Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

How to cut a 1930s bob

cate

New in Town
Messages
1
Location
UK
Hi ladies,

I've been lurking around here for a while without posting anything but I've finally come to a dead end on a quest of mine. I'm thinking about having my hair cut in a 1930s style, similar to the one worn by Loretta Young here - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/354095589422555972/. However, I want to make sure it is cut in the correct way to create this look once it's curled. I'm on a search for instructions similar to this - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/26036504071063327/ - for a 1940s femme fatale look to give to my hairdresser. Has anyone come across anything like this?

Thanks in advance!
 

Fräulein U.

Familiar Face
Messages
61
Location
Hamburg, Germany
Actually this might just be a regular bob. I recently got a bob, chin length in the front, about 1" below the nape in the back, no layers. Depending on the setting pattern I can style it easily like the picture if I want to.

From what I gathered 1930s haircuts aren't that different from 1920s haircuts, they're just styled differently. So you have some sort of bob with little to no layering but set it in pincurls for waves and fluff rather than do finger waves and flat kiss curls.
 

MissNathalieVintage

Practically Family
Messages
757
Location
Chicago
This is a great hairstyle and fairly easy to style. I've done my hair similar to the Loretta Young photo. My hair is longer 2 inches pass my shoulders but thin. The length of my fringe/bangs is to my chin, every time I curl my hair it ends up looking like a long bob, just like this http://blog.johannaost.com/images/8438 photo by Johanna Ost.
Here is how I set my hair:
Tools needed:
Medium size sponge rollers, water in a small spray bottle ( this is the setting lotion). Comb and hair net.
1. Make a deep side part on one side of the hair.
2. Start curling the hair at the top of the head where the fringe/bangs would begin and curl the hair under and to the side.
3. Using the first curler as a guide keep curling the hair by putting a curl next to the first curler. This should feel like you are curling your hair in a circle around the hair. Sleep on rollers with hair net to cover the set.
4. The brush out, here is a video for tips on brushing out a retro set https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEtJZK946Y0
 
Last edited:

Frk.W

New in Town
Messages
35
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
Pretty sure there are layers, and reading descriptions and trade articles from the 1930's I think hair was frequently thinned out, too. Many of those distinct 30's styles are very curly and fluffy but still stay rather close to the head. That's an effect you only get with fairly thin or thinned-out hair, I suspect. I have medium thick, straightish and fine hair, cut in a slightly layered bob/middy hybrid, quite flat if left to it's own devices, but when it's freshly set and as curly as that it's a lot bigger than Loretta Young's in that photo. I have tried and so far not figured out a way to get it to stay closer to the head with first-day pincurls. I think thinning and/or layers is the only way. It's mentioned in this 1931 article on the Bobby Pin Blog, for instance.
 

ashleysummer

Banned
Messages
15
Location
Berlin
I like the first variant. But I`ve seen many other cute bobs here . I`m going to cut my hair like a girl from this photo. I believe it`s cute, isn`t it?
1-long.jpg
 

DonnaP

Familiar Face
Messages
58
Location
Lakewood, Ohio
I know this is an old thread, but I just got my hair cut and it works very well for this style. She did a blunt cut bob that reaches to my collar bones in the front. I have bangs that are chin length and then she used thinning scissors on the ends of my hair all the way around. This reduces the bulk so I don't get the triangle effect that some short curly styles can have.

Edited to add my hair type--I have fine, thick hair with just a slight wave. With lottabody setting lotion it takes a wet set well.
 
Last edited:

claudiadurst

New in Town
Messages
2
Hi ladies,

I've been lurking around here for a while without posting anything but I've finally come to a dead end on a quest of mine. I'm thinking about having my hair cut in a 1930s style, similar to the one worn by Loretta Young here - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/354095589422555972/. However, I want to make sure it is cut in the correct way to create this look once it's curled. I'm on a search for instructions similar to this - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/26036504071063327/ - for a 1940s femme fatale look to give to my hairdresser. Has anyone come across anything like this?

Thanks in advance!
that is great info i visited awesome, and i get some inspiration to write some thing about http://www.fashionient.com/5-top-black-boy-haircuts/
 

swanson_eyes

Practically Family
Messages
827
Location
Wisconsin
I've been trying to figure out how to do a faux bob forever but my hair is too long and too heavy. I still try every once in a while.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,256
Messages
3,077,411
Members
54,183
Latest member
UrbanGraveDave
Top