Splash head and hands

At the Beauty Salon, 1920s

Wedding hair

Formal hair

Ladies at the hair salon, New York, 1952 — you can almost picture the scene: women dressed in elegant mid-century fashion, their hairstyles freshly set in the popular styles of the day like pin curls, victory rolls, or the classic soft waves. The salon would likely have been buzzing with the hum of hairdryers, the scent of hairspray and beauty products filling the air, and friendly chatter about everything from family to the latest Broadway shows.

1952 was a time when going to the salon was as much a social outing as a beauty appointment—an opportunity to catch up with friends and enjoy a moment of pampering.