As if we didn't chat about pin curls enough. . .

[EstherGinger]

I recently tried pin curling, but for the life of me I couldn't get it! My mom knows how to do it, since my grandmother used to pin curl her hair all the time, and when her fingers got arthritic (sp?), she couldn't do the back, so my mother would do it for her. So my mom does it for me now (even though she hates doing it), but I fear I'll have to be learning it myself soon so I will be able to do it if she doesn't want to and when I live by myself. The other day when my mom did it, it ended up almost perfectly, similiar to Ginger Rogers in "Swing Time". I have my mom pin curl it in the back, and up the sides, so that it is a bit smooth at the top and about an inch of sleek in the back (I would have more sleekness in the back, but I recently got my hair cut and the lady gave my two-inch layers, so it'd look awfully funny if I had those layers hanging around, not curled).

Ok, I've got a question. Recently, since my mom started pin curling my hair, we've used gel and mousse, and my mom uses a bit too much gel, so I end up having to comb it out, causing a bit of frizz (this past pin curling set, she just used a bit too much on my front left side, which I had to comb out and I pinned back so it looked fine). Today I bought Lottabody (thanks to all of your recommendations). Does anybody comb out their pin curls? Or do you just pull out the pins and finger comb it a bit? Now, somebody said that they pin it in the direction they want the curl to go. Which direction is that? Do you pin all of your hair in the same direction? I understand that if you pin in alternation directions, you end up with fingerwaves. Is that when you comb it out (I read that...I think at nocturne), or does it look like that when you un-pin it?

I'm sorry for all the questions...but I just want to have hair that's almost perfect. My mom does a good job, and I appreciate her doing it for me, but I want some tips as to make my hair look perfectly neat, as well.

Thanks for your time! I hope you understand what I mean...

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I actually brush out my pin curls using a round brush, so that the hair forms softly curled 'fluff' (I flip my hair upside down for a quick brush out, flipping it right side up to smooth into place.) If you want a more defined look you can finger comb the curls out, artfully arranging them just so (my hairdresser likes to do this when he styles my hair.)

In terms of curl direction, it depends on how you want your hair to look when combed out. Do you want the curls to curve towards your face, or away from it? Then pin curl the hair so that it is curled forward or backward accordingly. Do you want to form finger waves? Then alternate the direction in rows--in other words, the top row of pin curls are curled towards the face, the second row away from the face, and so on. I like the hair curving towards my face (even for reverse rolls), so I pin curl (and do the same with hot sticks) each section so that 'C' shape opens toward the face (now, a pin curl is a circle of hair, but if you had very short hair, or only made one 'turn', then the lock of hair forms a 'C' shape. Finger waves are 'S' shaped--the hair is curved in alternating directions, if that makes sense.)


Here's a pic from "Swing Time" (such a great film) to illustrate my point--note how Ginger's hair curves towards her face. It would have been set with pin curls that 'open' towards the face, rather than up and back away from it.

 

[EstherGinger]

Wow! Thanks a lot! Everything that I knew beforehand was blurry, but you've helped me to clear it up! Thank you so much! I'm going to print this and show my mother so she can do it perfectly -- or as perfect as an unprofessional can do -- now. Thanks again!

Just one more question before I print -- the round brush you use: is it the big type of round brush, or a smaller one? And more specific, what kind of bristles are on the brush?

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Sure thing--glad to be of help!

I use a medium-sized round brush--the kind with a metal core and dense plastic bristles that is sold for use with a blow dryer. A lot of people do not like round brushes, but I find they work best for my type of hair/the look I want. And again, I usually brush the hair into 'fluff'--the hair is curly, but very soft, rather than sculpted. Interestly enough, a lot of people think I have naturally curly hair!

To create softer, Veronica Lake waves, a wide paddle brush with bristles set into a padded base works well.

 

[rubyredlocks]

I love round brushes.They also work well for a soft pageboy style if your in a pinch,but remember to go down a size for this look.
The smaller the barrel the more bend you get and the larger creates more volume.

I also like using an old fashioned softie for a smooth brush out and for back-brushing on fine hair. It can create more density than back-combing on my fine hair.

 

[16_sparrows]

A Pin Curl Tutorial

I'm the type of gal that needs pictures of the hair setting process. The diagram thing doesn't really work for me. With that, here is a link to a photo guided pin curl tutorial:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/vintage_hair/582692.html

A little of a warning here - the set she is doing isn't the "correct" way to do pin curls. She does them in any direction and uses large pieces of hair, but the effect is nice. She uses some nice techniques to seperate the curls without ruining them and I think this "chunky" set would be good when you are pressed for time.

