Dahling Dora: It's The Bees-Hive Knees

Dear Dora,

I've always wondered how a beehive hairdo is made. Can you tell me how someone would create this masterpiece?

Signed,
Curious Kitten


Dearest CK,

The Beehive was also referred to as the B-52 -something about resembling the nose of a bomber with the same name, and also inspired the look and name of the new wave band The B-52s. It was created in 1960 by an illinois hairdresser, Margaret Vinci Heldt. Sadly, the popularity of the beehive died out in the late 60s, but it remains a classic icon of kitsch to this day.

This faboo do' can be recreated with some simple tools and a little bit of patience. It is mainly comprised of three simple principles: curling, teasing, and spraying. For a more inviting look and less Amy Winehouse hornet-nest, sweep up those mullet straggles and leave the height to the birds.

Here are the basic tools you will need:
LARGE OR JUMBO ROLLERS; OR LARGE CURLING IRON
COMB
BOBBY PINS AND CLIPS
STYLING MOUSE OR GEL
EXTRA HOLD HAIRSPRAY

Follow the step-by-step instructions from ehow's fashion, style, and personal care editor below:

Step 1
Shampoo the hair with a good moisturizing shampoo and pat it dry with a soft towel.

Step 2
Set the hair in curlers, electric rollers or with a curling iron, but don't brush through the curls. Giving the hair some curl will help to provide volume and height when you begin styling the beehive.

Step 3
Work a generous amount of hair spray, styling mousse or styling gel into the roots of the hair.

Step 4
Separate the hair between your forehead and the crown of your head and clip it to one side. This section will be styled last.

Step 5
Begin in the upper part of the back of your head and section the hair across the back of your head. Bring the section up towards the front of your head, and secure it with hair gel and bobby pins.

Step 6
Continue one section at a time, bringing each section up and over the previous section, building layers and pinning them as you go. Each layer that you add will increase the height of the beehive.

Step 7
Style the front section any way you like. You can pull it up over the top of the beehive, adding more height, or style it across the forehead. Give the entire beehive an additional misting of hair spray.

Tips & Warnings
Modern beehive hairdos typically aren't as tall as the original beehive hairdos. However, if you want to add height to your beehive, use the tail of a rattail comb to push into the beehive, carefully lifting it up. 

(You can find original post here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2294425_style-modern-beehive-hairdo.html )

Check out 'hair archives' for an idea of setting rollers for beehive coiffs: http://www.hairarchives.com/private/archive2/beehive/beehive.htm

Although the steps to achieving this look may seem complicated, the results may just be worth it. Just think of the benefits. You'll be instantly taller, you'll be able to balance dinner to the table, and lastly you'll have a handy place for storing- a carton of cigarettes, your wallet, a clown, the diva cup, a rainbow, the Bermuda Triangle, mace, chocolate covered raisins, Don Knots and the rest of the Mayberry clan...oh and let's not forget the kitchen sink.

DD
(photos taken from above hairarchive link)