Help with finger waves

[fortworthgal]

I saw one of those three barrel waving irons the other day at Wal-Mart. It looks like it would work very well, but my hair is just in no way long enough to use one of those! lol

I did pick up 2 huge bags of vintage wave clips last week at an antique mall. Tried a wet set this weekend with those and it worked pretty well in some areas - mostly near the top and front, not so well in others... namely the back and the ends. My hair is very, very thick so I had a tough time getting the waves and the clips through all the layers of hair to the scalp. I need more practice!

Last night we went to a big band concert in the park and I did manage to work the front up into a couple of rolls, and then I just lightly curled the rest. This will give you girls some idea of how short my hair is: http://i6.tinypic.com/11sgtjc.jpg
http://i5.tinypic.com/11sgz7k.jpg

 

[RetroMom]

Another suggestion....

I bought some aluminum wave clamps (not the same as clips) from Amazon. They were @ $6.00 for a dozen, but if there is a beauty supply store near you, you would be better off looking there since the shipping cost was as much as the clips themselves!

Anyway, my hair is extremely short and layered. These clamps are very easy to use, and the result is a very defined wave.

A plus is that they are identical to the old ones my mom and aunt's used in the 1940's, as they are actually made of metal not plastic (how many things still are these days? ).

 

[fortworthgal]

I bought some aluminum wave clamps (not the same as clips) from Amazon. They were @ $6.00 for a dozen, but if there is a beauty supply store near you, you would be better off looking there since the shipping cost was as much as the clips themselves!

Anyway, my hair is extremely short and layered. These clamps are very easy to use, and the result is a very defined wave.

A plus is that they are identical to the old ones my mom and aunt's used in the 1940's, as they are actually made of metal not plastic (how many things still are these days? ).

Is this what you got?

That's what I have. I bought 2 bags of vintage ones - some are stainless steel! Can you tell/show me how to use them? Our hairstyles sound similar as far as length and cut, and I'm wondering what I am doing wrong!

 

[RetroMom]

How I use wave clamps

Yup, those are the same ones I got.

It really is trial and error, you have to keep playing with the clamps to get the look you want.

To set my hair, I start with just washed hair with Lottabody combed through. I make a part (side part for me), comb it ( make sure you can feel the teeth of comb on your scalp, the key is to comb the hair all the way to the scalp) so it is basically plastered to my face and about 1 inch down, from the part ,I just put the clamp in, making sure you catch the hair all the way to the scalp (you should actually feel the "teeth" of the clamp)

The clamp will make the wave for you, you don't need to make an "s" or "c" curl. Because my hair is so short, I use only about 3 (maybe 4 if I tuck one behind my ear) on each side just around my face, I don't set the back with them, I set the bottom of my hair (back) in traditional pin curls ( I use bobbie pins) in one or two rows. I try to set it early in the day (easy for me, because I don't work outside the house) and leave it in until the next day. Don't use a brush on the waves, comb them and spray them with hairspray.

That's how I do my hair. There are probably better ways to do it, the next time my mom visits I'm going to ask her to really show me the way she and her sister's used to do it, and I'll post results, hopefully I can even figure out how to post a picture!

The great thing about the clamps is, that if the wave is not as defined as you like, or if it "falls out" you can lightly spritz with water and reclamp and the wave will re-take pretty quick.

I hope these directions make some sense! Good luck!!

 

[fortworthgal]

That does make sense. I think last time my problem was that I didn't comb it down enough between the clamps, and I wasn't sure what to do with the ends. My ends are not really long enough to pincurl (or I'm not adept enough at pincurling to do it yet!)

I'll have to try this again.

 

[RetroMom]

To get those short nape hairs curled, try twisting them around a pencil and then pinning them. For me, the only way I can get curls and not "fish hooks" at the ends is to do this.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

Just like this:

 

[fortworthgal]

Aha! Thanks for that tip, and the illustration.

I know what my husband is going to be doing this weekend. lol

 

[Aorta]

What about the finger wave girls here? Has anyone mastered the style on a regular base? I've been trying pin curls and finger waves but it's so time consuming, when there's no person around, that could help. Plus I always think my arms will fall off *big sigh*. I'm thinking of buying the Babyliss hot curlers to do fake
pin curls. But of course that wouldn't solve the problem with the finger waves *bigger sigh*. My hair is fine and spaghetti-straight and it's quite hard to set it when it's wet because it's very slick.

 

[cowboy76]

Your thread caught my eye....

Your thread caught my eye as I was scrolling through the FL page. Yeah I know, I'm a guy, no I'm not light in the loafers!!...

Reason being is that I saw two sets of curler-type hot irons that dated back to at least the 1930s that were ELECTRIC and were specifically for doing 20's style waves in your hair....(the clamp that hold the hair was just like the old ones you see that LizzieMain talkes about that you have to heat on your stove) I picked one up for my wife,....if she doesnt use it, I'll offer it up on the classifieds so someone can get some use out of it instead of using it for decoration as some often do

I'll take a photo or two if Iget the chance!

