Hello My Pretties,

Apologies for the lack of posts of late, I have been so very super busy… you’ll be proud of me I’m sure.
My heart is bursting with joy to be back in the classroom after an unexpected break.
In case you weren’t aware, I’m currently completing my Diploma in Specialist Makeup (and loving it!). So,  I’m back in the classroom and picking up where I left off, with a new teacher, a new structure and a new format, I’ve been filled with spirit and really loving the opportunity to create magic every day.

Studying Hair Styling has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very, very long time now and I’m literally bubbling over with happiness to finally be in a situation where its happening! Yay!

So without further ado, I’ll get cracking on telling you all about my 1920’s Makeup and Hair Portfolio Shoot.

At the start of the 1920’s, the trend of finding Makeup products in the domestic environment was relatively new but was certainly gaining momentum in the post WWI climate.   Women had discovered their new found freedom.  They were asserting the independence they found during the war and were affirming their new sense of power.

The stigma previously associated with wearing makeup had long gone.  Women felt comfortable perusing the latest products now readily available on the counters of pharmacies and department stores.  Products included vanishing creams, pan sticks, powders, lipsticks and mascaras ( or mascaros as they were known when they were launched in 1917).

Women began to wear makeup with more regularity due to various factors such as the skewed sex ratio post war (more women to men ratio so women began to compete with each other for the attentions of the opposite sex) and as women entered the professional realm, they were encouraged in publications to look their very best to compete with men for employment in the workforce.

The silent film era was well underway and this began to have a massive impact on the styles and trends of the day.  Other influences came from the theatre, music and the arts.
The Black and White, silent films led specific styles in the look of the day as the lack of colour drew attention to the communicative features of the face ~ the Eyes, Eyebrows and Lips, which were heavily emphasised. Dark lips, accentuated eyebrows and darkly rimmed eyes stood out in strong contrast to the pale bases.

Icons of the 1920’s included Clara Bow whose look inspired many women.  Other influences included actresses Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo.
Lips were drawn smaller than the natural lip line and were fashioned into the popular “Cupids Bow” shape.  Metal Lip Tracers were developed to enable women to create the lip shape and became the applications of the day.  Helena Rubinstein created a product that billed itself as a “self-shaping lipstick” called a “Cupid’s Bow”.  The first Lipstick in a Metal Tube was introduced.

Cheeks were rouged with creams, powders, liquids, and rouge papers with powders being the most popular after the introduction of the powder compact and spill proof containers. Rouge was applied on the cheeks in circles, creating a rounded effect.
Mascara was the new rage and was applied in a cake form with a straight brush.

Eyeliner first appeared in the 1920s after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 which  sparked the huge interest in all things Egyptian.

Eyebrows were thin, plucking the brows began in the 1920’s but it wasn’t until the 1930’s when plucking was in full swing. Brows were drawn in thin downwards sloping curves, often implying a sad emotion.

Hair was cut short with the Bob being the height of fashion directly from France.  Sleek, short cuts were all the rage with curly hair being tamed into wavy styles such as finger waves with pin curls.

Our 1920’s Portfolio look needed to include a hair style with finger waves and historically correct makeup. As this was my first attempt at doing finger waves on a real person other than myself, I was quite thrilled with the challenge and even though I swore at Maddi’s hair a few times in the process of styling, I was fairly happy with the outcome.
Sending big hugs and much gratitude to Maddi for coming to my rescue when I didn’t have a model.  Maddi was such a natural in front of the camera and I look forward to working with her again.

The Makeup, Hair, Styling and Photography in this shoot were by me, Dana Harris.

Many thanks and big hugs to the lovely Phoebe Alison for lending me her gorgeous dress.  **smoochies for Phoebe**

The next week’s shoot is to be a 1930’s look so stay tuned for all the goodness and I’ll be shooting every decade right up to 2000’s so if you would like to be my model and sit in my makeup chair for one of these shoots, please get in touch!
Until next time My Pretties,

Wishing you a beautiful week

❤

D*