Our Favorite 50s Hairstyles plus How to Style Each Look

1950s hairstyles to inspire your next look.

The popular 50s hairstyles are a total goldmine of ideas for how to style your hair today. It was an immensely dynamic era of change, and it showed in everything, including people’s hairstyles.

Although there are still some ‘40s hairstyle holdouts (we’re looking at you, victory roll), a lot of change happened to women’s hair during this time. Some grew it much longer than what used to be acceptable, while some cropped it extra short.

No matter what your hair length is now, you can take inspiration from the 50s. Read on to get inspired. And if you want to try hair in the 50s at home, find a quick tutorial below.

50s Hairstyles: Our Favorite Retro Looks

Need inspo to achieve 1950s hairstyles? Keep scrolling to check out some of the top looks from the decade.

1. Victory Rolls

50s hairstyles with victory rolls
Rock a classy vintage look with victory rolls.

Victory rolls are one of the quintessential 50s hairstyles for long hair. To re-create this style, you will just need to practice your pin curl skills.

Split the front of your hair into two even sections and lightly tease your hair. Teasing the hair that will go into the pin curls will give you more volume and grip. Roll the hair upwards and pin it in place, one on each side of your part. Set your style for all-day wear by using some of the Dove Style+Care Extra Hold Hairspray, and you’ll be good to go!

retro hairstyles2

2. Italian Cut

50s hairstyles with a curly pixie
Wavy pixie haircut that you can revive in 2016. Photo credit: indigitalimages.com

The “Italian Cut” was a great 50s hairstyle for short hair where naturally curly girls could fashionably wear a pixie cut. This was a pretty short pixie that left the hair a little longer on top.

Recreate this style today by using Suave Luscious Curls Curl Defining Cream on naturally curly hair. If you don’t have naturally curly hair, check out our tutorial for curling short hair.

3. Brushed Under Bob

50s hairstyles with a fake bob
A chic faux bob lets you try out a popular look in the ’50s. Photo credit: Verity Jane Smith

For a simple ’50s hairstyle try out the brushed under bob, or the faux bob, as we call it today. Work extra volume into your long hair by creating bouncy curls. Then, create a ponytail as you tuck your long hair underneath for a cool and modern take on this classic look.

4. Gamine Pixie

50s hairstyles with a short pixie
Get the gamine look with a short pixie and micro bangs. Photo credit: indigitalimages.com

Women sporting short hair was nothing new in the ’50s, but the cool gamine pixie certainly was. This boyish, playful take on the traditional shorter cuts took the world by storm. Add extra body to your short pixie with Bed Head by TIGI Manipulator Cream. Work a small amount of the cream through your hair and twist small sections of your for added texture.

retro hairstyles

5. Poodle Hair

50s hairstyles with pineapple hair
Short pineapple hair is a cool way to tap into a look from the ’50s.

What the ’50s dubbed “poodle hair,” is nothing but the modern pineapple hair, which is still super popular today! This cool 50s hairstyle uses your natural curls to create a super fun look. To re-create this pineapple hairdo follow our step-by-step tutorial.

6. Sophisticated Waves

1950s hairstyles with curls
Glossy curls give you a modern take on this vintage vixen look. Photo credit: indigitalimages.com

1950s hairstyles for long hair were all about glamour and sophisticated, brushed-out waves. Start this style by curling all of your hair away from your face. Wait until your curls have cooled down all the way before brushing. After your curls have cooled, brush them out with a boar bristle brush for a looser wavy style that was super popular in the ’50s.

7. Curled Bangs

girl with curled vintage bangs
Curl your bangs for a ’50s retro vibe.

Bangs are very popular in vintage hairstyles, especially in the 1950s. For a look inspired by this era, create a curl with your bangs going towards your face. You can pair this look with a retro updo or wear your hair down.

Tutorial 1: 1950s-Inspired Curly Side-Parted Lob

Vlogger Zoe Newlove shares her take on 1950s curls in an easy step-by-step tutorial. Read on for her take on a luscious curly side-parted lob style.

1

Start with clean, freshly washed hair.

Zoe Newlove starts off with washing and conditioning her hair with a moisturizing system that helps repair damage but without the weigh-down, like Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Shampoo and Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Conditioner.

