A crowning glory of 50s styles for Platinum Jubilee events
If you’ve got Jubilee celebration plans this year, you may be wondering how to style your hair for that authentic Jubilee vibe. As communities come together to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s seventy years on the British throne, we look at some popular 50s hairstyles for women and men to complement any vintage outfit and really wow the crowd.
50s hairstyles for women
Hairstyles for women really began to develop in the post-war boom period of the 1950s. Women became more adventurous with their hair and more willing to step out of sync with convention and try out new and different looks.
The Bouffant
This look is achieved by creating a whole heap of volume, predominantly with the aid of a lot of backcombing and a generous amount of hairspray. Consider Sophia Loren or Audrey Hepburn for your inspiration here. Definitely one of the most popular styles in the 1950s, and a precursor to the popular ‘Beehive’ updo of the 60’s.
The Poodle
This style was made famous by glamorous redhead Lucille Ball and is a fun style that is great for women with longer hair. Historically, curls were created through perming but today, heated rollers and tongs make them much easier to achieve. Pin your gathered, tight curls onto the top of your head using grips, then create a simple chignon at the back to finish the look.
The Pixie
A great style for those with shorter hair, the pixie haircut was famously championed by the supermodel Twiggy in the 1960s, however, it first originated and became popular in the 50’s. This slightly androgenous style takes the shape of a closely cropped cut, tempered at the back and sides, with a longer, wispier frontage which softens it slightly.
The Chignon
To achieve this style, hair should be pinned back with the aid of a clip, pin, grips or other accessories. Chignons differ from buns in that they are not wrapped around themselves but tucked under or built around a central point. They can be fairly simple or you can construct something quite ornate if you have a couple of free hours.
50s hairstyles for men
50s hairstyles popular with men were strongly influenced by the popularity of celebrities such as Presley, Brando and Sinatra. Think of the Fonz and his rockabilly contemporaries in Happy Days and you won’t go far wrong.
Sideburns
Not easy to grow overnight but with realistic versions available to order online, sideburns are a sure-fire way of channelling 50s vibes for the fellas. If your facial hair grows quickly, or you already have them, even better, but this is a really easy way to imbibe one of the most everyday looks of the period. Use a razor to achieve a nice precise, clean outline.
The Ducktail
The Ducktail is an iconic men’s 50’s hairstyle. Suitable for hair with a little bit of length, this style’s defining feature is the hair being pushed towards the centre to give the illusion of a Duck’s rear end. Apply a pomade to your hair, distribute evenly, then comb all the hair at the side to the back so that it meets at the nape of your neck. Curl up any excess hair at the bottom to create a little twist.
The textured quiff
Begin by washing and towel drying your hair, then comb your chosen wet styling product through it. Make sure that you cover your hair evenly and direct it towards the front of your head. With a hairdryer on the hottest setting, dry your hair whilst continuing to build volume at the front. Once you have achieved a level you are happy with, fix in position with a good, holding hairspray.
The slick pompadour
This style was the hallmark of 1950s icon James Dean. You will need a round brush, a water-based pomade and a length of around four inches on top for the best results. Add the pomade evenly after washing and then blow dry your hair on a medium heat in the opposite direction to the way it would usually fall. Continue until you have created a level of volume you are happy with and then apply hairspray to hold in place. Use the round brush to roll the front of your hair backwards to create the slick look and fix in place with spray.
