Chicago Pin Up Hair Styles

The pin up hair of flapper girls is easy to recreate.

The Prohibition era of 1920s Chicago saw the invention of the flapper girl, characterized by her knee-length dresses and iconic hairstyles. If you're attending a costume party or just want a unique hairstyle for an event, you can recreate the pin up hairstyle by creating pin curls, finger waves or up dos associated with the era.

Pin Curls

The pin curl is one of the most iconic pin up styles of the Chicago Prohibition era. It's also one of the easiest to create. Style your hair in whatever way you like, letting it hang down or pulling it into an up do of your choosing. Take the strands of hair near your face and gently curl them around your finger. Lay the curl flat against your scalp, making a swirl shape, and pin in place with a few bobby pins or hair pins. You can create just one pin curl or create a series of pin curls framing your face.

Finger Waves

Finger waves are the wavy pieces of hair close to the scalp and near the forehead that many people associate with Chicago of the Roaring Twenties. The traditional way to make finger waves is to put some hair wax into the hair and then swirl a comb through the hair to give it the wave. For a modern day shortcut, consider using a hair crimping tool held close to the scalp to create the look in minutes. Make sure to use plenty of hairspray to hold the look in place.

Up Do

A classic knot is a typical Chicago pin up look. Tie your hair back in a knot at the nape of your neck and use bobby pins or hair pins to hold in place. Wrap a strand of hair around any hair ties to cover up the modern addition and make it look more authentic. For a fun spin, consider including a pin curl or finger wave with the know, making the style look even more antique. A faux jewelled barrette or hair comb would be a nice, vintage accessory.

Tags: bobby pins, bobby pins hair, close scalp, hair pins, pins hair