African American Pin-up Hairstyles

[Miss Melody]

Hi all! Getting ready for my first shoot and I have no idea what to do with my hair. I currently have a weave in, but it's not a style I want to use for this shoot. Once I take it out, I will have REALLY tightly curled (read:nappy) hair and will be getting it pressed (straightened without a chemical).

I have seen many awesome tutorials for vintage hair, but few for African American hair. Does anyone know of a few good ones? I haven't seen my hair in months, so I have no idea how long it is, I would guess it's hovering over my shoulders at this point. Doubt it's longer than shoulder length, though.

 

Thanks in advance, dolls!

 

[Meli Murder.]

Your hair type doesn't matter. As long as you have a good and patient stylistic. I just did a pin up themes fashion show and half the models were African-American and most of them had weso early any tutorial u see would work.

Where are u located?

[SamanthaArmyWifey]

any style you can do on caucasian hair you can do on african american hair as long as it's straightened. It shouldn't be much different but it needs a little more help. Get a good pomeade to smooth everything out and make sure you use a curling iron or hot rollers. A lot of caucasian women can do certain styles like victory rolls without curling first but on your hair you will want to have it straightened and then curl it if that makes any sense lol. Lauren Rennels has a great vintage hairstyling book and their are even a few youtube vids where girls attempt the styles in the book. One of the styles in the book is done on an african american girl. Here is a link to a pic of it 

http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/5126455

[Miss Melody]

I'm in the DC area. I plan on doing my own hair...but that may change if I can't get a style I like, haha.

 

I'd love to use my current weave, but it's not the kind I'd want to use for this kind of look. The one I had in my profile pic was better but that was from December.

 

Thanks for the tip, Samantha. I'll go look for that now. I guess I'm just nervous because I haven't had my natural hair straight in around 8 years and even then I never knew how to style it, lol.

[Gidget Jo Lee{★}]

i usually do a rosie the riveter hairstyle  or a pomp and ponytail with my nautral hair( i haven't had my hair straighten in years so it's curly)

but i went and got a wig and cut some bangs a la Wanda from Cry baby in it and add some curls, i'm going to cut bettie bangs in another wig later in the spring.

but here are some links of videos i used when i was looking for ideas

Pin up roller set on natural hair inspired by the 1940s

Natural Hairstyle: Retro Updo

Pinup Hairstyle with a wig

and you will find different ones on the side when you watch those three always check the Suggestion videos.

 and of course i just played around with different styles found what worked for me.

Good Luck

[Edson Carlos]

What a great topic Miss Melody thank you for starting it! Welcome to our awesome forums =)

[GiGi Von Vroom]

Definitly use a good pomade!  (Personally, stay way from Murray's.  It can be very difficult to style our hair with.  I use, Layrite which is a lot like a thick hair gel and it doesn't flake up.)  Bobby pins of various sizes, flowers to put in your hair, and a good hairspray (like TREsemme) will also hold your hair very well without causing flakes.  Soft rollers (the ones that look like little pillows with the twist-able ends) are a good investment as well.  Try parting a good amount of your hair in the front (think where your bangs would be) and roll them in various directions.  Tuck a flower behind whichever ear you prefer and wear the rest of your hair down. 

You really have to spend time "playing" with your hair.  Some good online tutorials are offered on YouTube.com.  Search YouTube for "Lisa Fremont Street Hair".  She herself is not, African-American but I've used her tutorials to style my hair many times.

I thought there was some major magic to styling my hair in retro styles!  But check out different websites that sell retro clothes, Hot Rod magazines, look around here on PL...you can find inspiration for your styles just about anywhere! 

[Meli Murder.]

I'm a huge fan of wigs :)....I tried googling "african american pinup hairstyles" but I didnt find anything useful but I figure I can give you some tips...

 

*anything cilinder can be used for a victory roll (just wrap your hair around, hairspray, wait 30 sec, and remove and bobby pin

 

*curls are a girls best friend. Somethng as simple as a side pointail and a pompadour will work.

 

* Pin up is all about the basics: rods, rollers, fingerwaves, pin curls..if you can do any of these, you will win :)

 

*flowers make everything 10x better (actually hair accessories are amazing)

 

*Practice Practice Practice....when you find something you like, give it a go a couple times before the day, nothing sucks more then stressing over hair.

 

And if your photog is a good photographer he/she can work with whatever you got. I did a shoot one time and half my head was shaved (i have the pics on here) and you can't even tell :)

 

hope all of this helps...

[TheRetroNatural]

Check out my new blog, I'll be updating it with styling tips for African American vintage and rockabilly enthusiasts with natural/highly textured hair. Hope you enjoy! :)

[Eden Christopher]

I'm a PASSIONATE wig wearer. I have a longer lace front for more interpretive or goth/psychobilly looks.
I usually have a shorter one in a midi cut for more authentic looks. I
d like to add a shorter Dorothy Dandridge Elizabeth Taylor style as well.

There is a book I just checked out called "What We Wore" its 20the century African American Fashion. It's great to see what people REALLY wore.

I avoid the Rosie scarves because well it's a fine line between looking like a 40s war poster and a syrup bottle.

[GiGi Von Vroom]

Hahaha!  I've been looking for a few nice wigs that are short.  I do the Rosie scarves but I try to wear my eyeglasses that day (cat's eyes) to at least throw off that whole Aunt Jemima look.

Eden Christopher said:

I'm a PASSIONATE wig wearer. I have a longer lace front for more interpretive or goth/psychobilly looks.
I usually have a shorter one in a midi cut for more authentic looks. I
d like to add a shorter Dorothy Dandridge Elizabeth Taylor style as well.

There is a book I just checked out called "What We Wore" its 20the century African American Fashion. It's great to see what people REALLY wore.

I avoid the Rosie scarves because well it's a fine line between looking like a 40s war poster and a syrup bottle.

[TheRetroNatural]

Ah yes, trying NOT to look like Aunt Jemima..lol That reminds me, I wanna get some cat eye glasses that I can fill with my prescription since I'm a four eyes.

GiGi Von Vroom said:

Hahaha!  I've been looking for a few nice wigs that are short.  I do the Rosie scarves but I try to wear my eyeglasses that day (cat's eyes) to at least throw off that whole Aunt Jemima look.

[TheRetroNatural]

Just wanted to post the link to my blog for natural retro hair styles :)

www.theretronatural.blogspot.com =)

 

It's new but I'm quickly adding content!