Behind The Beauty

Vintage Hair Lounge: Bringing the golden era to life once again.

By Ryanne Smith

“Right now, in today's vintage culture it is about starting from a different place, adapting to create an authentic outlook of a vision." Sharon Holloway.

Travelling up and down the country, The Vintage Hair Lounge seeks to reinvent the glamour and style of the nineteen hundreds most epic golden years. 

At Sheffield’s Vintage Fair, Sharon Holloway shares industry tips and secrets on how to create the perfect look from 1920’s, Downton Abbey style to 1960’s Mo town.

With a background in film and TV: make-up and hair and her passion for creating replicas of vintage style, Sharon is the perfect lady that Behind the Beauty needs in the search for a real insight into vintage trend.

Sharon, 43, is half of the mother daughter duo that completes the Vintage Hair lounge.

“I look to the originals and how they were created, I try to understand the feel so I can be authentic as possible and replicate the style perfectly.”

Vintage is such an overused word with many people raiding their mother’s old wardrobe and hand me downs and passing them off as ‘vintage’. But vintage nowadays is so much more that clothing; it has become a unique fashion trend within itself from outfits and hairstyles to cars and music. 

Fashion culture today is constantly changing and what is in style today may not be tomorrow. Vintage is clever at keeping its trend on-going and easily adaptable and it is something that will always be available to a variety of audiences. “All over the world vintage life is easily accessible, it is very inclusive to people. It is not just fashion aimed at young people; anybody can embrace the vintage trend.”

"Twenty first century hairdressing concentrates on cutting and colouring hair, creating sleak and smooth hair, which is not an easy place to start for recreating vintage style. Young hairdressers are rarely getting the education from traditional hairdressing techniques that vintage hairstyling demands. It was about making something out of what you had. Big hair and perms were all the rage when I was a teen.  Nowadays we are seeing a lot more interest in our training and skills at Vintage Hair Lounge”

Vintage hair creates a basis for the whole package of vintage lifestyle. “Vintage looks are total looks and the clothes need the right shape and vise versa. The original looks were all about iconic silhouettes, and the hair often took centre stage. Many vintage frocks are designed around hair as hair becomes the main focus.”

With celebrity culture also embracing the vintage look, there are many icons out there who appeal with their vintage style. Late Amy Winehouse is a perfect example of representing 1960’s Mo town vibe with her iconic beehive. “I like the flipside of hair extensions. Vintage is glamour without following stereotypical beauty and how you should look. It is for strong independent women who stand out.”

"when I was a teenager growing up in the 1980's it was all about making something out of what you had. Big hair and perms were all the rage back then."

Sharon says the key to successful hair is to sculpt the hair into shape and to keep it looking perfect invest in good quality hairspray..

“One of the simplest styles involves one roll, one grip and a headscarf. It captures 1940’s factory girl and 1950’s style all in one. It is always a quick high impact and captures many people’s attention.”

The stand at Sheffield Vintage fair featured a fetching life size cut of burlesque dancer and performer Miss Vienna Green, in full body painted military costume. This was part of the promotional campaign that featured at their showcase salon at Goodwood Revival in 2012 'Victory Street Party' theme.

"The look and pose was inspired by the Military and Land Girl wartime recruitment advertisments. 2013’s promotional material is being worked on as we speak so watch this space.”

 Follow them on Twitter at: @vintagehair

Find out more of their work at: http://www.vintagehairlounge.com/