Authentic Hair Troubles

[ITG]

Do you have a link to the rats at the Vermont Country Store?

 

[decodoll]

Vermont Country Store Hair Rats

 

[ITG]

Ah thank you, I may be ordering one. But first let me ask, Is it too long however for side curls?

 

[decodoll]

yeah, I would think it would be. I plan on using it to make a back roll.

The Vermont Country Store does seem to respond to requests. Maybe if we all ask nicely, they'll get some shorter ones.

 

[MissTayva]

yeah, I would think it would be. I plan on using it to make a back roll.

The Vermont Country Store does seem to respond to requests. Maybe if we all ask nicely, they'll get some shorter ones.

Oh, wow, I haven't seen one of those since I was a little girl!
Thanks for that link!

 

[decodoll]

You're welcome! I don't know if it's already been mentioned here somewhere, but they started selling Spoolies recently as well.

 

[swinggal]

I honestly believe the best rats are the ones made from your own hair because the colour, texture and look of the rat is indentical to your own. Best of all they are free and you can even wash them with shampoo!

I don't tend to use them unless I am being lazy and haven't bothered to curl my hair. My hair is dead straight so without me pin curling it, the rats help, but when I do curl it I have no problem with side or top rolls. If I am going somewhere really classy, like a ball, I like to do three rolls on top, and a rat or two can help.

Flowers, I love flowers, especially lilies and big white gardenias. But I have recently founf some lovely flowers with feathers and butterfly hair clips made out of feathers which are beautiful.

This pic is from the 2003 Perth Swing Dance Society ball. I had 3 rolls on top and my hair up at the back with a big red and white tiger lily at the front. My man Steve was doing his best Benny Goodman impression (haha).

 

[swinggal]

More flowers and rolls in 2004 Hullabaloo ball.

And for all you boys, Raph is wearing a 1942 Australian Airforce uniform. And guess what...it's mine!!!

 

[ITG]

swingal, those are great pics! Thanks for sharing.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Those are lovely pics, swinggal!

I recently discovered a new 'concoction' that really makes a difference in styling my hair. Although I've tried various setting lotions and have had good luck with a gel and mousse mixture, I didn’t always get the most consistent results. However, the other day I mixed a dime-size dollop of gel with a dab of pomade—and whoa, what a difference! This combo works very well with my hair type, and also with hot or cold sets. The curls last, are nicely defined, and more uniform overall. Flyaways are reduced, and the pomade gives my hair, which is layered, enough ‘grab’ to wrap smoothly around the curler (it was always a struggle to achieve a nice, even loop before—there were always a few strands that escaped the curler, causing me to have to rewrap the section of hair once the heat had softened it.) I’m really pleased, and I would recommend that anyone who is unhappy with their current styling lotion try this. I would imagine that if you have finer hair, you’d want to use a minimal amount of pomade, though. My hair is pretty thick and heavy, and I scoop up a *dab* on my index finger, mixing it well with the gel.

 

[decodoll]

I've found for my fine hair that a product called Traction by Redken works really well for creating that "grab" when curling my hair. Anything resembling pomade tends to make my hair a goopy mess!

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Now see--I don't have the problem with pomade at all (in moderation, of course), and I always assumed that I would. And with blonde hair, it's easy for it look greasy, and quickly, too!

For hot styling, the other product that really helps is a heat activated setting spray--I'm having good luck with a product called Got 2 Be Curled.

 

[MissTayva]

My hair texture has changed a million times from having kids :rage: ...
Now, it's too fine for pomade,whereas before I'd have to use it to tame the frizz and cut the bulk.
I had a photoshoot a while back where all the styling done by an Aveda salon (go figure). I had never used Aveda before, but I've got to say, they have some fantastic products, especially the pomade that the stylist used on me. It felt like a pomade to the touch but didn't coat the hair like one. She actually applied it before using the Marcel iron, and the results were unbelievable! It held the curl in, not to mention THE SHINE! I've used it since then after wet sets to smooth the hair into place. It's also an antihumectant product, which is why I think it is so good! I used to think (before cosmetology school) that you could only get a period style by using all of those old tools and methods. I am so thankful for modern hair technology (or whatever you want to call it)... I would have had some horrible looking hair back then!

 

[ohairas]

LONG.. sorry!!

This has been a fun thread, and it's actually what lead me to the Fedora Lounge in the first place while doing a search for 30s hair!

