Veronica Lake’s signature peek-a-boo hairstyle was one of the most iconic and imitated looks of 1940s Hollywood. But in the early 1940s, at the height of her fame, Lake dramatically changed her hairstyle and cut her hair short. Her decision to cut her hair was controversial at the time and is still a point of interest for classic Hollywood fans today. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Lake’s peek-a-boo hairstyle, the reasons behind her dramatic haircut, and the public’s reaction to her new short hairstyle.
The Origin of the Peek-a-Boo Hairstyle
Veronica Lake developed her signature peek-a-boo hairstyle early in her Hollywood career. Lake had naturally wavy hair that she struggled to control on film sets. Her hairstylist at RKO Studios, Rolande Berger, came up with the idea of a side part with a wave covering one eye. The style helped control Lake’s unruly hair while also giving her a unique, memorable look. The peek-a-boo was born when Lake used bobby pins to further accentuate the wavy style during the filming of her breakout role in Sullivan’s Travels in 1941.
Lake’s peek-a-boo hairstyle became immensely popular. Women across America emulated the hairstyle, parting their hair on one side and using curlers to create Veronica Lake-style waves. At the time, Lake said of her hairstyle: “Peek-a-boo is just what I call it. It’s a very simple thing that has caught on like wildfire. I really don’t know why. But every actress in Hollywood and every girl everywhere seems to want to wear her hair that way.
Wartime Changes
When the United States entered World War II, Veronica Lake’s peek-a-boo hairstyle started becoming a hazard for women working in factories and shipyards. The long waves covering one eye led to impaired vision and even injuries as women got their hair caught in machinery. In response to this safety issue, the U.S. government requested that Lake change her hairstyle to promote safety.
In 1942, Lake toured military bases and defense plants to advocate for women to adopt shorter, safer hairstyles. She also made a propaganda film for the government called Hair Style, the Safe Way. In the film, Lake demonstrated how women with long hairstyles could tie their hair back or wear snoods to keep their hair out of their eyes. Lake also transitioned her own hairstyle, parting her hair on the side rather than the middle to keep both eyes free.
The Dramatic Haircut
In 1943, after over a year of incrementally trimming and restyling her hair for wartime safety, Veronica Lake made the dramatic decision to crop her hair short. She chopped her hair into a button bob that just skimmed her ears. It was a radical departure from her ultra-feminine, glamorous peek-a-boo waves.
Lake’s shorter hair eliminated the safety concerns about impaired vision on the job. But it also signaled Lake’s decreasing interest in being a major Hollywood star. Lake was tired of the time-consuming hairstyling and maintenance required for her peek-a-boo look. She was also eager to join the war effort in a more hands-on way by touring and entertaining the troops.
Public Reaction
The public had an intensely negative reaction to Veronica Lake’s dramatic haircut. Lake’s peek-a-boo style had tremendous cultural significance during World War II. Her flowing waves represented beauty, glamour, and escape during a difficult time. When Lake traded her ultra-feminine hairstyle for a short, severe cut, many felt she was abandoning her duty as a morale-boosting Hollywood icon.
Some key facts about the public’s response to Lake’s haircut:
- Fan mail to Lake decreased dramatically after she cut her hair
- Many accused Lake of being unpatriotic and letting down the troops by abandoning her glamorous image
- Some theaters even pulled Lake’s films from showings because they were angry about her haircut
- Veronica Lake later said the haircut essentially ruined her career as a major Hollywood star
The overwhelmingly negative reaction highlighted how central Lake’s peek-a-boo hairstyle was to her stardom and identity as an actress. Without her iconic hairstyle, fans saw Lake as diminished.
Later Career and Life
Veronica Lake never regained the immense stardom she had enjoyed in the early 1940s. However, she continued acting in films throughout the 1940s and 1950s, eventually transitioning to television in the 1960s. She even donned a long blonde wig and recreated her peek-a-boo hairstyle when playing her classic roles in live theater. Lake also struggled with mental illness and alcoholism, leading to a turbulent personal life.
Veronica Lake died in 1973 at age 50, but her iconic peek-a-boo hairstyle lives on as one of the most memorable looks in Hollywood history. Lake’s haircut remains a pivotal moment that revealed just how central her hairstyle was to her entire persona and stardom.
Conclusion
Veronica Lake’s peek-a-boo hairstyle epitomized 1940s glamour, femininity, and Hollywood escape. When national safety concerns prompted Lake to cut off her trademark waves, the public reacted strongly. To fans, Lake abandoning her classic hairstyle felt like a betrayal and a shirking of her duty as a Hollywood icon. The dramatic haircut essentially damaged Lake’s career. It revealed her peek-a-boo look was not just a hairstyle – it was central to her entire identity as a star. Though brief, Lake’s peek-a-boo period remains one of the most enduring and iconic hairstyles of all time.
| Year | Hairstyle Event |
|---|---|
| 1941 | Develops signature peek-a-boo hairstyle |
| 1942 | Tours factories promoting hair safety |
| 1943 | Crops hair short into a bob |
