How to Do a Classic Pin-Up

The art of simple, classy, twisted pin-ups for hair seems to be almost lost in today's fashion world. However, this timeless hairstyle did not last for so long without merit; perhaps the main reason it was dropped from the major fashion scene was a lack of ability of working with bobby pins on the part of hair stylists. Whatever the reason, the beauty of pinned up hair is making a comeback, as all things "vintage-styled" are increasing in popularity right now. The perfect hair style for someone with hair between short and long (shortly longer than shoulder length works perfectly), pin-ups are a great way to pull back hair away from the face and neck while still looking extremely classy. For anyone who is interested in mastering this simple but classy hairstyle, here is some advice for beginners.

1. Twist some before pinning: In fact, more twisting often makes a pin-up look even more intricate and lovely. One way to make a simple twist look more unique is to twist two sections of hair while twisting them together, in a bit of a rope-like/French braid type fashion. Be sure to incorporate the hair from around the top front of your head to the bottom nape of your neck into this French-braid-like twist. This is the hair that will be the most visible once you have pinned up your hair, and the twisting will make it appear more intricate than a simple mass of bobby-pinned hair.

2. Don't twist it all: Many beginners worry about twisting all of their hair back before pinning it up; don't do worry about this. In fact, a pin-up will look classy enough without all of the hair twisted before it is pinned, since most of the hair will end up pinned under the other twists anyways. Simply focus on twisting a few select segments of hair before pinning, and work in the rest of the hair into a bun-like twist at the end. Loose ends can easily be pinned up with a few small bobby pins, but a few loose hairs can be left down for a "softer" look if desired.

3. Use a classy clip: This point really can't be stressed enough; a great hair clip holding major segments of your pin-up twist can make or break this hair style. While stores like Anthropologie and ModCloth offer a great variety of unique hair clips for sale, many classy pieces can be found in thrift stores as well. Display your clip prominently or subtly, depending upon the overall affect that you want for your hairstyle.