Beehive Hair Buzzes Back Karen Marie Shelton - Copyright - All Rights Reserved

Revised Date: 03/08/12

Introduction

A beehive hairstyle is considered by many to be a classic hairstyle.  The modern beehive hairstyle never goes out of style.  It's just re-invented to reflect current fashion and beauty trends.

The beehive hairstyle originated as one of a variety of elaborately teased and lacquered versions of "big hair" evolving from earlier pageboy and bouffant styles.

The beehive can take on a variety of looks ranging from a smooth, glamorous version to a more textured, sex kitten infused look.  The final look of the beehive depends upon head placement and balance.

One thing is guaranteed.  A beehive requires big hair.  Paul Mitchell Editorial Director Lucie Doughty and Master Associate Maureen McCarthy created a beautiful mélange of beehive inspired hair shapes harking back to the 1960s.

The beehive or beehive inspired hairstyles have been popular on designer fashion runways ranging from Prada and Yves Saint Laurent to Oscar de la Renta and Max Mara.

Step By Step - How To Create

The hairstyle works best on second day hair which is not as soft as newly cleansed hair.   For best results all types and textures of hair should be blown straight for ease of styling. 

1.  Apply styling cream, mousse or similar to dry hair to smooth.

2.  Separate hair at the back of the head from the front using a diagonal parting extending from ear-to-ear over the round of the head.

3.  Clip the front hair out of the way.

4.  Backcomb the hair at the back of the head and mold hair into an elongated French Twist to create height on the crown.

Note:  Check out How To Tease Hair for instructions on how to backcomb tresses.  If hair is naturally fine or thin you may wish to use a foam hair form or ratt under hair to add instant height.  You may also wish to experience with strategically placed add-on hair pieces.

5.  Spray with Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Finishing Spray® or similar and pin into place.

6.  For the front, use a sculpting brush to backcomb all of the hair except the front hairline.

7. Mold all the hair back to shape over the crown and merge into the back.

8.  Finish with a firm finishing hairspray.

9.  Add a small crystal encrusted hair clip to one side to add instant glam.

Summary

The Beehive hairdo is a hairstyle which is so named because it strongly resembles a beehive. 

It has also been called the B-52 because of it's similarity to the bulbous nose of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber.

The beehive style was popular throughout the 1960s, particularly in the United States and other Western countries, and remains an enduring symbol of 1960s kitsch.

Credits

Hair: Lucie Doughty, Paul Mitchell Editorial Director
JPMS Master Associate Maureen McCarthy
Photographer: Brian Hayes
Make up: Kelsey Deenihan
Wardrobe: Kelli Hobson for Maria Inez
Model: Sabella

Original Publication Date: 05/05/09 - Revised Publication Date:   03/08/12

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