1940s HAIR-the Final Frontier...

[chanteuseCarey]

After getting the vintage eyeglasses, the next and last part of the VI puzzle is also the most difficult and challenging for me - the hairdo!! Big sigh...

EEK -my hair as it is is just not working, but I'm determined to figure it out somehow, some way or pay someone to do my hair. Maybe my dd needs to learn how so she can be my hairdresser! Hm... that's an idea...Oh Sarah darling, come here please, its time to pin curl mommy's hair...

My previous attempts working with my regular hairdresser creating do-s for vintage events have not been very successful. Among my local Art Deco Society group out here, there is a highly recommended person in SF to see. Next on my to-do list! I love all the 40s blonde wigs that were created and used in the film "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells" starring Judi Dench and Ian Holm... just wish my hair could do that!

I need a couple of basic 40s hairstyles to go well with my collection of 40s hats; mainly tilts and toppers.

I've looked at pages, and pages and pages of the hairdo threads on the Beauty section - and I'm exhausted!

My hair left to its own devices, is stick straight and baby fine. Perfect for the Dorothy Hamill cut I had back in the late 70s! Currently, its short, colored, in layers, and permed- probably too tightly (again) even though I asked to have it curled with bigger rods when it was done two weeks ago. For sure I need to grow the length out.

Yup, Its time to make the call... Vintage Hair Emergency on floor one- STAT!

 

[ClaraB]

My hair left to its own devices, is stick straight and baby fine. Perfect for the Dorothy Hamill cut I had back in the late 70s! Currently, its short, colored, in layers, and permed- probably too tightly (again) even though I asked to have it curled with bigger rods when it was done two weeks ago. For sure I need to grow the length out.

My hair is permed too, I find it really helps hold the curl when I set it. With a cold set perm it is very, very important to get to it when it is wet, wet sets are a must.
Vintage looking hair is certainly possible with the hair you already have. And vintage looking hair is entirely achievable on your own, consider women in the '40's achieved some pretty sophisticated hairstyles all on their own.
It all just takes practice.

As far as the cut goes, I never get anything special. Longer in the back, shorter in the front and some layers in between. I also found that recently it helps to get my hair angled around my face. I've given up on finding a stylist that understands, so I've just asked for this the last few times I've gotten it cut and it works fine.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Thanks ClaraB...

Cuz your hair looks terrific! Thank you for all the info here in your reply. Looks like there is hope for me yet...

My hair is permed too, I find it really helps hold the curl when I set it. With a cold set perm it is very, very important to get to it when it is wet, wet sets are a must.
Vintage looking hair is certainly possible with the hair you already have. And vintage looking hair is entirely achievable on your own, consider women in the '40's achieved some pretty sophisticated hairstyles all on their own.
It all just takes practice.

As far as the cut goes, I never get anything special. Longer in the back, shorter in the front and some layers in between. I also found that recently it helps to get my hair angled around my face. I've given up on finding a stylist that understands, so I've just asked for this the last few times I've gotten it cut and it works fine.

 

[ClaraB]

Cuz your hair looks terrific! Thank you for all the info here in your reply. Looks like there is hope for me yet...

Wow, thank you! Of course there is hope for you, just hang in there and you'll get it.

 

[The Shirt]

I thought that Lady Day's post on Page 4 of the thread below with scans of "everyday hair" might help as inspiration.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=36604&page=4

I'm not much for perms myself - but I have Pippi Longstocking hold in my hair. Sometimes I swear there are wires tucked in there. I suppose with your length a good "everday" look may be to do a pageboy (I think early fifties but have seen these in 40s photos as well). Perhaps tucking the sides back in combs. I could also see trying french twist to pull the bottom and sides up and then a nice pile of curls in the front. You may need to gain a little more length in front to pull that off though. I think Clara hit it right - in order to control the perm you may have to work right away with a wet set. I'm not sure a damp set or hot rollers will be able to smooth away the perm to get the bigger curls you may be looking for. You know your hair's texture the best though. Good luck.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

What about a Hair Piece?, cheaper than a perm, wont wreck the condition of your hair, wont drop in the rain, keeps your head warm in winter!, its a viable option and at $22.00 & $29.00 a bargain!!, I personally can't decide between the "Hugh Grant" or the "Donald Trump"

http://www.mycostumewigs.com/celebritywigs.html

 

[Blondie]

Hmmmmmm i think the Frederick Douglas or the O.J are best !!!!!!!

 

[HadleyH]

I like the Willie Nelson myself. [huh]

 

[LolitaHaze]

chanteuseCarey... Is there a photo of your hair posted somewhere? I find casual everyday 40's styles to be rather simple to do. It's just the setting that takes the longest amount of time.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

not really a hair pic...

