1930s Hair Styles

As the 1930s began, hairstyles continued to be centered on the 1920s short looks that the Flappers made so popular. But, a new fashion trend was starting to catch on – hats. As a result, creators of most 1930s hairstyles took the use of hats into consideration. It was a trend that only grew as the decade progressed.

Early 1930s Hairstyles

From 1930-1933, short hairstyles continued to be all the rage with women from all walks of life. The Great Depression was beginning to be felt in earnest by just about everyone who wasn’t wealthy, and this put a damper on fashion and hairstyle changes. The general feeling of the time was to hunker down and focus on just getting by. Thus, early 1930s hairstyles remained largely unchanged from the styles of the late 1920s.

One noticeable change in early 1930s hairstyles that would foretell a wider fad in the coming years was the incorporation of hats. A particularly popular style was a hat that conformed closely to the shape of the head.  These hats included large, floppy brims that sagged down around the ears and jaw line. This gave the hats a face-framing aspect that many women of the day found appealing, especially in conjunction with the short, close 1930s hairstyles of the early part of the decade.

Mid-1930s Hairstyles

By 1935, the popular early 1930s hairstyles were beginning to change, but only slightly. Short hairstyles were still the most popular, but waves and increased volume were creeping into the picture. Updos were also increasingly being worn by women in everyday life. Particularly at the back of the head, buns and fluffy curls were becoming the norm as women began to grow their hair out a bit more. 

Hats continued to be a prominent feature accompanying most 1930s hairstyles in the middle of the decade. A popular style was a hat that had a short height on top and a prominent bill in front, with nothing behind. The brim was curved up, and a band often went around the center of the hat. Hairstyles tended to be kept close to the scalp when wearing these hats.

Late 1930s Hairstyles

The general trend in late 1930s hairstyles was more length. Women were returning to more traditional longer locks, but most did not go with truly long hair. Medium lengths were the most popular as the world plunged into another global war.

A new 1930s hairstyle burst onto the scene late in the decade: the ‘flip.’ This was a natural extension of the return to longer hair, and entailed combing the hair from the middle of the crown up and toward the front to create a bun for volume. The hair from the middle of the crown to the back of the head or nape of the neck was kept straight and close to the skull. At the ends of the hair, from ear-to-ear, the hair was half-curled in an upward direction. Hence, the name ‘flip’ was applied, referring to that half-curl.