My Pin Curl Epiphany: Tutorial

GUYS. I have been feverishly addicted to the Vixen Vintage blog lately, and her perfect vintage ensembles had me frustrated at my own ineptness to recreate amazing hairstyles. After all, my hair hasn't been as long as it is right now in about 6 years and I should make more of an effort experimenting with it! And as I noticed at Solanah's, Victoria's and Aya's blogs: having the right vintage hairstyle REALLY completes the picture if you're wearing vintage.

I have always had a supersoft spot for Betty Page style bangs and Veronica Lake waves, but I have spent ages growing out my bangs and my hair isn't long enough for VL's waves, so my fancy immediately turned to curls. Like every girl with pinstraight hair will tell you: we all dream of curls. Gorgeously bouncy, wild, fun, girly curls to shake up our daily, sad, flat, boring hairstyles. 

I have experiented with curlingmethods during the years: braiding for minimum damage, a straightening iron to create waves, even rollers were once tried out by yours truly. But most of the time the curls looked WACK yo. Not glamorous but desperate, and droopy after half an hour. Sound familiar? Well, for all of you fellow sad haired girl out there: I HAVE FOUND A CURE

Pin curling. Easy as one, two, three if you use a diagram and some youtube tutorials, and the result! Well, sit tight for that result. It is coming up, don't scroll down just yet! Just read along for my step by step explanation. 

1. I started out with dry hair (only dampened the ends of each strand I used for curling with my fingers) that had some product (mousse) left in it, but not much. I had washed and styled it that morning and began my pin curling experiment just before going to bed.

2. I had read this explanation over at Vixen Vintage (told you I'm addicted), this youtube tutorial and googled a pin curling diagram because Aya mentioned it. I ended up using this one because I liked the picture that was shown as a result but I slightly improvised because I didn't want too much curl on the top of my head. Also, I am lazy and got tired of the twisting and curling after I'd done one side of my head, so the top and all the rest got done slightly more careless. 

3. This is me with my pincurls after having slept a night on them. Surprisingly comfortable btw, if I might add, and I am a horrible sleeper! I followed the advice I had read online and had tied a silk scarf around my head in order to keep the pins in place and my hair un-frizzy. Also, it looked ADORABLE if I may say so myself. Totally going to wear this as a normal hairstyle. 

The scarf is triangle-shaped but you may recreate the look with a square scarf doubled by folding it so you get a triangle (I'm sure you understand! :-D). I placed the long part of the triangle in my neck and the 90° angle part at my forehead, pulling the ends from my neck to my forehead over the 90° angle part, tying it to keep it in place and tucking in the extra fabric. Just try it, it's easier than it sounds! :-D


Yes, I always sleep with a perfectly made up face, just like the ladies in the movies! Don't you? /sarc
Also, yeah I know you can see my underwear in the mirror but who cares, I think it totally adds to the boudoir feel of these pics so I'm just going to go with it. It's not like I'm wearing a thong, haha

This is what it looked like underneath the scarf.


The rolls on top of my head and at the nape of my neck had gotten slightly loosened by tossing and turning in bed all night so I was preparing myself for suckiness. However! As I already told you, the result is awesome, so don't fret!

First result after removing the pins, but without loosening the curls or styling my hair:


Save to say I was already in love by this point. I have never had beautiful spiral curls like these, so even if my face is rather serious, lemme tell ya: I was jumping around in my skivvies!

After a minor bit of shaking my head to loosen the curls, lightly using my fingers but NO combs or brushes and after a light whiff of hairspray, this was the finished result:


Now, look me in the eye and tell me this isn't awesome! I feel like someone professional styled my hair. Best thing? This was yesterday and I STILL have lovely curls right now. I will most definitely be doing this thing again.

My retro hair inspired me to go all vintage summery so I grabbed my lemon dress, espadrilles and new cat eye sunglasses (FINALLY found a pair that didn't look bonkers on me) et voila! 



I wore this to the River island event last night and I got loads of compliments on my hair. What can I say, ladies, this is a total recommendation! TRY it! I know I'm addicted.

dress: Primark
espadrilles: River Island
sunglasses: Urban Outfitters
ring: Alex Monroe

PS: don't forget to enter my vintage shoe clip giveaway!

44 comments

  1. you are the most adorable girl ever!!! i've tried the pin curling this way but my hair is so thick and frizzy it just comes out as a frizz ball, but it looks so cute on you!!! paired with that dress, sunglasses and shoes is just ahhh perfect! =D

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  2. I'm absolutely in love with this look on you. Not only is the lemon dress one of my faves from ur wardrobe, but I'm also obsessed with cat eye sunnies! I must say you're born for this hair style. Your hair looks very alive! And u look absolutely adorable with that scarf! Unfortunately I'm pretty sure this won't work for my super long hair.

    Last, but not least, finally some underwear pictures :D

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  3. but! with your hairlength you can try out veronica lake waves! or victory rolls! or bettie page bangs!!

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  4. Prettyy :) Die zonnebril is tha bomb & uw haar is ook keimooi!

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  5. You look just lovely in this! After the first post you'd done with the lemon dress, I have to admit I tracked one down on Ebay (surprisingly reasonably priced, even with shipping to the US), and I'm wearing it again right now! Yes, your dress is just THAT cute... it had finally pushed me into "I saw this great outfit on a blog and now I want it very badly for myself" mode. The pin curls are also terrific on you!

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  6. Ga ik ook zeker proberen! Prachtig!

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  7. Supermooi gedaan! Die pin curls heb ik ook al geprobeerd maar lukt niet echt bij mij :( Maar ik hou echt van die haarstijl! Leuke outfit ook :)

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  8. I'm glad I inspired you!! :-D it is an amazing dress!

