16 Vintage Hairstyle Ideas, Organized by the Technique That Creates Them
My grandmother kept a shoebox of old photographs on the top shelf of her closet. On rainy afternoons, she’d take it down and tell me stories: the dance hall where she met my grandfather, the summer she worked at a bakery, the wedding where her sister fainted. In every photo, her hair was perfect. Glossy waves, neat rolls, soft curls that seemed to defy gravity.
“How did you do it?” I asked her once. She laughed and held up her hands. “Pins, rags and patience.”
That’s the secret of vintage hairstyles. They’re not about a particular decade so much as the techniques that created them. So I’ve organized these 16 vintage hairstyle ideas by technique: pin curls, roller sets, rag curls, finger waves, teasing and rolls. For each style, you’ll see the era it comes from and a modern twist to wear it today, along with stories from my grandmother’s shoebox and my own vintage adventures.
Pin Curls
Pin curls are small coils of hair wound flat and secured with pins until they dry. They were one of the most important styling techniques of the early and mid-twentieth century.
1. The 1940s Pin Curl Set With a Side Part
Small pin curls set all over the head, brushed out into glossy, rounded waves with a deep side part.
In her favorite photo, my grandmother wore exactly this style to a dance. She told me she set her pin curls the night before and slept on them, “which wasn’t very comfortable, but it was worth it.”
Era: 1940s
Modern twist: brush the curls out a little more loosely for softer, more relaxed waves.
2. Sculpted Short Curls
Short hair set in pin curls and styled close to the head, creating a sculpted, glamorous look.
Era: 1930s
Modern twist: leave a little more volume at the crown for a softer finish.
3. Pin-Up Bangs
Short bangs set in pin curls or rolled under to create a rounded, curved fringe.
Era: 1950s
Modern twist: pair them with loose, modern waves or a high ponytail.
Roller Sets
Rollers create smooth, rounded curls and volume. Roller sets were a weekly beauty ritual for many women in the 1950s and 1960s.
4. The 1950s Roller-Set Bob
A short bob set on rollers, brushed into soft, rounded curls that frame the face.
Era: 1950s
Modern twist: use large velcro rollers for a looser, bouncier version.
5. The ’60s Flip
Shoulder-length hair set on large rollers, with the ends flipped upward and outward.
At a 1960s-themed birthday party, I wore this flip with a headband. A woman in her seventies came up to me and said, “That’s exactly how I wore it in high school!”
Era: 1960s
Modern twist: add a little texture spray for a softer, less rigid flip.
6. Feathered ’70s Wings
Hair set on rollers and blow-dried so the sides flip back and away from the face like soft wings.
Era: 1970s
Modern twist: keep the feathering soft and natural rather than heavily sprayed.
Rag Curls
Rag curls are created by wrapping damp hair around strips of fabric and leaving them to dry. It’s one of the oldest heat-free curling techniques.
7. Victorian Ringlets
Long, defined ringlets created with rag curls, falling in soft spirals around the face and shoulders.
My grandmother remembered her own mother putting her hair in rags every Saturday night before church. “We’d look like little scarecrows at bedtime, then like little dolls in the morning,” she said.
Era: 1800s and early 1900s
Modern twist: gently separate the ringlets for a looser, more natural finish.
8. Soft Rag-Curl Waves
Larger rag curls brushed out into soft, bouncy waves.
Era: 1940s
Modern twist: perfect as a heat-free way to get waves overnight.
Finger Waves
Finger waves are S-shaped waves sculpted into damp hair with your fingers, a comb and setting lotion or gel.
9. The 1920s Finger-Wave Bob
A short bob with smooth, sculpted finger waves pressed close to the head.
Era: 1920s
Modern twist: keep the waves only at the front, with the rest of the hair softer.
10. Finger Waves With a Low Bun
Sculpted finger waves at the front, with longer hair gathered into a low bun at the nape.
Era: 1930s
Modern twist: perfect for formal events and vintage weddings.
Teased and Backcombed Styles
Teasing, or backcombing, creates volume by brushing small sections of hair toward the roots.
11. The Soft Beehive
A tall, rounded updo created by teasing the crown and smoothing the hair over it.
Era: 1960s
Modern twist: keep the height subtle for a softer, more wearable beehive.
12. The Bouffant With a Headband
Big, teased volume at the crown with the rest of the hair smooth and polished, finished with a wide headband.
Era: 1960s
Modern twist: wear the volume with loose, modern waves.
13. The Bouncy ’50s High Ponytail
A high ponytail with a little teased volume at the crown and the ends curled into bouncy waves.
Era: 1950s
Modern twist: tie a silk scarf around the base.
Rolls and Pinned Styles
Rolling and pinning sections of hair created many of the most iconic vintage styles.
14. Victory Rolls
Two rolls of hair pinned on either side of a part, with the rest of the hair curled or pinned up.
At a vintage fair a few years ago, a hairstylist offered free victory rolls. I sat in her chair for twenty minutes, and when she handed me the mirror, I finally understood why my grandmother looked so glamorous in every photo.
Era: 1940s
Modern twist: try a single, softer victory roll on one side.
15. The 1940s Snood Updo
Hair gathered loosely at the back and tucked into a snood, a decorative hairnet. It was both stylish and practical.
Era: 1940s
Modern twist: choose a snood in a velvet or crochet fabric.
16. The Side Roll With a Flower
Hair rolled on one side and pinned, with a large flower tucked above the roll.
Era: 1940s and 1950s
Modern twist: use a silk flower for a long-lasting accent.
Vintage Hair Tools, Then and Now
Then:
- Rags and fabric strips for heat-free curls
- Hairpins and bobby pins for pin curls and rolls
- Marcel irons, early heated irons used to create waves
- Rollers made of metal or plastic
- Setting lotion, and sometimes homemade solutions like sugar water
Now:
- Foam and velcro rollers
- Hot rollers
- Curling irons and wands
- Setting lotions, mousses and gels
- Satin scarves to protect sets overnight
Brushing Out a Vintage Set
The brush-out is where the magic happens:
- Let your set cool and dry completely.
- Remove pins or rollers gently.
- Use a boar bristle brush to brush the curls together into waves.
- Shape the waves with your hands and a comb.
- Pin sections in place while setting with hairspray.
Be patient. The first few attempts often look like a big cloud of curls before they settle into waves.
Where to Wear Vintage Hair
Vintage hairstyles are perfect for:
- Swing and dance nights
- Retro-themed weddings and parties
- Vintage fairs and markets
- Photo shoots
- Everyday wear, if you love the look
Finding Authentic Vintage Inspiration
For the most authentic styles, look at original sources:
- Family photo albums
- Old magazines and catalogs
- Museum and library photo archives
- Classic films from the era you love
My grandmother’s shoebox remains my favorite reference of all.
Final Thoughts
Vintage hairstyles are about more than nostalgia. They’re about technique, patience and a little bit of magic. Whether you try pin curls, roller sets, rag curls, finger waves, teased volume or victory rolls, you’re carrying forward styling traditions that women relied on for generations.
Pick a technique, set aside an evening to practice, and enjoy the glamour of the past.
Which vintage technique would you love to try first? Let me know in the comments below.
