Pompadour

• Despite its French origins and etymology and its close ties to French nobility, the pompadour hairstyle is just as provocative as its namesake. Madame de Pompadour, also known as King Louis XV's number one mistress, wore this hairstyle in the 18th century. While many would link this style with men like Elvis Presley during the 1950s, it was a popular look among women of the 1940s.
  
  

Peek-a-Boo Bang

• Veronica Lake in the movie "I Wanted Wings" began the peek-a-boo bang craze of the 1940s. The mysterious look--one eye covered with bangs while the other peeks out--was all the rage in the 1940s. However, many employers believed their female employees were less efficient because of the impractical hairstyle--if women couldn't see as well, they couldn't work as well, employers thought. This became such a contested issue that the federal government asked Lake to stop the fad.
  
  

Top Reverse Roll

• The top reverse roll is a highly practical and much simpler pompadour. This hairstyle can easily give you a softer and more feminine look that the peek-a-boo bang couldn't. Instead of hiding part of the face, the top reverse roll exposes and accentuates it. This timeless look is as elegant today as it was in the 1940s.
  
  

1940s Updo

• Considering the more demanding work environment for Americans in the 1940s, including women, their hairstyles had to reflect this. While some women copied Victoria Lake's hair length, most opted for shorter lengths. When done properly, this style gave short-haired women elegance and formality. Curls and other accessories also complement the 1940s updo. This burlesque-inspired hairstyle has been sported by stars like Jessica Alba and Tyra Banks.