In the 1940s, women's hairstyles evolved to become more practical for professional women, yet they conveyed glamour and sophistication that endures in movies of that period. Styles tended to be shorter in the War years and longer and looser in the late 1940s. "1940s Hairstyles" is a how-to guide to creating these lovely styles. There are tips and instructions for the original methods of styling the hair, as well as modern alternatives for many techniques. The instructions vary in degree of detail. They give as much detail as women got in the 1940s, as many of these instructions are taken from period publications. But those women were familiar with the basic techniques and accustomed to watching their hairdressers create these styles. Modern women will need to study the basics in Chapter 2 before moving on to the styles.
Chapter 1 provides instructions for "Basic Haircuts". 2 cuts for short hair are described and illustrated, 2 for medium-length hair, and 2 for long hair. You don't need a period haircut to create the styles in the book, but most styles do require a layered cut in order to make curls on the top and sides of your head. I've also noticed that, for someone with very thick hair like myself, there is simply too much hair for these styles if it's not layered.
Chapter 2, "The Basics", is the most important chapter. This is where you learn how to create the basic elements of 1940s hairstyles: pin curls, waves, hair parts, rolls, pompadours, and bangs. Pay particular attention to the section on pin curls. If 1940s hairstyles could be described with one term, it would be: pin curls. Chapter 3, "Selecting the Right Hairstyle", provides guidance in choosing a style based on the shape of your face and any imperfections you might want to camouflage.
Chapter 4 is "Basic Styles", divided into 2 parts: Casual Gal and Career Gal. There are some photographs of movie stars sporting some of the included styles. The instructions for each style include period illustrations and sometimes period instructions, presumably taken from old magazines. Some styles include diagrams of pin curl sets and some don't. Remember to pay attention to the direction of the curls in the diagram (clockwise or counterclockwise). "Casual Gal" includes styles for short, medium, and long hair and for women who wear glasses -about 18 styles total. "Career Girl" presents styles for short and medium-length hair, including those suitable for women who were in the military -about 15 styles total.
Chapter 5 is dedicated to "Formal and Up-Dos". Seven styles are pictured for various lengths of hair. Chapter 6 discusses styles that incorporate "Hair Accessories", such as braids and braided hair pieces, ribbons and bows, snoods and hairnets, scarves and turbans, and flowers.
There is a "Problem Solver Q+A" section at the end of the book, which includes answers to commonly asked questions and a little troubleshooting. Appendix A is a list of beauty supplies you will need, with descriptions. Appendix B, "Where to Find Beauty Supplies", gives general advice, not a list of suppliers. There is an index that lists page numbers according to what length of hair the styles are suited to.