I'm a stylist too..and I love my job. Too bad more gals don't want the classic do's. I was really hating the spikey updo's the prom gals wanted the past few years.

As some already said, there isn't too much 'authenticity' to the 'authentic' hair cut. When in beauty school you learn a basic layered cut and really all cuts revolve around that cut in some form. And when looking at the 40's Hairstyles book for reference, etc.. you have to keep in mind that whatever inches they prescribe aren't always going to work on your head, for example you might have a longer neck or lower hairline for bangs, etc.

Also, many of the stars of the past had very kinky perms. The rods used then were very small, and roller sets were a must to smooth them out.. another reason their hair teased and stayed SO well. Color was rather new too and many a hair were fried.. and fried hair stays in place without much spray or pins! I remember hearing that models going to hairshows in hopes for awards would bleach their hair on purpose so that they could 'mold' it anyway they wanted. Take Marilyn for exapmle, very bleached hair and in some shots you can see the damage.. but with a fresh roller set it's the most beautiful and shiney tresses ever.

I want to tell you ladies how beautiful you are, I really feel I've been looking at old Hollywood pics! It's been so much fun!

What kind of rollers are you using for your sets? I don't think I have any of my magnetic rollers left from school.. maybe I'll buy a set.

The thing about pin curl perms is that the wave is actually larger closer to the scalp and curlier at the ends. If you perm on modern rods, even the big ones.. you won't get the same look really because the curl is more uniform all the way down. And unless your hair perms well, you can end up with a 'slept in braids' look. I have used the very large black barrel perm rods before, about 1 1/2 inch diameter. My hair was very long and it took pretty wavy, but still rather braid looking. If my hair would've been about shouder length it would've been bouncier and looked something like Vivien Leigh's.

Everyone's hair perms differently, it really sucks. And Kaela, as you mentioned your natural wave being loser on top, most natural wave and perms generally are. I rarely see natural wave even throughout.

Thanks for the tips everyone! I would've never thought to use nylons for rats, I can't wait to make one. I hate the grey things from Sally's! I usually end up using perm coil cotton on my clients!

Ohairas

 

[decodoll]

I don't suppose any of the stylists on the forum are in the SF Bay Area or know of someone around here you could refer me to! I like my current stylist and she does make an effort to look at my 40's hair styling books and do the cuts, but I'd really like to find someone that had a real interest in the vintage hairstyles. And I'm really due for a cut!! It's getting kinda hard to roll parts of my hair because my arms aren't long enough!

And I've tried looking for an old fashioned beauty parlor, but if they still exist around here, I haven't found them!

~Jennifer

 

[ITG]

Those are lovely pics, swinggal!

I recently discovered a new 'concoction' that really makes a difference in styling my hair. Although I've tried various setting lotions and have had good luck with a gel and mousse mixture, I didn’t always get the most consistent results. However, the other day I mixed a dime-size dollop of gel with a dab of pomade—and whoa, what a difference! This combo works very well with my hair type, and also with hot or cold sets.

Do you put it all over your hair or just here and there? Do you start at the root and work your way down when applying it? Pomade is what the men use to get that slick back look, right? Is that hard to find these days?

(I also have layered, thick, heavy hair and have been used Hot Sticks to get curls, but the curls don't always stay depending on the humidity level outside-something you Arizonans don't have to worry too much about.)

 

[swinggal]

My grandma also says she used to use sugar and water in the day as a setting lotion. She reconed it worked a treat! What happened when you sweated though...hehe.

I would love to have a wave put through my hair, the vinatge way. I don't want it to begin from the top. I like the straight crown look with the wave coming in under that.

MissTayva, can you tell me more about the 'waving boards' your mentioned? I havent seen them used here. Only straightening ones. Do you know anything about these ohairas?

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I mix the gel with the pomade in the palms of my hands and then work it into my hair starting at the middle. I do work some product into the roots as well as the ends; I was taught by my stylist that if you avoid the roots and apply product to the ends only, you will not only weigh your hair down, but also not reap the benefits of the product where you need it most (to achieve an even set.) I finish by brushing through the hair to help distribute the product evenly, and then roll on hot or cold rollers.

