Shirley temple: a curly hair retrospective
Published
11th Feb 2014
by rachael
Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85, leaving a legacy of great films - and even better hair - behind her.
When she made her screen debut in 1932 at the age of four, Shirley's hair was already styled in the tumbling curls which she would eventually go on to become famous for.
Inspired by silent movie star Mary Pickford, Shirley's mother Gertrude began to dress her daughter's hair in long, sausage-like ringlets - she would later go on to earn $150 per week as her hairdresser.
And, showing an attention to detail that any professional hairdresser would be proud of, Gertrude was rumoured to style Shirley's hair in precisely 56 carefully-placed curls each evening.
As she matured, Shirley opted for more sophisticated dressed-out curls in darker hues similar to those sported by other 1940s stars - but by 1950 her career was over, with a new role as a politician to become the focus for the rest of her life.
She may have retired at the age of 21, but no actress has ever come close to being so synonymous with a hairstyle as Shirley Temple and her curls - here we take a look back at some of her best hair moments.
