12 Hairstyles from the Past That Took Hours to Do
These time-consuming vintage hairstyles were more than just looks — they were full-on beauty rituals that required serious patience.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Back in the day, looking stylish meant dedicating hours to the mirror. These hairstyles weren’t for the faint of heart. Here’s a throwback to 12 unforgettable styles that took forever to perfect — but were totally worth it.
1. Victory Rolls
VixyView on Flickr
This iconic WWII-era style featured two voluminous rolls pinned high on the head. It required sectioning, teasing, curling, and a lot of bobby pins.
2. Beehive
John Sargent on Flickr
Towering and teased to perfection, the beehive ruled the ’60s and demanded major time and hairspray. Hair had to be backcombed in layers and sculpted into its signature cone shape.
3. Marcel Waves
brutapesquisa on Flickr
Named after French stylist Marcel Grateau, these elegant S-shaped waves were created with a hot curling iron in a painstaking pattern. The technique was delicate and time-intensive.
4. Finger Waves
Louis Calvete on Flickr
Before hot tools, women shaped their hair using just their fingers, combs, and setting lotion. The wave pattern had to be molded precisely and left to dry naturally or under a hood dryer.
5. Gibson Girl Updo
ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER on Flickr
This Edwardian hairstyle involved piling long hair into a soft, voluminous bun with side poufs. Pins, padding, and perfect parting were essential.
6. 1980s Spiral Perm
Erica Schoonmaker on Flickr
This chemical-laden style transformed straight hair into tight, springy curls using dozens of rods and lots of processing. The appointment could last hours at the salon, and the upkeep didn’t stop there.
7. Pompadour
Kimchifan on Wikimedia Commons
With hair swept upward and back, the pompadour called for heavy lifting — literally. Blow-drying, volumizing products, teasing, and sculpting all played a part.
8. Pin Curls
goblinbox_(queen_of_ad_hoc_bento) on Flickr
A vintage staple before electric curlers, pin curls involved twisting tiny sections of damp hair and pinning them flat to the scalp. Once dried and brushed out, they created a soft, bouncy curl.
9. Bouffant
Sean Mannion on Wikimedia Commons
A cousin of the beehive, this style focused on big volume at the crown with smoother sides. Teasing and setting were key, followed by a generous cloud of hairspray.
10. Edwardian Marcel Iron Curls
Maria Fernanda Fotografia on Pexels
Before curling wands became common, heated metal tongs were used to create soft waves and curls in the early 1900s. It required careful timing to avoid scorching the hair or the scalp.
11. 1990s Micro Braids
marcello migliosi on PxHere
These tiny, intricate braids could take six to eight hours or more, depending on hair length and density. Often done at salons or by skilled friends, they lasted for weeks but took serious commitment upfront.
12. Hollywood Glam Waves
Lily Dare on Flickr
Popularized by actresses in the 1940s, these polished waves needed precise parting, multiple clips, and patient setting. Each lock had to fall just right for that red-carpet glam.