Marilyn Monroe sported one of the most iconic hairstyles of the 20th century. Known as the "blonde bombshell" look, her hair was platinum blonde and styled in soft, voluminous curls that framed her face. The style was a sort of short-to-medium length, often reaching just below her ears or to her neck.
Use an asymmetrical rolling pattern for a more natural look. Make tighter curls on top and bigger curls in the back for a more retro look. Get tighter curls with smaller rollers and bigger curls with bigger rollers. If you want more curls, you should curl smaller sections of hair.
She continuously strove to improve her craft, honing her ability to work the camera through modeling classes and study. She also bleached her curly, reddish-brown hair, becoming a platinum blonde. “I wouldn't settle for second best,” Monroe later said.
Marilyn Monroe's Hair: How It Evolved From Norma Jeane to Hollywood Icon
What style was Marilyn Monroe's hair?
Marilyn Monroe's hair was another iconic aspect of her beauty. She was known for her platinum blonde curls, which she often styled in soft waves or pin-up curls.
According to Vogue, the author Pamela Keogh noted that Monroe had her hair bleached every three weeks and swore by dry shampoo— baby powder on her roots.
How often did Marilyn Monroe have to dye her hair?
She liked a very specific shade of blonde
According to the author Pamela Keogh, Monroe had her hair bleached every three weeks with a roster of hairstylists including Pearl Porterfield (who also tended to Jean Harlow's pale blonde hair) and Kenneth Battelle.
Marilyn Monroe who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson was an American model and actress. Although she was famous for playing “blonde bombshell” characters she was naturally a redhead.
The repercussions of these intense processes eventually manifested as Monroe's hair began to weaken and fall out. The toll on her once-lustrous locks prompted her to seek an alternative solution. The turning point came when she embraced wigs, a transition notably evident in her role for the 1961 film The Misfits.
Marilyn originally had brownish hair. Her hair was naturally curly red. Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with her platinum blonde hair. It's part of what made her an unforgettable icon of the 20th century.
After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve were well received. By 1953, Monroe had progressed to leading roles.
Monroe's iconic platinum blonde locks were bottle-born, like many other stars' at the time. For women hoping to make a name for themselves in the film industry in the 1940s, blonde was considered the most versatile hair color.
Like many of us, Marilyn had lots of peach fuzz hairs on her cheeks and face. Instead of shaving it away, Marilyn kept it — on purpose! She knew the tiny hairs gave a blurring and glowing effect to her look under the studio lights. Marilyn took what could be considered an imperfection and made it a plus!
Rumor has it that Marilyn washed her face five times a day to prevent breakouts. This is one beauty tip we advise against, since over cleansing your skin can lead to dryness, irritation, and breakouts.
In the morning, Monroe was to wash her face and neck in warm water with Laszlo's own Active Phelityl Soap—nowadays, the Phelityl Cleansing Bar ($44)—before applying the brand's Shake-It Tinted Treatment in Neutral ($59) all over the face with a saturated cotton ball, blotting with tissues when done.
But the gorgeous sex symbol wasn't born that way. Though she's famous for undergoing hair electrolysis, the timeless beauty icon also had some work done on her nose and chin.
One of the most distinctive features of Marilyn's look is her ever-present red lipstick. Red lipstick is known to provide a confidence boost, and it was Marilyn herself that stated, “Give a girl the right lipstick and she can conquer the world”.
Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, at the Los Angeles General Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker (née Monroe; 1902–1984), was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico to a poor Midwestern family who migrated to California at the turn of the century.
But according to her former dressmaker, Monroe's standard measurements were 35-22-35, meaning that in today's retail stores, she'd probably wear a size 6 or 8 — which translates to a size 12 back in the 1950s.