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  9. You look beautiful, you have re-created the vintage hairstyles perfectly, you hair looks gorgeous. I love your eyes, and the cat eye makeup, very pretty. Love the last "leaping" shot of you, so fun :)

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  10. LOve it Super adorable look and dress :)))))

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  11. Wowie!, LOVE the hair and the outfit! It came out amazing, I'll have to try it...might be harder for me though because I have super long hair XD
    http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com

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  12. You've completely inspired me to try this! I love when my hair is all curly and fun and this looks very do-able to me. I may even try it tonight! You look awesome and I love the cute little outfit too

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  13. Excellent tutorial! You look SO gorgeous...like right out of the 1940s. Stunning.

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  14. You look so beautiful, I always think this, but a little like Katy Perry! This is an amazing tutorial, I esp love the hair!


    Grace x
    i'd rather buy shoes...

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  15. Thanks for the great tips! The dress is gorgeous!

    xoxo

    DressingDaly.blogspot.com

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  16. You are so cute! Thanks bunches for the mention, that is really really sweet of you to do :)

    Your hair turned out perfect, and you look so sunny and fresh in that dress! So well done all around, thank you again, I'm glad your enjoying my blog! I sure am enjoying yours!

    xoxo
    Solanah

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  17. Gorgeous girl, and the perfect tutorial , I will try this soon!! thanks for sharing!!

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  18. I love this! Your enthusiasm for curls makes me smile. It's funny; I have a natural mess of curls and would love to trade hair with you. Sleek, straight hair would be a dream. But no matter. I'm going to steal your headscarf look. That's adorable AND it will hide my messy curls. :D

    <3 jen @ stuffjendid

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  19. Absolutely gorgeous! Wow. I love your hair. My hair has been too short to do pincurls for a while, but it's about your length now, and I think I might have to do pincurls tonight. SO pretty.

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  20. Wauw, ziet er echt goed uit! Misschien moet ik (normaal heel onhandig en heel lui als het op kapsels aankomt) het ook maar eens proberen :)

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  21. i love this hairstyle because it is you! loved it even more because of the color contrast in your hair! oh and i forgot to tell you that i am in love with the sunnies! so glad you are going to wear the head scarf during the daytime too! have to try it myself!

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  22. its such an effort sometimes to do hair, i know i get so lazy and just pop it up most of the time!! your hair looks so cute like this, definitely a winner

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  23. The curls look AMAZING! If I ever grow my hair long again, I'm totally trying this. Even though my hair is curly, I think it would look better pin curled. You look super glamorous! Your outfit is beautiful as well...the "ballerina"-style espadrilles are really cute with that dress!

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  24. ik hoop dat het zo goed werkt als je zegt. wil het zeker ook uitproberen, want tot nu toe heb ik nog nooit langer dan 5 minuten krullen gehad wegens te veel en te zwaar haar. het resultaat bij jou is in elk geval super!

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  25. Your hair looks amazing and is so perfect for the retro look, you look soooo adorable but classy & pretty at the same time, love it! This makes me wish my hair were shorter now, but I know I could never do it. I'm totally gonna try this out though, maybe I'd have those ringlets I always wanted that just flopped down into waves.

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  26. Your hair look fantastic, I pin curled my whole head, my hairs quite long at the moment so I use rollers with pin curls at the front and I'm now experimenting with hot sticks... You do look marvellous in your head scarf worn land girl style like that, you should absolutley work this in to a look.

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  27. aaaah geeking out right now! :-D

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  28. Whoah! VEEL TE MOOI! Nu wil ik terug lang haar... x

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  29. Wauw, moet dat ook proberen! Supermooi resultaat ;)

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  30. Oh my god, as soon as my hair gets (some of) its length back (I donated 40 cm for 'Geef om haar') I'm so trying this. BEAUTIFUL!

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  31. First things first: you are GORGEOUS! These curls suit you so well. Just wow!

    I love that last photo of you. Jumping photos when it doesn't look like you are jumping, just floating, are the best!

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  32. Wow this whole post is amazing! From the supercute tutorial pics, to the gorgeous result of the effort, to the beautiful 50s inspired outfit, I simply love it! Wish I had such a gorgeous lemon-printed dress! And how awesome are the sunglasses?! You rock them! :)

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  33. I wish I'd have been more hair-conscious back when my hair was actually short enough to do anything with it... Curly hair looks great on you and that sounds like it would be so easy... too bad my hair is about a thousand miles too long for styling it pretty much any way at all... and I'm too attached (no pun intended) to it to cut it XD

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  34. Love the hair do and the sunglasses, have been looking for a decent pair myself. They always seem so exaggerated, right? You have scored most definitely the best pair :)

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  35. I totally love your dress and your hair!


    xx
    deni

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  36. Wao!!! You hair turned out stunning!! I'll have to try this myself someday, thanks for the tip.

    You look so beautiful in this outfit. The dress is so pretty and looks perfect for summer with those wedges. As always, you look gorgeous :)

    www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com

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  37. Perfection! The pin curls with the lemon dress make a perfect vintage look :)

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  38. So beautiful! That lemon print dress makes me think of sunny Italian countrysides and berry tarts and naps in the shade...

    The curls look perfect. Half the time I attempt pin curls, they turn out all frizzy!

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  39. Gaah, you look gorgeous! Every time I see that dress I have a mini-swoon and regret not buying it, plus I LOVE espadrilles, and the curls look amazing. Definitely trying this when I'm out of thesis purgatory!

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  40. Every time I see a tutorial on pin or rag curls I love the result yet mine always end up frizzy and fuzzy no matter what I do :( Love the whole look :)

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  41. You should try brushing out your curls more, that was my problem for a while, just brush and brush and brush! I use a paddle brush, not a soft bristle. Add a bit of finishing lotion to the look to polish it off!

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