Margaret Vinci Heldt, 98, Inventor of Beehive Hairstyle

Elmhurst, IL — Margaret Vinci Heldt, who invented the famous beehive hairstyle, died peacefully June 10 of heart failure at her home in an Elmhurst senior living facility.

She was 98 years old.

Heldt was born Feb. 11, 1918 in Chicago, according to a post on her Facebook page. She became a licensed cosmetologist in 1937 at Columbia Beauty School, and she was named National Hairdresser of the Year in 1954.

She opened and managed her hair salon, Margaret Vinci Coiffures, on Michigan Avenue, and she helped to educate other hairdressers, according to the post.

In 2005, Heldt was inducted into the National Cosmetologists Hall of Renown.

She created the beehive hairstyle for a 1960s magazine cover, and the mannequin she used to make the hairstyle can be viewed at the Chicago History Museum.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. June 13 at Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 567 S. Spring Road in Elmhurst, according to the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 14 at Visitation Parish, 779 S. York St. in Elmhurst, and interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Margaret Vinci Heldt Creativity in Hairdressing Scholarship, c/o Cosmetologists Chicago, 440 S. LaSalle St., Chicago 60625.