I just had my hair repermed, and its curlier than I thought it would be. I had the split ends trimmed so its fairly short- top of collar as they would say. This pic is from just the other day. For wearing this tilt hat, I did up the sides in faux rolls with combs and the same at the bottom of the back. Not great but passable... Two things I think are necessary to get this to work for me; 1) let the perm grow out and not have it done again 2) grow the length out longer

chanteuseCarey... Is there a photo of your hair posted somewhere? I find casual everyday 40's styles to be rather simple to do. It's just the setting that takes the longest amount of time.

 

[LolitaHaze]

No worries... I read somewhere (maybe even here at the FL) that permed hair is ok as it helps the pincurls take shape. When you do pincurls start experimenting with different set patterns. I am going to suggest to you that you try this...

With slightly damp hair, part your hair off to one side. On the side with more hair start a row or two of pincurls at the edge of the forehead. On the otherside, do the same thing, but start at the level of your eyebrow. With just the two rows go all the way down the the ears. When you get to the earsstart three rows of pincurls in back. Going no higher than the nape of the neck. Let it set (sleep on it) and in the morning when you take the pincurls out, first break them up with your fingers... then using a bristle brush brush through the curls repeatedly, curving the brush as you go down to create form and shape. Use a leave in conditioning spray lightly on the back of your head to smooth down the hair. Don't brush through the curls, because you will end up combing them out. Gently use this same spray to smooth out any frizzies along the hairline and this will also help you comb back and shape your hair. Use hair combs to help hold your hair in place.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

yesterdays' vintage style--WOOHOO!

Here is a pic of the first (of many I'm sure) vintage hairstyle I had done in SF yesterday. The hairdresser is named Kai, and many in my local Art Deco group use him. He looked at all the vintage pics and ads I brought up to show him, and discussed ideas as I talked over with him about the look and styles I'd like to be able to do now and in the future for creating vintage hair. This was sooo wonderful.

I am very delighted with the result. Now I feel like a real vintage girl! I had brought up this hat and outfit, and he worked with that. This was done with a roller set, putting gel on my hair first.

The vintage hat is late 30s, as are my 40s eyeglasses, the little sweet chinese print blouse and the clip earrings. I wore the blouse with my vintage 30s tuxedo pants that I had altered and re-hemmed to fit me.

Sorry for the bad reflection on my eyeglasses, a friend took the pic in situ where we were in the afternoon, not DH who usually is my photog.

 

[Helysoune]

You look amazing!!!! I definitely feel your pain in trying to get your hair right. I haven't found a hairdresser I'm comfortable with here yet and consequently have let my hair grow entirely too long to manage.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Thanks Helsoune!

Its smushed flat against my head today after sleeping on it last night, so I need to go get the right comb to fix it! I need to learn from him how to maintain it overnight so it looks okay the next day!

He's working right now with what can be done with it being shorter. He said the gal who did the perm two weeks ago at my usual place did it using too small a size perm rods.

Before I came up to see him yesterday, I'd already decided to let my hair it grow and the perm grow out too untill the end of summer and see where its at by then. I've got an appt again tomorrow on Sat for events Sat evening and Sunday aft.

If I can even get it to bottom of collar length at some point and it look good I'd be real happy I have baby fine, stick straight and flyaway hair too. Plus I color it and I swim. Remember the skater Dorothy Hamill's haircut in 1976?? That is perfect for my hair, I wore that cut for years...

You look amazing!!!! I definitely feel your pain in trying to get your hair right. I haven't found a hairdresser I'm comfortable with here yet and consequently have let my hair grow entirely too long to manage.

 

[Miss Sis]

The perm will relax a bit as your hair grows and that will help too. Keep experimenting as doing it yourself will help you find out what works and what doesn't.

Once you know how to do a set that works for your hair then all will be well. I have very fine stright hair too, and although I don't wear it vintage everyday, I had it permed on the largest rods to give it body. When I brush it when I haven't set it, it looks almost straight but much *nicer* than before. It has really helped and when I do a set it lasts much better, so don't give up on a perm altogether, but work with the hairdresser you went to to have your set.

You'll be surprised at how quickly you pick things up once you start really watching!

 

[chanteuseCarey]

thanks MissSis,

Good info here, thanks for sharing it. I just picked up a comb that looks similar to what he had and fluffed (only word I can think of) it a little with a wide comb no brush, curling the curls around my face and sides over my finger. Not bad! At least I can go with it like this today and tomorrow.

Your hair looks great in your avatar pic, reminds me of deco seamstress in the east bay of Calif. Hey, I love your tag line, as I'm now a bonafide vintage 40s hat collector, last count over 25... Where is it from and who said it?