Better late than never

My eyes lit up this morning when the postman delivered a parcel I have been waiting for, a little something I could have actually done with many years ago when I first started out on my vintage loving lifestyle. 

Inside was this gem of a book:

Vintage Hairstyling by Lauren Rennells

 I had heard great things about this book on the vintage grapevine and decided to take the plunge and order it. It is not one of the cheapest book purchases but oh my it is worth every penny.

When I first started my love affair with the 1940s and 1950s I found the most daunting task was getting the perfect hairstyle to fit the era.  Clothing and make-up came relatively easy but trying to get those darn victory rolls...lets just say the air was blue and the hair brush thrown on many an occasion.   I developed a love/hate relationship with my heated rollers but I refused to be beaten and I soon managed to knock up a couple of victory rolls in less time than it took to get the rollers in!   If only wish someone had written this book back then, it would have saved many a hair tantrum

Promising start to finish instructions for hairstyles from the 1930's to the 1960's with detailed photos , a breakdown of techniques used in the past and a modern equivalent to get the same style PLUS tips on hair accessories, make-up and nails - this book really does not disappoint.   Along with victory rolls there is pin curls, the happy Pompadour (as per front cover) and one of my favourites:

The Snood Style - just beautiful :o)

Along with step by step instructions there is also the tricks of the trade.  If you have also looked into victory roll styling then you would have heard of ' hair rats' or 'rat fillers'. These are used to make the rolling process a bit easier for hair that is not long enough/ thick enough to give a full roll. Nowadays you can buy foam rats or mesh rats but back in the day ladies used to save their own hair they brushed out for just this method.  I am now hankering after owning a rat filler pot for my dressing table:

  Can you imagine the look of disgust from my husband when he happens to come across a pot of my old hair on the dressing table! *wink*

 But in all seriousness if you are wanting a book on vintage hairstyling then I have to say that this is the book.

And remember its all about the preperation:


Trying to be sassy with my curlers in...



... laughing and hoping no one knocks at the door ;o)

And as vintage hairstyles are one of my favourite things I'm linking up to favourite thing-on friday over at Mimi and Tilly :o)

Hope you all have a fabulous bank holiday weekend!

Scarlett x