1930s Hairstyles

American Blonde Goes Off Platinum Standard

February 13, 1934

The American blonde has gone off the platinum standard. So said the American beauticians and hair stylists today at their annual convention. It’s more desirable now to be gold-blonde, said they, than to have hair like Jean Harlow’s.

They talked, too, about a haircut that matches the new car. It’s streamlined; and these experts said it will be “the coiffure.” The way of it is this: straight back from the forehead to the ear-line, with no waves. But at the back, a rio of small curls.

“More curls than ever this spring” was the hairdressers’ prediction. No slick bobs, no feather-edge necklines, no shingled heads.

“We’re getting back to femininity after two years,” said the hairdressers. But women’s tresses will go right on being bobbed, they added. A medium-length bob is preferred; and when a woman wants to look regal for the evening, she will add to her bob an artificial braid.

The Fashions of Cheeks, Eyes, and Fingernails

A trend away from the highly rouged cheek also was seen. But color is leaving the cheeks, it seems, only to gleam more brightly on the eyelids. Eyelashes will be more lustrous than ever before, the beauty experts said, and eye shadow of more positive shades.

Fingernail note: they will be brilliant. Quiet women will cling to deep red; but ladies of the exotic type will tint their nails to match their costumes, and will flash purple and green.

Ginger Rogers in 1930s with cute finger waves

Tutorial for recreation of Reese Witherspoon's
hairstyle in "Water For Elephants" (1930)