1940s Curls

Old Hollywood screen siren Veronica Lake made waves famous in her heyday -- she’s perhaps the most well known inspiration for 1940s curls. Today, style icons Dita Von Teese and Scarlett Johansson have made shampoo-and-set visits to the salon mainstream again; they are now a red carpet standby. Recently seen on Kate Bosworth and Jessica Alba, 1940s curls are the quintessence of glamour and can work on a variety of lengths and textures.

The key to this style is bounce and shine. “Since the hair was set, it will maintain a beautiful curl that can be brushed out and manipulated into a pinned-up glamorous shape,” says Sally Hershberger stylist Matthew Fugate. The glossed, deliberate wave is timeless and can be worn to formal events or slightly tousled for a more casual look.

To recreate this vintage look, set your hair in hot rollers, using a deep side part. After the curls cool, brush out your mane to soften the look and place strands where you’d like them to fall.