortunately.

If you are having trouble with French twists, check out these videos with some great tips for long hair by firefromwithin:
- French twist with loop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyDmSNsR74
- Easy French twist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCZ1ZxnB_vA (she braids the hair to make it easier to make it a bit more compact and hide into a French twist)
- Double french twist base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg1gpkwJXOo

I'd recommend starting experimenting with a few options here and there on dirty hair (when it's easier to work with it) when you have some free time and working with very sturdy U-pins, spin pins, long bobby pins, etc...

Also, if you can get a hold of a 50's style fascinator or hat, you can keep the hairstyle very simple, and you will still channel the 50's very easily... just make sure to dedicate a good amount of time to perfecting those dramatic arched 50's eyebrows (e.g. Elizabeth Taylor (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/89/1a/17/891a17f5054203ce882e50c07db2d293.jpg), Anouk Aimee (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/94/1a/f2/941af21f0ce431035d3445e81b997d8e.jpg), Audrey Hepburn (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9gbcfTOAp1qzdzbuo1_500.jpg), Sophia Loren (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e4/4d/8b/e44d8bd5eb186d476e7bf7e59747efeb.jpg), etc) and the cat-eye and the rest of the make-up, of course - I know you were asking about hair, not make-up, but I think make-up can make or break the whole look, more so than the hair.
Lisa Eldridge has a couple relevant make-up videos, for example:
Audrey Hepburn - her 1950's look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5yEqKTK8Is
Elizabeth Taylor - her mid-1950's look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhia5M6iQb8
Marilyn Monroe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAneUTr8mog

[embee]

Having lived through the 50s myself, and gone to some dances, I'd skip the hat or fascinator - that's not for a dance. Perhaps jewelled combs or barrettes. You will for sure want to find some little white gloves. If your dress is floor length you can look for long gloves - the opera length, up over the elbows with three little pearl buttons at the inside-wrists. (I don't recall what your dress looks like, I recall that you were looking for a pattern though!)

Now if your prom is more like going out to a cocktail lounge and dancing to the lovely piano bar music in a smokey atmosphere, then a fascinator would be fine, because you're going out for the evening, not to A Dance.

ETA: Depending on the weather temps, you will want a little fuzzy cape or jacket, for going to and coming home. I had a little white fur cape with velvet lining. It only came down to my elbows.

[Entangled]

^ That picture has some awesome styles, Entangled! :thumbsup:

I think some of them should be easy enough to replicate, as long as you start off with curled (e.g. foam roller-set overnight, bandanna curls... - whatever method you like that doesn't tangle up your hair), *not* freshly washed hair, brushed out lightly with a BBB -> this gives that soft sheeny and wavy texture. Don't be afraid to use a good amount of oils/serums for smooth effect, by the way.

I'd recommend bunning the back area of the hair first and leaving the front sections out (for styling) and then twisting those frontal section(s) softly to create the swoop. Having that hair pre-curled will make it much easier to form the waves/swoops and pin them.

Also, once the back area is taken care of and bunned, for styling that frontal section, check out torrinpaige's Swoop Bun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MJpFWIROE - the technique of creating a little swoop in the front doesn't have to be replicated, it's enough to just twist hair loosely and then pin the ends around, either simply around the bun or in a floret shape (twisted up around fingers and pinned in any way that looks nice). Or check out gossamer's twists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm7YcsdZX40 for creating a bit of volume in the front even with very long hair.

How to create a poof with your own hair (hair behind front section is braided and coiled and pinned and then covered with front section): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DnCi6pY1P4 (sorry, it's not in English, but it's pretty self-explanatory what she's doing). Alternatively, you can use "hair floss" (http://media.claires.co.uk/pws/client/images/catalogue/products/69821/xlarge/69821.jpg) or bump-its (https://ecs7.tokopedia.net/img/product-1/2015/5/28/13080435/13080435_9aa16d6e-051f-11e5-854f-3d8764efb121.jpg) (just avoid the ones with velcro for obvious tangle-prevention reasons). But it's probably best to use up some of your own hair (braided and coiled up under frontal sections) for volume in order to use up some length and compact down the style.

There are ways of faking bangs in updos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcmOB9_WnWM), but it's harder to do it for specifically really short 1950's style bangs, unfortunately.

If you are having trouble with French twists, check out these videos with some great tips for long hair by firefromwithin:
- French twist with loop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyDmSNsR74
- Easy French twist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCZ1ZxnB_vA (she braids the hair to make it easier to make it a bit more compact and hide into a French twist)
- Double french twist base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg1gpkwJXOo

I'd recommend starting experimenting with a few options here and there on dirty hair (when it's easier to work with it) when you have some free time and working with very sturdy U-pins, spin pins, long bobby pins, etc...

