The shingle and close-cut bobs rapidly increased in popularity during 1925 with ever increasing numbers of women adopting these styles. The average woman, however, considered carefully the matter of being shorn unless she had expert advice and unbiased opinion.
In 1925, because of the many bobs, the line of the coiffure of the unbobbed lay close to the head, but the size of the head, its shape, and the amount of hair were matters that had to be taken into consideration so that a successful and becoming bobbed hairstyle was achieved. Women endeavored to achieve a balance in their appearance by dressing the hair to a proportionate size.
Styling and decoration that exemplified the period expressed by evening gowns was used to enhance plain bobs and shingle hairstyles for evening activities. Medium to long hair was styled in a long flat roll at the base of the neck. The hair-line following the contour of the head and the long roll, or chignon, gave the effect of the bob.
This hair arrangement was adorned with a back band of flat hand-made roses and petals in the various pastel shades. Tiny glass beads were used to finish the centers of the roses.
Girls with a round face with this same type of hair arrangement, also found the tiara-effect head-dress to their liking. A wide band of silver ribbon was used to make the tiara and it was covered with tiny hand-made flowers of ombre chiffon in rose coloring finished at each ear with a large rose of the chiffon surrounded with gold petals. A strip of elastic was sometimes used across the back under the coil of hair.
The standard bob was enhanced by the girlishly simple but smart all-around bandeau effect. A typical bandeau consisted of a band of No 9 gold ribbon with three hand-made, orchid silk flowers and green foliage leaves appliqued across the front. A small piece of elastic was used under the flower and the bandeau slipped down over the head or the band could be fastened at one side with a snap under the rose.
The extremely popular shingle cut, with a wide, natural-looking wave, was very popular. To imitate this effect with long hair, divide the front and the back hair at the ears, coil the back portion close to the head high at the back, and then comb the front portion over it, swirl this around and tuck the end in low at one side, as for the French twist.
Plaited cocardes (rosette or ornament of ribbon) of royal-blue maline finished in the center with tiny pink rose-buds and joined with variegated silver tubing were also used to make an interesting head-dress.
To disguise the poor neck line of a shingle or to hold up the growing locks, a green silver tubing lattice-work head-dress was very effective. Where the green silver tubing crossed, tiny hand-made rosebuds were applied.
Following years would see a rapid uptake of finger waves, as finger waving suited the shorter close cut bobs that became the fashion.
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