1940s Hairstyles: Victory Rolls, Pin Curls and More

My great-aunt Dot worked in a factory during the war, and the one thing she always told us about it was the hair. Not the long hours. Not the noise. The hair. “You had to tie it all up in a scarf,” she’d say, “or the machines would take it.” Then she’d show us how she used to roll her bangs, using a pencil, very proudly, at the age of eighty-seven.

That’s 1940s hair in a nutshell. Glamorous on the outside, practical underneath, and done by women who were juggling a lot more than their curling routine.

Here are the hairstyles that defined the decade, the stars behind them, and how to pull them off without a war-time supply of bobby pins.

Why 1940s Hair Looked the Way It Did

The war changed everything, hair included. Millions of women went to work in factories and offices, so hair had to stay out of the way during the day. At the same time, Hollywood was pumping out glamour like never before, and everyone wanted to look like the stars on the big screen.

The result was a funny mix. Lots of hair was pinned up and rolled away from the face at the front, then left soft and curly at the back. Hairstyles were still very done, but they had to survive a full shift too.

Compared with the sleek, flat finger waves of the 1920s hairstyles, the ’40s were all about height and volume.

The Most Iconic 1940s Hairstyles

Victory Rolls

If you only know one 1940s hairstyle, it’s probably this one. Two big, sculpted rolls of hair at the front of the head, sometimes on each side of a part, sometimes meeting in the middle. The name is often linked to the war, and they’ve become the ultimate pin-up look. Honestly, they still turn heads today.

Pin Curls

Pin curls were the secret behind almost every ’40s style. Women wound small sections of damp hair into flat coils, pinned them, slept on them (ouch) and brushed them out in the morning. That’s how you got those soft, bouncy, rounded waves that framed the face.

None of this was new, by the way. Women had been setting pin curls at the kitchen table all through the Depression, which you can read about in our 1930s hairstyles post.

The Veronica Lake Peekaboo

Veronica Lake’s long, blonde waves fell over one eye, and it drove people wild. Women copied it everywhere. There was just one problem: long, loose hair and factory machinery don’t mix. The story goes that she was asked to pin her hair back during the war to set a safer example for women workers. Even so, the peekaboo wave is still one of the sexiest hairstyles ever.

Rita Hayworth’s Red Waves

When Rita Hayworth tossed her hair back in Gilda in 1946, she basically created the template for Old Hollywood glamour. Long, glossy, deep-red waves with tons of volume. If you love that look, our wavy hairstyles guide has a whole section on how to get Old Hollywood waves.

Lauren Bacall’s Side Part

Lauren Bacall had a cooler, more grown-up version. A deep side part, smooth on top, with soft waves curling under at the ends. Very sophisticated, very To Have and Have Not.

The Pageboy

Shoulder-length hair, smooth on top, with the ends turned under in one neat, rounded curl. It was simple, polished and practical, which is why so many working women loved it. Think of it as the ’40s answer to a sleek lob.

The Snood

Okay, this one’s more of an accessory, but it was everywhere. A snood is a sort of knitted or mesh hair net worn at the back of the head, holding all your curls in place. It kept hair tidy at work and looked surprisingly pretty, too.

The Rosie the Riveter Scarf

The famous “We Can Do It!” poster gave us the red polka-dot bandana tied on top of the head. It was a practical way to keep hair out of the machines, and it’s become a symbol of strong, capable women. It’s also probably the easiest ’40s look to copy. One scarf, two minutes, done.

How to Get a 1940s Hairstyle Today

You don’t have to sleep on a head full of pins, although if you want the most authentic curl, it really does work.

I’m too impatient for that, so I use hot rollers or a 1-inch curling iron instead. Curl your hair, pin each curl up while it cools, then brush everything out with a boar bristle brush once it’s completely cool. The brushing is what turns tight curls into those smooth, glossy waves.

Victory rolls take practice. Backcomb a section at the front, spray it, roll it around your fingers toward your head and pin it from underneath. My first attempt looked like a cinnamon bun that had been sat on. Keep going. By the fourth try, it’s shockingly quick.

For the Rosie look, just tie a bandana around your head with the knot on top, and leave a few curls or rolled bangs peeking out at the front. My great-aunt would approve.

And whatever you do, keep a strong hairspray nearby. These looks don’t survive without it.

How to Make It Feel Modern

Pick one element and keep the rest simple. A single victory roll on one side with long, loose waves. A bandana with a white tee and jeans. Soft, brushed-out curls with natural makeup instead of the full red lip.

It’s also fun to see how hair changed afterward. By the 1950s, the rolls had softened into rounder, shorter curls and neat ponytails. Our guide to 1950s hairstyles picks up right where this one leaves off.

Final Thoughts

1940s hair was glamorous and practical at the same time, which might be why it still looks so good. Whether you go full victory rolls or just tie on a polka-dot scarf, it’s a fun decade to borrow from.

And if you ever see an older relative rolling their bangs around a pencil, ask them about it. You might get a great story.