Also, if you can get a hold of a 50's style fascinator or hat, you can keep the hairstyle very simple, and you will still channel the 50's very easily... just make sure to dedicate a good amount of time to perfecting those dramatic arched 50's eyebrows (e.g. Elizabeth Taylor (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/89/1a/17/891a17f5054203ce882e50c07db2d293.jpg), Anouk Aimee (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/94/1a/f2/941af21f0ce431035d3445e81b997d8e.jpg), Audrey Hepburn (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9gbcfTOAp1qzdzbuo1_500.jpg), Sophia Loren (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e4/4d/8b/e44d8bd5eb186d476e7bf7e59747efeb.jpg), etc) and the cat-eye and the rest of the make-up, of course - I know you were asking about hair, not make-up, but I think make-up can make or break the whole look, more so than the hair.
Lisa Eldridge has a couple relevant make-up videos, for example:
Audrey Hepburn - her 1950's look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5yEqKTK8Is
Elizabeth Taylor - her mid-1950's look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhia5M6iQb8
Marilyn Monroe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAneUTr8mog
Thank you! There are so many wonderful suggestions. I'll sort though these to figure out what works and practice the basics as the week goes on. I think right now I'm going to try our a french twist and soften it with curls. You're right about the makeup selling the look; a friend of mine will be doing it, so I'm going to check with her in advance to make sure it looks right.



Having lived through the 50s myself, and gone to some dances, I'd skip the hat or fascinator - that's not for a dance. Perhaps jewelled combs or barrettes. You will for sure want to find some little white gloves. If your dress is floor length you can look for long gloves - the opera length, up over the elbows with three little pearl buttons at the inside-wrists. (I don't recall what your dress looks like, I recall that you were looking for a pattern though!)

Now if your prom is more like going out to a cocktail lounge and dancing to the lovely piano bar music in a smokey atmosphere, then a fascinator would be fine, because you're going out for the evening, not to A Dance.

ETA: Depending on the weather temps, you will want a little fuzzy cape or jacket, for going to and coming home. I had a little white fur cape with velvet lining. It only came down to my elbows.

Okay, good. I'd have to make said head adornment, which I could do, but I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate, nor do I have too much time. I have some faux jeweled combs I could incorporate into a hair look, so that's good!
I have some gloves that go a little past my wrist to wear. My dress-in-the-making is tea length, so I'm assuming short gloves are the better option. This (https://www.etsy.com/listing/238869096/turquoise-blue-50s-party-dress-fit-and) is the dress we're trying to replicate, though my version will have a much fuller skirt.

I actually have a velvet dress cape! I think it's been relegated from formal wear status to dress-up/costume status, though. The weather's been really nice lately, though, so I'm not too worried.

[lapushka]

This channel might be helpful, I don't know. She has short hair right now:
https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet

[Entangled]

This channel might be helpful, I don't know. She has short hair right now:
https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet

Thanks!

I'm working on learning a French twist. They are really difficult to make neat...

[chantecler]

I warn you, do try heatless curls, but do NOT use foam rollers with the original plastic thingies. I've heard someone suggest you slip them in socks and use that to tie them instead, or putting a ribbon in the hole, but the plastic thingies WILL get stuck and will cause tangles and breakage. I used them for shows and it got so bad I got really discouraged and chopped my almost waist lenght hair to above shoulder lenght.

On a nicer note, I had found a way to do victory rolls on hair that is usually too long for that! Instead of rolling the whole lenght of hair in it, I just made one or two turns and pinned it like that, arranged the rest of the lenght so it looked nice, and voila! It sounds super obvious, but I had never seen a tutorial doing it like that and it took hours of fidgeting to figure it out :p

[meteor]

I warn you, do try heatless curls, but do NOT use foam rollers with the original plastic thingies. I've heard someone suggest you slip them in socks and use that to tie them instead, or putting a ribbon in the hole, but the plastic thingies WILL get stuck and will cause tangles and breakage. I used them for shows and it got so bad I got really discouraged and chopped my almost waist lenght hair to above shoulder lenght.

Oh no!! So sorry that happened to you, chantecler! :( :grouphug:

There is a way of replacing plastic casing on foam rollers with rags, so the rollers become much softer to sleep on and they shouldn't snag if the material chosen for rags is silky enough: How to Make overnight wetsets comfortable by Vintagious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18TFnHJs98E

Slipping them inside silky socks should help, too. :agree:

Though any curling has some tangling potential, unfortunately. Except maybe bun-waves and large braid-waves. The bigger the sections one takes and the larger the diameter of the roller, the less the tangling potential on takedown, I believe.