 

[magnolia76]

I guess the main thing is: FINGERWAVES ARE HARD!!! As a hairstylist, I would have to say that in everything I do in my career, creating fingerewaves is the most time consuming, meticulous, most difficult style to attempt. The way they teach you in beauty school is to completely soak the hair in a water/gel mix and then comb in a "C" shape and pinch between your fingers. Secure with a pin curl (double prong) clip and dry overnight. Comb out for a soft look, leave in for a more vintage 20's look.

 

[Aorta]

I guess the main thing is: FINGERWAVES ARE HARD!!! As a hairstylist, I would have to say that in everything I do in my career, creating fingerewaves is the most time consuming, meticulous, most difficult style to attempt. The way they teach you in beauty school is to completely soak the hair in a water/gel mix and then comb in a "C" shape and pinch between your fingers. Secure with a pin curl (double prong) clip and dry overnight. Comb out for a soft look, leave in for a more vintage 20's look.

Well, I thought, there's maybe some trick about it, that I just didn't know. Your post rather discourages me to do further experiments lol . Hey, but at least you're honest and I don't feel completely stupid anymore for not being able to recreate that look correctly.

 

[~*Red*~]

I guess the main thing is: FINGERWAVES ARE HARD!!! As a hairstylist, I would have to say that in everything I do in my career, creating fingerewaves is the most time consuming, meticulous, most difficult style to attempt. The way they teach you in beauty school is to completely soak the hair in a water/gel mix and then comb in a "C" shape and pinch between your fingers. Secure with a pin curl (double prong) clip and dry overnight. Comb out for a soft look, leave in for a more vintage 20's look.

This is SO TRUE! I've tried fingerwaves on myself, and can usually do a nice "C" shape in the front, but then it all goes to hell. I practice and prcatice, but the only ay I can get a superior fingerwave is when there is already curl in the hair. Natural or permed. Slightly wavy hair will work, but it will still challenge you. If there is no curl in your hair, the best way to get it done is with those nice wave clamps, not the pincher kind, or with a hot marcel iron.

On another note, I recently bought the wave iron, and while it isn't fingerwav-ish, it is nice for a change!

 

[magnolia76]

Well, I thought, there's maybe some trick about it, that I just didn't know. Your post rather discourages me to do further experiments lol . Hey, but at least you're honest and I don't feel completely stupid anymore for not being able to recreate that look correctly.

I'm sorry to discourage you!! Don't give up! It's just a lot easier for someone to do it for you. I did the hair and make up on this photo (this is not me) and the hair alone took me about 2 hours. You can't really see the fingerwaves in this one. I have never tried to do fingerwaves on myself. Maybe i'll try tonight.

 

[Aorta]

Wow, magnolia - that looks amazing! And the make up is perfect, which products did you use? Especially the lipstick is very nice. The model is really beautiful.

 

[magnolia76]

Wow, magnolia - that looks amazing! And the make up is perfect, which products did you use? Especially the lipstick is very nice. The model is really beautiful.

Thank you! I just used lots of gel on her wet hair. I used BY by Framesi, but you can use anything, as long as it's strong. Also what is really helpful is Sebastian's Molding Mud to smooth out any frizzies or any frayed ends. It's a really light pomade that gives you that perfectly smooth look.
The lipstick was Burt's Bees!! The dark berry lip balm.

 

[Dani California]

I went to my family reunion this past week and asked my grandmother and my great aunt how they did their hair...fingerwaves, etc. They told me they had a hairdresser come to their house once a week to do it for them. Ha! Times sure have changed. They did tell me that when they had to do fingerwaves themselves they just put clips about an inch apart and let it dry.

 

[Miss Brill]

I always look at Lana Turner & wonder why I can't get my hair to look that way, then I remember her mother was a hairdresser, so Lana was getting her hair done by a professional every time she turned around (at home & at the studio). Even regular women looked good when they were going to the hairdresser every week. It would be hard not to.

 

[magnolia76]

I went to my family reunion this past week and asked my grandmother and my great aunt how they did their hair...fingerwaves, etc. They told me they had a hairdresser come to their house once a week to do it for them. Ha! Times sure have changed. They did tell me that when they had to do fingerwaves themselves they just put clips about an inch apart and let it dry.

That's probably the easiest and least frustrating way to do it.

 

[Camille]

I let my hairdresser do proper fingerwaves on me about a year ago, but even she couldn't manage it in the back on my nastily thick hair. She settled for pin curls at the back of my head, which she combed out in waves to meet the properly done wave on the sides.

What she did, however, I could never manage on my own. Also, she got my hair soaked wet with lots, lots and lots of setting fluid in it, so it took hours to dry it out. (On the other hand, that gave me time to read her Barber's Handbook from the early 30's. )

The waves turned out fabolous, but it kind of spooked me away from trying it on my own after that! Trying to get the slicked 20's finger waves is a no-go on my hair, I think, as it's too thick and bleached so it takes hours and hours to dry. Managing the sloppier combed-out early 30's version is no biggie, however.

So I say good luck to you all, and hey, maybe I'll try that thing with the clips or get myself one of those hot irons.