Your Stylist: An easy 1940s style hair how-to

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There was a definite 1940s film noir moment for fall, especially seen in Miu Miu’s ladylike glam collection. Even the hair had subtle winged back victory rolls -- a hairstyle that rings of the decade all on its own.

It’s a cute twist on the half-up half-down thing and can add a polished and ultra-feminine touch to a simple dress or wipe the grunge out of a maxi skirt and sweater combo.

“I’m a big fan of modernizing a vintage inspiration!” says celebrity hair stylist Gregory Russell, who coifs the hair of Chloe Moretz, Judy Greer and Elle Macpherson.

In order to keep the style from looking too antiquated or costumey, Russell emphasized the importance of giving the hair a modern texture.”I love how undone the Miu Miu look is. It can be worn daytime or for the evening”

Russell breaks down the look into simple steps:

- Start with rough-dried or air-dried hair. Add dry shampoo throughout the hair for a modern-dry texture.

- Then section out the top half of the hair in front of your ears. Decide where you want your part to be (it looks great a little askew, not too clean and perfect) and divide into two sections.

- Add a matte wax to each section and use your hands to create a disheveled roll of hair on each side. Feel free to create the rolls several times until you are happy with the shape and proportion.

- Pin with bobby pins and set with Elnett Hairspray.

Easy enough. Remember, anything too poufy and perfect will look literal, which is great, if that’s the look you’re going for.

This hairstyle is a good one for the holidays, particularly with a jeweled brooch or snazzy hair clip tucked behind one of the rolls near the side of the head.

--Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos: Top: a look from Miu Miu fall/winter 2011/Monica Feudi; right: The ‘40s-style hair at Miu Miu fall/winter 2011/Miu Miu