The Maybelline Story

Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

By Sharrie Williams · Written February 2012 · 2 min read

My grandmother, Evelyn, and her two sisters, Verona and Bunny, spent their whole lives decked-out from head to toe and learned the art of finger waving a Marcel Wave, in 1927.





Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

Having the right tools, a lot of gel and strong fingers were the secret to having the perfect, Marcel Wave.
Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,



My great aunt Verona and Bunny were experts at finger waving each other’s hair, into ideal Marcel Waves. 

Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,
Bunny, the youngest of the sisters, was a spitfire, with a personality that jumped right off the page, and
 was always head of the curve, when it came to
the latest fashion craze
Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,Here are the three girls in 1929, all Maybellined up, with Marcel waves, and chic little hats, going to lunch at
 The Italian Village, a new restaurant that just opened
 in Chicago, in 1927.
Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

Keeping up a fashionable appearance took a great deal of time and energy, not to mention expense, but for City Girls, it was second nature. I grew up with my grandmother, Evelyn, (Nana,) teaching me to pin curl my hair when I was 6 years old. I remember her scolding me when I complained, about how hard it was. She’d say “It hurts to be beautiful darling.” I suppose she was right. It was worth it to be beautiful, as I look back now.

Vintage Maybelline Marcel Wave,

Here’s Verona and Bunny walking State Street in Chicago, shopping for more, more, more fabulous shoes, hats, coats, dresses and of course Maybelline, as they head into the 1930’s.

Coming soon · Next from Sharrie Williams

Maybe She’s Born With It

The next chapter of the Maybelline family story. Get a text the day it’s out.

Where it began: The Maybelline Story — Amazon · Ebook · Signed copy