Victory rolls through the years – the 1940s style that lives on

This week the Hair Historian looks back at Victory Rolls...

What are Victory Rolls?

Victory rolls are a 1940s hairstyle that was popular during WWII and known for their iconic sculpted curls that roll away from the face. Today, this retro style is a pin-up girl favourite that are popular for vintage-themed events, weddings, and editorial shoots, but once upon a time it was a way of injecting some glamour into a war-torn world, and bringing some style into working women’s life in the factories.

The Second World War saw women across the country tasked with taking over traditional male roles in factories, farms and transport. While the trend was very much still for Hollywood-inspired long, elegant, curled hair, this was absolutely impractical for the busy, dangerous world of work. With war looming large, practical work by women was crucial and any downtime caused by hair getting caught up in machines and moving parts was at best, expensive, at worst, unpatriotic.

Women were forced to wear hairnets, snoods and other protective headgear – all of which was very well, but it was hardly glamorous. That’s when women started getting innovative, and curling the hair that was still visible – creating rolls at the front of the head for a style that felt elegant, but which was still practical and didn’t get in the way of their work.

Setting your hair in these curls during the day also allowed for hair with a nice loose wave at the end of your shift, when you could go out dancing looking your glamorous best self. One of the most inspirational style icons of the 1940s was Veronica Lake, who was best known for her long waves and peekaboo style, worn with a long sweep of hair covering one eye.

This was obviously an extremely impractical style and, such was her influence, the US War Production Board recruited Veronica for a 1943 film called “Safety Styles”, in which the actress demonstrated how hair could be styled into rolls for a more practical, but still elegant, style.

When it comes to the name, there are plenty of different theories around the Victory roll. Some claim it is because of the V-shape that the hair forms in rolls, others suggest it was named for a patriotic hope of victory. However, the most common theory is that it was named after a manoeuvre performed by pilots as a sign of celebration – the aileron roll, better known as ‘the victory roll’. Lead Image via Rex Features

Here's how to create retro Victory Rolls with an editorial spin

Brooke Evans has provided her modern take on the Victory Roll which she has recreated using Kent Salon brushes.

Step 1: After waving the hair, use a brush such as the Kent Salon KSo4 Back Combing/Dressing Out brush to section a front panel of the hair.

Step 2: Backcomb the hair from mid-way up the hair's length using strong downward strokes and compressing to the head. Brook recommends using a brush instead of a comb such as the Kent KSO4 because it gives a softer result, will hold for longer and is easier to remove afterwards.

Step 3: Smooth all the edges to create a more polished feel with the backcomb remaining in the middle. Once in place use your fingers, spray and smooth along the hair shaft twisting the hair allowing it to fall into a Victory Roll. 

Brooke’s top tip: “Allow the hair to fall the way it wants to - not making it go a certain way will add to the overall look.”

 

Step 4: Use a setting clip to hold in place. Pull small amounts out to feel more modern and spray in place. Finally, remove the clip and add a few discreet grips for extra hold.