[Entangled]

Thank you, Chanteclare! I don't have the foam rollers, do I should be safe from that nightmare. Yikes! Sorry that happened.

[AZDesertRose]

I don't have any ideas; the last time I dressed up for a 1950s type thing was for my uncle's 50th birthday party (he was born in 1954, so the party was 1950s themed), and it was much less formal than prom, so I went as a 1950s bad girl in black jeans, a black t-shirt, a leather jacket, way too much black eyeliner, red lipstick, and I ponytailed my hair and tied a long rectangular scarf around the base of the ponytail. (My mother was my foil as a good girl in a too-large oxford shirt, pedal pushers, and no-kidding saddle oxford shoes! Her hairstyle was kind of the women's version of the DA hairdo with little curls on her cheeks next to her ears because her hair was fairly short at the time.)

However, I love the fashions of that time and I just wanted to say that if you're willing, I hope you'll share pics of your ensemble! :D

[czech it out]

Is prom over yet!?! I follow a vintage-inclined youtuber who has what looks to be at least waist length hair. Here is her channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRVKJ_2m3VasHy4ooRyeGaA/videos

She has a few hair-specific vids and most of her makeup videos have clips of her hair stylings as well. Thought she might provide some inspiration! There's a good variety of snoods, buns, heatless curls, etc.

[Entangled]

Prom is on Friday! Thanks for the channel to look at, czech it out! She's got a few neat videos.

That sounds fun, AZDesertRose. I am planning on getting pictures once I finish making my dress!

I'm figuring out the kinks in what I'm going to do--I'm planning on curling my hair, doing a french twist, and instead of tucking the hair into the twist, use it for volume on top. The tricky part is now figuring out the front to give it the vintage feel. I love the swoop meteor mentioned, but it's a little tricky with my bangs. I thought about doing the rolled faux bangs, but my current bangs also obstruct that. So, what to do for the front? I might try out some pin curls with the hair on the small side of my part, and a a small poof and a small swoop on the right side. The tricky part is making it look accurate and not like a normal prom style. I know makeup will definitely help. I need to get some new lipstick...

On the downside, my white gloves have become glove. One of them has vanished into the recesses of my room... I really hope I can find it before Friday.

[Entangled]

Here's the hair pictures! Sorry they're phone-quality, but I don't have the good pictures right now.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22480&d=1460241511
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22479&d=1460241414
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22478&d=1460241318
The combs in the twist came a little loose over the night, but overall the hairstyle was a complete success and easy to do.

ETA: Here's my hair from the front; volume from the curls, a bump with the front hair, and a swoop from my bangs.
This was paired with dark eyebrows and red matte lipstick.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22472&d=1460237415

As an extra, here's my sister's hair:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22473&d=1460237415
She's got thick hair, so this hairstyle (a gibson tuck with side twists) was large and beautiful on her APL hair.

[meteor]

^ Beautiful! :D I love those curls! :applause
And your sister's Gibson Tuck with a twist is amazing! :D

[AZDesertRose]

Entangled, thank you for sharing! The pics are lovely, your (and your sister's) hair looks great, and I love the color of your dress. (My daughter would kill for that dress; her favorite color has been blue since she was old enough to express a preference!)

[AJNinami]

Your hair (and dress) is so pretty! Did you have fun? How did the night go?

[Entangled]

Thanks! The curls turned out well. My sister also really liked her hairstyle (and it was one I learned here!)
I also love the color of my dress. I love blue, but I've somehow not worn a dress in that color before. I love it! And since it's a vintage style dress that doesn't scream prom, I might be able to find other occasions to wear it.

Prom was great! I brought a friend (it wasn't a normal school prom) and we had a lot of fun. I only wish more people here knew some basic ballroom or swing dance;).

[Lisa Long4Life]

Wow how lovely, I hadn't seen this thread but I'll be coming back to it in future because I think I'll be having 50s styling for my wedding in the next couple of years (I hope!). :)

[AJNinami]

Thanks! The curls turned out well. My sister also really liked her hairstyle (and it was one I learned here!)
I also love the color of my dress. I love blue, but I've somehow not worn a dress in that color before. I love it! And since it's a vintage style dress that doesn't scream prom, I might be able to find other occasions to wear it.

Prom was great! I brought a friend (it wasn't a normal school prom) and we had a lot of fun. I only wish more people here knew some basic ballroom or swing dance;).

This might be odd, but your skin and hair color look really great with that color. Haha my boyfriend tried to teach me how to swing dance at our prom, but it was a horrible mess! Swing dancing is pretty common out here though. It's a lot of fun to watch (even though I can't do it yet).