1920’s Hairstyles and Hair Ornaments

Throughout 1925 the shingle and close-clipped bobs became increasingly popular, each week seeing new fans take up the fashion. The average woman, however, considered carefully the matter of being shorn unless she had expert advice and unbiased opinion.

In 1925, because of the many bobs, the line of the coiffure of the unbobbed lay close to the head, but the size of the head, its shape, and the amount of hair were matters that had to be taken into consideration so that a successful and becoming bobbed hairstyle was achieved. The size of the hairstyle was considered in relation to the rest of a womens figure.

Because bobbed hair or the shingle effect did not conform agreeably with the dignity of evening clothes, it was quite imperative that the hair be dressed and that the decoration be chosen to exemplify the period expressed in the gown. Medium-long hair was arranged in a long flat roll at the nape of the neck. The hair-line following the contour of the head and the long roll, or chignon, gave the effect of the bob.

For decoration a back band of flat hand-made pastel roses and petals was used. The centers of the roses were finished with tiny glass beads.

Using this same type of hair arrangement, girls with a round face found the tiara-effect head-dress very pleasing. Tiny hand-made flowers of ombre chiffon in rose colors finished at each ear with a large rose of the chiffon surrounded with gold petals on a wide band of silver ribbon was used to construct the tiara. An elastic strip of was often used across the back under the coil of hair.

The standard bob was enhanced by the girlishly simple but smart all-around bandeau effect. A fashionable bandeau was constructed from a band of No 9 gold ribbon with three hand-made, silk orchids and green leaves appliqued across the front. The band could be fastened with a snap under the rose at one side, or a small piece of elastic was used under the flower and the bandeau slipped down over the head.

One of the most popular hairstyles was the shingle cut, using a wide natural looking wave. To imitate this effect with long hair, divide the front and the back hair at the ears, coil the back portion close to the head high at the back, and then comb the front portion over it, swirl this around and tuck the end in low at one side, as for the French twist.

GOLD lame was used for a head-dress which consists of a 2-inch band studded with rhinestones and finished at each side with a generous-size hand-made poppy, also studded with the brilliants.

Adapted from the Grecian, another style of head-dress consisted of two bands of gold ribbon outlined with narrower silk ribbon in contrasting colors.

Following years would see a rapid uptake of finger waves, as the styling of finger waving complemented the shorter close cut bobs that now dominated the hair fashions.