Here is a set that I like how she arranged the finger waves along with her pin curls:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/vintage_hair/276839.html

And while we are on the topic of hair...does anyone have another example/tutorial of how to do a brush curl? Google has failed me on this one.
http://revampvintage.com/30sbrushcurling.html
ReVamp specifies it as a good style for thin hair, which I have, so I'm interested to try it. Though I'm not really getting the instructions, or am I just complicating it more than it really is?

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Thank you!

I already read that LJ community , but have never scoured far back enough to see the finger wave example.

super cool...

 

[16_sparrows]

It was in the community's memories. The mod mentioned it in a recent post and a little lightbulb went off, "Oh yeah..live journal communities have a memory section where I can skip over all the crap!"

I'm going to try the chunky technique this weekend and see what results I get.

 

[16_sparrows]

Vintage Hair Magazines?

What a great post! I've been trying to look for vintage hair magazines that would contain styles and possibly a how-to. Does anyone know any magazine names that may contain such things?

 

[decodoll]

So after Vanessa's advice in another thread (Thank's Vanessa!), I decided to give pincurls another go. It went much better this time. The first set was pretty ugly, but at least I had managed to get them all up and fastened and it gave me enough volume to fill out my snood on sunday. I did them again sunday evening for today and they came out much better....although I know I'm still getting alot of twisting of my pincurls, and I had to touch up a few spots with Hot Sticks. My question is...have any of you tried using something like this:

I have something similar, but without the little lever. The problem I've had is that my hair doesn't want to slip off of it no matter how loosely I try to wind it! Any suggestions?

 

[Lauren]

WOW! That's an ingenious device! If you get it (or have it) please share your experiences!

 

[Vanessa]

I've seen things similar to that in period magazines. . .I try to keep an eye out for them on ebay. Anyone have anything like it?

 

[decodoll]

I just bought that one. I'll let you know how it goes, Lauren. I figured even if it doesn't work, it's just too darn nifty to pass up!

Vanessa, I did a search...here are some more that came up.

 

[magneto]

WOW! That's an ingenious device! If you get it (or have it) please share your experiences!

I hope decodoll (to whom the orig. post was addressed) doesn't mind, but I have the same device in the picture above and don't mind sharing my experience with it

The round tube in the picture is formed of two hollow tubes, one inside the other, each scored with 2 U-shaped cutouts on top and bottom. In "open" position, the (total of) 4 cutouts are lined up, meaning there is an open slot, into which you put the end of the hair strand. Turning the red button rotates the inner tube, closing the gap and trapping your hair. Holding onto the bird-shaped handle, you twist the metal scored knob, which winds your hair around the tubes. You reopen the gap when you reach the desired height, and slide the curl off, pinning it to head.

I have only used it with dry hair, and can see how you would have trouble getting hair out if it was wet (sticking). What I do is set the hair dry, then do what my Great-Auntie used to do--steam your pincurls over boiling water to get it damp, then let dry and unpin. Almost as good as a true wet-set and takes much less time!

Hope this helps

 

[decodoll]

Thanks very much! It's supposed to come with directions, but this is helpful none the less. I'm going to have to try the steaming method. Wonder if my hat steamer gets too hot to use on my head??? Maybe if I move quickly and don't get too close to the spout.

 

[magneto]

You're welcome, decodoll! Mine had (sparse) directions too, on the inside of the box, but I was confused until I played with it.

One thing I do like about this contraption, is that the curls don't get twisted while you're winding them and I don't get "fish hooks" (those non-curled, sticking-out bits at the end of the hair that you get when the ends don't get wound under properly, which I get all the time doing it manually, because I am a klutz.)

Lucky you with your own hat steamer! For steaming my head I do the "big pot of boiling water and a towel to form a steam tent" routine.

 

[humblestumble]

Pin curl trouble!

Okay, I tried pin curls again today, but I'm finding it to be somewhat harder than I thought it would be. (It's been a while since I first tried...a year probably)

Anyway...I was wondering, how THICK should each pin curl be? Mine are probably 1 cm thick, but my boyfriend thinks they should be thicker and bigger.

I'll post pics and info in a little bit, gotta go! Thanks for advice

 

[Vanessa]

From my experience, the thicker the amount of hair in each curl, the bigger the curl & the more likely it will be to fall out. It's like using a bigger hot roller. Sometimes when I just want a little body/wave to my hair I'll put up only 5-6 curls.

 

[humblestumble]

should I do pincurls if I want to do reverse rolls? That's the hairstyle I LOVE, but of course, I will want to do other styles too eventually, but that's my goal right now.

Thanks for the advice, btw.

 

[swinggal]

Yep, 1cm is about the thickness you should have for each.

Pin curls are the original way almost all 30s and 40s hairstyles were set. They were set in different direction usually. One row one way, the row underneath the other. Thats's what created the waves. My reverse rolls always stay in longer when I pin curl.