Nocturne.com's
Vintage Hair-Style Instructions for Fingerwaves
FINGERWAVES,
Part 3 How
long have I been promising to put up some fingerwave instructions?
I finally got hold of a couple of old beauty books, and I'm going
to try to combine the information in them to make sure you can give
fingerwaves a try. Lining up the waves all the way around your head
yourself is almost impossible, but putting in a few around your face
can be done. If you want to have them 'round your head, you'll need
a pal... And remember that you can always make your fingerwaves by
using pincurls instead.
Most
of the information below and on the other fingerwave pages is verbatim
from the Compendiums, but I'll occasionally chime in with my
own observations, either by bolding the key words, or adding comments
in italics.
I suggest reading
all the pages before trying this on your own, until I can reorganize
the information into a slightly more cohesive series of instructions.
Right now my goal is just to get the information up!
Check
out some of these vintage beauty books!
THREE-DIMENSIONAL
WAVES
There
are two types of fingerwaves: one is two-dimensional, where the
waves are flat to the head; the other is three-dimensional, and
wave not only across but also up off the scalp.
After
playing with the hair to find the natural wave, begin setting
it. Hold it with the fingers and make sure that your comb
is touching the scalp or the wave will not stay in*. Only
the top layer of hair will be waved.
*From
all the books and interviews and information I've dug up, this
is thesingle most important part of making fingerwaves:
make sure that your comb is passing through all layers of your
hair, right down to the scalp. Not getting all layers into the
fingerwaves means your waves will fall out, or at best just
look sloppy and accidental.
Continue
your wave by pushing the natural line forward to deepen it*.
The vertical lines of this wave are expecially good for a full
face. For a face less round, often diagonal lines across the
temples give width where it's needed.
*This
will help force the waves deeper into the three-dimensional
form.
Use the
fingers to hold the wave in place as you proceed*. My thumb,
occasionally touching the far end of the comb, makes sure this
part of the comb also touches the scalp. This, and all the pictures,
show that the hair is not strained or dragged**.
*To
continue with three dimensional waves, use the lengths of your
index and middle fingers to pinch and hold the wave tightly
in place while combing the next wave into place.
**This
is contrary to other information I've found - where the hair
is ribboned or stretched when
being fingerwaved. Then again, this particular article covers
the best way to make fingerwaves that fall in with the natural
waves of the hair.
Now the
wave is completed and falls in line effortlessly. It may look
soft, but it will stay well because we have not forced the hair
against its own desires. Clamps may be used now - not before
- to hold the wave secure as you pin curls the ends.
Clamps
should be used to hold the wave after it has been made
with the fingers. They should not be used to make the waves,
because lines will not be neat and lasting. Clamps used before
the wave is completed are likely also to force hair against
its tendency.
*Wave
clamps are generally available at beauty supply stores, and
help hold three-dimensional waves in place. For flat, two-dimensional
waves, use wave clips instead if you need them, making sure
you clip the wave all the way down to the scalp.