50s hairstyles starts with clean hair
2

Apply some mousse.

To prime your hair for curl-styling, apply a golf ball-sized amount of mousse, like Nexxus Care Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam, onto your hair.

 

50s hairstyles: apply some mousse
3

Blow-dry and tie your hair.

Blow-dry your hair on a medium-heat setting until completely dry. Then tie hair into a half-updo or top knot.

50s hairstyles and blow-dry your hair
4

Curl your hair.

Using a medium-sized barrel, curl hair vertically around a curling iron or wand, starting with your loose bottom sections.

50s hairstyles are created with a curling iron
5

Pin curls up.

After releasing each section of hair from the barrel, secure it down onto your scalp with a bobby pin. This pin-curling method sets the curl, allowing for a more defined ringlet.

50s hairstyles require some hair pins
6

Pin-curl all sections.

Repeat the process on your entire head of hair. Allow curls to set and cool for a few minutes.

50s hairstyles with pin curls
7

Remove your pins.

After all your curls have cooled completely, carefully remove each pin-curl from your scalp.

50s hairstyles remove pins
8

Comb out your curls.

Using a fine-toothed comb, gently comb out your curls from top to bottom to separate each spiral. Zoe points out that you should now have soft “S-waves” instead of tight ringlets.

50s hairstyles and comb hair
9

Brush 'n fluff.

Continue shaking your curls and gently brushing them out to soften your look.

50s hairstyles created by brushing hair
10

Apply serum.

Apply a shine serum from mid-lengths to ends to give your curls a luxurious, light-catching sheen.

50s hairstyles can be smoothed down with serum
11

Add a festive touch.

A glitzy or metallic hair accessory, like a micropavé gold or silver barrette, is a fitting final touch to this style. Clip it onto your minor parting.

50s hairstyles with a cute hairpin
12

Finish with hairspray.

Seal in your look (and prevent any wintertime frizzies and flyaways) with some hairspray. Zoe gives her sexy curls an allover misting with TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray.

1950s hairstyles seals in with hairspray
13

Done!

Zhuzh it up, and you’re all set for a night out!

how to create cool 50s hairstyles

Tutorial 2: Easy Women’s Hairstyle 1950s-Inspired

Rolled bangs paired with curls are another look that was very popular in the 50s. Want to try it for yourself? Keep scrolling to learn how to achieve the perfect women’s hairstyle, 1950s style.

1

Start with clean hair.

Start your look with clean hair. Try TRESemmé Pro Pure Damage Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner. Towel-dry or blow-dry your hair until it is at least 90% dry.

 

50s hairstyles starts with clean hair
2

Grab the front section of your hair.

Grab the front section of your hair and place it in a large clip.

section your hair to create 50s hairstyles
3

Curl your hair.

Spray your hair with some heat protectant such as TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer SprayThen, use a curling wand to create curls throughout your hair.

 

50s hairstyles require you to curl your hair
4

Comb out the curls.

Using a wide-toothed comb, loosen the tight curls. This will keep the curl intact but create a bouncer feel.

 

50s hairstyles comb your hair
5

Comb throughout your hair.

Comb throughout your hair, until you achieve the desired level of curls and bounce.

brunette woman wears 1950s hairstyles and curls top hair
6

Use a foam roller.

Release the clip from the top part of your hair. Use a foam roller to grab the front section.

50s hairstyles created with a foam roller
7

Pull the foam roller up.

Roll the foam roller up to the crown of your head as you snap it in place. This also creates some really cool volume and length to your hair.

50s hairstyles with a roller
8

Place bobby pins on the side.

Secure your mini-pouf with some bobby pins on the side of your head and in the middle.

50s hairstyles with a bobby pin
9

Final look!

There you have it – a fun, simple, and cool 1950s hairstyle that is sure to look awesome in the present. Hold your curls together with some of TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Smooth Hold Level 2 and you are good to go!

how to create 50s hairstyles hair tutorial

There are many ways we can bring styles from the 1950s into the looks we wear today. Share your vintage hairstyles with us on Instagram @AllThingsHaisUS! Also for more vintage hairstyle inspiration be sure to subscribe to our newsletter below.

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