Going Vintage

Some secrets are too good to keep to yourself (so apologies to all who've tried to keep this under wraps) but Nina's Hair Parlour really is one need-to-know address that no self-respecting fashionista should be without.   
 
Based in North London's legendary Alfies Antique Market, Nina's is an authentic vintage salon like no other, not to mention a hot social hangout for vintage connoisseurs and fashionistas alike.
 
Heading up the team is former period style consultant Nina Butkovic-Budden. Hairdresser-to-the-stars of burlesque and beyond, a session with Nina is a precious thing indeed, so naturally when offered to have my hair done, I jumped at the chance.
 
As Nina piled coils of curls atop my head, the chat was as far removed from the regular hairdresser's small talk as could be. The social history of women's hair is a fascinating thing. According to Nina, "In the Twenties, hairdressers wouldn't dream of cutting off women's hair, it was almost considered taboo, so they all went to barbers for their crops. That's why they had shaved napes - like men did! And later, in the Forties: "Women were getting their loose hair caught when they worked in the factories during the war. Veronica Lake was asked to start a hair trend than meant hair was tied back, and so the Victory Roll was born."
 
So now you know. After the hair makeover of my life, I was ushered next door to the boudoir studio of vintage make-up guru Issidora. Never before has my make-up taken an hour, but then never before have I been transformed into a Forties pin-up! This is a seriously high maintenance look – we're talking sculpting powders, false eye lashes and at least 27 shades of eye shadow - but for the novelty of being called 'Miss' by a gang of rude boys  (not to mention the innate feeling of feminine elegance) it was worth it.