1940s Hairstyles

The war is raging, but the glamour must go on.

Food was rationed, but a lady could still get her lipsticks.

You might think World War II could have derailed a girl's beauty, but the 1940s actually turned out to be one of the most glamorous decades ever--before and after the war. This was in large part because Hollywood actresses defined glamour and Hollywood was bigger than the war.

The beauty ad companies justified the allowance for cosmetics during a difficult time as illustrated by this 1942 Coty ad.

"His duty to serve--hers to inspire."

The makeup style of that era was matching--wearing the same color lipstick as nail polish--often dark red. But 1940s glamour went beyond lipstick and nail polish to hair. It was complete glamour. 1940s hairstyles are indeed still considered some of the most glamorous evening hair designs today.

Short bob hairstyles of the 1930s were gone; women typically had long side-parted styles in the 1940s with beautiful hairlines.

Rita Hayworth, the military servicemen's top pinup, set the hairstyling trend.