Book Review: "Vintage Hairstyling" by Lauren Rennells

Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques
Lauren Rennells
2nd ed.
(c) 2009 Lauren Rennells
ISBN 978-0-9816639-1-3

If you are like me, you have pretty much no knowledge of how to create vintage hairstyles .... and also no hair.

I bought "Vintage Hairstyling" hoping it would teach me some basic techniques for how to create hairstyles from the 1920s through the 60s, and that it did.

The Pros:
The entire book is in full, brilliant color, with professional photographs showing each hairstyle clearly and from different angles, and step-by-step instructions for how to create the coifs. A full list of tools, products, images of these things, and suggestions on where to purchase them is included, along with page after page of rather technical, but easy to follow pin curling, finger waving, and roller technique.

"Vintage Hairstyling" moves through various styles ranging from the 1920s to the 1960s, with emphasis on the 1940s, specifically pompadours. Most styles use rollers or the curling iron, and many include instructions for how to add rats, hair extensions, barrettes, scarves, and other decorations.

Via Bobby Pin Blog, the author's blog

The guide for finger waving was particularly useful, and shows how to wave in wet hair as well as hair that has been previously curled. This book single-handedly taught me how to finger wave!

The Cons:
Being a girl of short locks, I was a little disappointed that nearly all of the styles in this book are for long hair, really long hair. Several styles show how to create a mock bob, but only a few show how to coif already short hair.

Via Bobby Pin Blog, the author's blog

The emphasis is on 1940s styles, with the use of victory rolls, pompadour structures, snoods, and other accessories. I suppose it makes sense for the popularity of WWII re-enactors and Rockabilly girls, but I would have liked a little more support for the 1930s and 1950s.

The Verdict:
"Vintage Hairstyling" is a great book, and the perfect one to get you started on the mysterious hair constructs of the past. It is incredibly enlightening and easy to use, and even contains a bit on period makeup and finger nail finishes. I highly recommend "Vintage Hairstyling", so go and buy it and find the answers to those hairstyling questions that have been keeping you awake at night. :-)