A large part of pin-up photography is based on the models hair style, so I pass the Pin Up Week reigns over to my better half `sodalicious as she educates us all on how to achieve a few basic pin up hairstyles....



In recognition of Pin-Up Week, here are several retro hairstyles along with a How To for each. So if you've ever wanted to achieve the perfect pomp, rockin' rolls, or the classic beehive, take note!

First I will write about the assorted instruments & hair utensils you may need to attain all three looks. Depending on the look you want, you'll need: bobby pins [LOTS of them!], hair rollers, hairspray, rat tail comb, pomade, curling iron, soft-bristled brush, and hair accessories [clip-in flowers, bandana, etc].

Rockin' Rolls:

Hair rolls are what most people think of when they think of the vintage 1940s hair styles. If your hair is at least shoulder length, you can achieve rolls! Give it a try - it takes some time to dry your hair once it's in curlers, so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time between starting your hair and heading out the door, otherwise you may want to invest in a bonnet dryer from a beauty supply store or thrift shop.



Put the part of the hair you want in the hair rolls up in curlers so you're rolling up towards the back of your head, and towards your part. Real rollers on damp hair is the best, though you can use hot rollers in a pinch. Using mousse works wonders. You can do it by yourself, or have a friend over so you can help each other.

Let your hair dry thoroughly. Do your nails, read a book, gossip with your friends while you wait... When the hair is dry, take out the rollers.

Tease the part you curled to within an inch of its life from the inside of the curls. You are trying to develop enough volume to have something to roll the hair around. You'll look like Medusa if you've done it right.

Using your fingers, or even something like a round hairbrush handle, gently roll the hair into a fat sausage. It does take a bit of practice. The roll should be like a tube, not closed up. The back of the roll should be a little tighter than the front, so that it blends more with the head - it should sort of grow like a cone from the back to the front.

The ends that are all tattered and uneven from the teasing will tuck inside the roll. The outside of the roll should be the least teased part, and you should be able to smooth it out with gentle brushing or a comb. Use a couple of big bobby-pins from the front and the back of the roll to fasten the whole roll to the top of your head. Use the smaller ones to fix bumps and add security.

Hair spray. Don't use the super hold, better to use the gentle hold and use more. You don't want a helmet-head.

Dance. Wiggle your head. Jump up & down. Find any part you think might be loose, and pin it & spray it some more.

Perfect Pomp:

A pomp, or more formally a pompadour is an easy 'do and your hair can be worn in pigtails, a ponytail, down, or in a do-rag [bandana]. Pomps were a popular style for both men and women starting around the 1930s. I will be documenting how to do a female pomp. For tips on getting a male pompadour, check out Pompadour 101.



First, brush your hair to make sure there are no tangles or knots. Dampen your hair slightly and brush about a 2-3 inch chunk of hair in front of your face. If you have bangs of any length it is still possible to achieve a pomp.

Take the section of hair you just brushed in front of your face and pull it up, brushing it if need be. Grab the section at about 5 inches from the scalp and start to bring it down to the middle of your head; this should create a 'bubble' effect.

Make sure there are no gaps, and pin down the pomp just in front of where your fingers were. This may take 2-3 pins, maybe more. If slight gaps appear after pinning, take your brush and GENTLY brush up, or even use your hands. Once it looks how you want it, start hairspraying. Don't use too much or the pomp will become too hard and if it starts falling you'll have a hard time fixing it. I recommend got2b's 2 Sexy Voluptuous Volume Hairspray. Aerosol hairsprays work best for achieving any pin-up uo-do, but the plus to got2b's line, is that it is environmentally friendly, as most other aerosol sprays are not.

When the hairspray is still wet on the pomp, smooth it out gently with your hand if it is necessary. You can spruce up the look with a clip-in flower on either side of your hair, just above your ear. The pompadour is a versatile look which can look good with a casual or formal look.

Classic Beehive:

Many of you may recognise the beehive as a style that Nu-Jazz singer Amy Winehouse adorns. She is a wearer of the modern day beehive, though there are a huge number of other females who actually wear this style more gracefully. Your hair must be at least shoulder length, though works better if your hair is just past the shoulders or longer.



A beehive will work best on hair that hasn’t been washed for a few days, & optimally your hair will be about shoulder length. The secret is all in the backcombing. If you don’t know how to backcomb your hair, it’s very easy — take a section of hair, brush it upwards in a vertical motion, then move your comb to the back of the section & brush it back down again. Keep going all over your head so that you end up looking seriously demented with huge tufts sticking up everywhere.

Before you start this, you really need to decide whether you’re going to sweep the whole lot upwards & together or whether you want to conceal the backcombing. If you want to conceal it, exempt a large front section of your hair from the backcombing trauma, & then sweep this back over your fluffy bits. You can then use a clip or headband of some description to hold it in place.

Styling the beehive is a very delicate task & is best done with the hands rather than a comb. Pat it into an acceptable shape & then grab a can of hairspray. Go crazy with the stuff. Your hair should be solid as a rock but look light & fluffy. Spray & style, spray & style. You might also find it helpful to whip up some kind of elaborate mirror set-up, since you’ll need to see the back of your hair before you leave the house.

When you go out, you will need a good tail comb in your handbag to keep it looking pristine & to tuck away anything that strays from your perfect coiffure!

Beware, this is definitely a high-maintenance hairstyle — I wouldn’t advise running, jumping or exceptionally vigorous shopping if you want it to hold its shape

Links:

'How To' on hair rolls
'How To' on beehives
'How To' on pompadours
Vintage Hair on Photobucket.com