Pomade is very easy to find, and there are many vintage products, as well as new ones, on the market today. A good source is the ethnic hair care section, which is also a good place to find setting lotions. Anyway, pomades do come in different formulas; some are waxier than others, some are greasier then others, etc. Right now I am using Murray’s Pomade, and so far it is working great. Even though Arizona has a ‘dry heat’, we do get some humidity, and my hair has been known to collapse just from the extremely high temperatures. The pomade seems to be combating this problem. In fact, the air conditioner in my car broke a couple of weeks ago, and the drive home (30 minutes) is a killer (I’m super hot and sweaty by the time I get home.) Yet my hair still looks great, even though I feel like I am going to die from heat stroke!

I find that Aussie Mega Freeze hair spray competes well with humidity; a good spray really holds the style very well.

 

[ohairas]

the 'waving boards' your mentioned? I havent seen them used here. Only straightening ones. Do you know anything about these ohairas?

Hmm.. the only thing I can think of are the plates that resemble a crimping iron, only with deeper, softer grooves??

One option for perming today might be to get a piggy-back wrap. Usually this is for very long hair and you use two rods per strand. THe hard part would be finding a stylist who does them. I would use the huge curlers for the first winding, and a medium to small rod for the remainding hair sticking out~depending on how your hair accepts perms.

I did a similar perm on my sister years ago, as she has VERY straight hair and she wore a bob. She just wanted a little body so it would flip under more easily. I just rolled the bottoms of her hair and used straws to go thru the bands and hold them in place, worked very well. Like, the rollers at her nape I rolled all the way down to the scalp.. then the next row up I rolled almost all the way and let the rows stack up from there, so when I inserted the straws they were in a wedge, sticking out from her head like an Elizabethian collar..ya know? LOL.. Her crown area was left straight this way.

Most stores around here carry Tressame(Sp?), I'll have to check it out. I'll be going to Sally's this week too. My favorite mousse's are Paul Mitchell's Extra Body Foam, and Matrix Amplify. And yes, both need to be worked into the roots which is what mousse is better for.. on average it is lighter than gel.

It's kinda nice all the zillions of products out today, but on the other hand it makes it very hard to find one you like.

Yes, I've heard of the sugar water... can you imagine the insects you'd attract outside, ha! Plus you have to be careful of flaking. I've also heard of egg whites for shows.. ew, try washing that out afterwards!

O

 

[MissTayva]

the 'waving boards' your mentioned? I havent seen them used here. Only straightening ones. Do you know anything about these ohairas?

Hmm.. the only thing I can think of are the plates that resemble a crimping iron, only with deeper, softer grooves??

One option for perming today might be to get a piggy-back wrap. Usually this is for very long hair and you use two rods per strand. THe hard part would be finding a stylist who does them. I would use the huge curlers for the first winding, and a medium to small rod for the remainding hair sticking out~depending on how your hair accepts perms.

I did a similar perm on my sister years ago, as she has VERY straight hair and she wore a bob. She just wanted a little body so it would flip under more easily. I just rolled the bottoms of her hair and used straws to go thru the bands and hold them in place, worked very well. Like, the rollers at her nape I rolled all the way down to the scalp.. then the next row up I rolled almost all the way and let the rows stack up from there, so when I inserted the straws they were in a wedge, sticking out from her head like an Elizabethian collar..ya know? LOL.. Her crown area was left straight this way.

Most stores around here carry Tressame(Sp?), I'll have to check it out. I'll be going to Sally's this week too. My favorite mousse's are Paul Mitchell's Extra Body Foam, and Matrix Amplify. And yes, both need to be worked into the roots which is what mousse is better for.. on average it is lighter than gel.

It's kinda nice all the zillions of products out today, but on the other hand it makes it very hard to find one you like.

Yes, I've heard of the sugar water... can you imagine the insects you'd attract outside, ha! Plus you have to be careful of flaking. I've also heard of egg whites for shows.. ew, try washing that out afterwards!

Ooo, I forgot about Matrix's Amplify. I use the liquid root lifter all throughout my hair for extra body (esp. good for the rolls, and I usually use it in conjunction w/ other products for a wet set, it's not at all stiff!).

Piggy-back perms are seriously the only ones I am good at. I never get the tension right otherwise, haha!

I know some girls who used Downy liquid fabric softener in place of a setting lotion for wet sets... yikes! I'd be scared of having some sort of allergic reaction! They said it worked, but I'd rather reserve it for doing my laundry, rather than my hair!