The Middy Thread

[rue]

Not a problem. By top hair, she means the section directly on top of your head that extends backward from the arches of your eyebrows to the back of the head. Check out my tutorial or Turudich's diagram to get a visual.



I hope so! With the real short layers, I cop out and use the flatiron

Ack! It worked!! I did exactly as it said and it turned out really well with hot sticks. I plan on using sponge rollers next time to get a smoother curl

 

[C-dot]

I think I'll ask for a body wave, bearing in mind it's my first perm and it's just to help hold my set really. Thankyou for the advice, you know your stuff

Thank-you very much! I hope your hair comes out well, do be sure to let us know!

AH! That picture + instructions of Bacall's hair is perfect! This is exactly the style I love most and wish to achieve for myself. I'll keep trying and I'll use these instructions next time! Thanks so much for posting it.

Turudich's book is such a great resource because she simplifies the instructions so well. She also has instructions for other popular styles, I'll dig those out and post in a bit.

Ack! It worked!! I did exactly as it said and it turned out really well with hot sticks. I plan on using sponge rollers next time to get a smoother curl

Fantastic! Pretty please, take a picture?

 

[rue]

Fantastic! Pretty please, take a picture?

I will after dinner

 

[C-dot]

Here are those other pages: Click the links for Ingrid Bergman, Hedy Lamarr, Gene Tierney, and Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth. To keep it consistent, here is Lauren Bacall again.

All of those styles (with the exception of Lake's) were done with a modification of the Middy Cut. That's why I love it - With the right combination of layers, all of these vintage styles are very simple.


(And if anyone is wondering why I have all these photocopies of 1940s Hairstyles, I photocopied the entire thing while interning at my first law firm. To break up the monotony of copying page after page of case law, I brought the book with me and did a little here and there.)

 

[zombi]

^ That should help me with my Veronica Lake style attempts, too. I don't think I had previously understood what top hair meant. This means I ought to curl all the way to the back of my head as the top hair, and I think previously I had both A) not curled that hair all the way back like that and B) was using a much thinner section of "top hair". I'm really interested to compare results by changing the way I'm sectioning this hair out. If I can get the hang of this I plan to! Right now I have long layers, but I don't have a slant like the middy cut has, and I don't have a U shape to the hemline of my hair. It seems like this slant shape makes such a huge difference. Why is that? Does anyone know?

 

[C-dot]

It seems like this slant shape makes such a huge difference. Why is that? Does anyone know?

It's just the style of the way most vintage cuts were worn. Stacked layers made the curls fluffier, and the U-shape was considered very flattering. I suspect the cuts were designed for function; ie. layering for curls, shorter or longer sections for fluffs or pomps and rolls, angles for cascading waves. You don't absolutely need this type of haircut for vintage styling, but when you do have it, the style immediately *looks* correct.

 

[rue]

Fantastic! Pretty please, take a picture?

Ugh... it didn't last as well as I wanted, but I've been cleaning all day so it fell

 

[C-dot]

Heck, I'd be satisfied if thats how mine looked when it was perfectly done. Beautiful job!

 

[rue]

Aww.... thanks

It's hard to take a picture at night, that's why the black and white lol

 

[Tatum]

Go Rue! That looks fantastic

 

[rue]

Thanks Tatum! I need you girls with me everyday when I get ready in the morning

 

[Tatum]

Yeah, we need FL cheerleaders!

I wish I wasn't going in for a cut tomorrow, but honest to goodness, I have been getting headaches. And depending on how I do my hair they are worse. Not fair! For once, I wish I had thinner hair.

 

[rue]

That would be GREAT! We could record all us girls clapping and have it play every morning when we're done with our hair

How short??

 

[zombi]

Rue -- BEAUTIFUL! It looks so amazing! I hope you will take photos when you do it again with rollers, too!

 

[rue]

Thank you zombi!! I will.... it won't be for a few days though

 

[Tatum]

I need a more motivational recording, like everyone shouting at me to put the internets down and actually set my hair! Lol

Not too short. I have a habit of only having it cut twice a year and I am thinking I will go shorter in the spring. Funny though, Gracie was telling me that she was looking at old pics and loved it shorter. Too bad the hubby prefers it long and begs me to keep it longer!

 

[rue]

I need a more motivational recording, like everyone shouting at me to put the internets down and actually set my hair! Lol

Not too short. I have a habit of only having it cut twice a year and I am thinking I will go shorter in the spring. Funny though, Gracie was telling me that she was looking at old pics and loved it shorter. Too bad the hubby prefers it long and begs me to keep it longer!

I already have that in the form of my daughter lol

I'm the same way.... aside from trimming the sides, I haven't had it cut in about 4-5 months and probably won't get it cut for another two months. I think you look great either way

 

[Tatum]

Thanks, Rue!

Unfortunately due to a work emergency I just had to reschedule to Thursday morning. Not cool

 

[ginfizz]

C-dot that book looks awesome!

 

[Tatum]

Ok, so in light of the headaches I have been getting, I let my stylist chop my hair. I feel like I just lost ten pounds, honestly!

Here is a really crappy phone pic so you can get an idea of the length (and how thick my hair truly is).