Thursday, February 12, 2015

'20s Finger Waves

A while back I styled my hair in finger waves for a model train show at the New York Botanical Gardens (read on...it was awesome). Gardens, cocktails, ice sculptures (you know an event is fancy when there's ice sculptures), and model trains--I felt like dressing up. I really hate my hair right now...growing it out blows. So I decided to do some very 20s-30s finger waves. 
worn with my vintage Arts & Crafts-style earrings (read about them in this post)
This is a difficult hairstyle to do, so I'm pleased with how it turned out. I've got a few gaps on my right side, but whatever. When I was in beauty school (the last time I did this hairstyle), hardly anyone could do this style--it requires some finger dexterity, for sure. 

Yeah, that's my Christmas tree. These photos were sitting around for a while. Also these are my new glasses. A bit normal for my tastes, but eh.
Here is a really good video on how to do the hairstyle. I wish we had YouTube when I was in beauty school...this video would have helped EVERYONE out. 



A few tips I'd like to add about this hairstyle. For those of you completely new, this is a form of wet-styling, styling done when the hair is wet. You'll never get this with dry hair. Ok, the tips now:
  • USE A LOT OF GEL. Your hair needs to basically feel like wet clay. Use the bucket of the cheap stuff, unless you plan on wearing a hat or are boxing in this style or something crazy. This is the number one problem I see with people who attempt this style. They don't use enough gel. 
  • As your hair dries out, spray some water to keep the hair a claylike consistency. The hair needs to be wet and gelled.
And now pictures from the train show.... 


So, all these buildings are made from plant material. The shingles and windows are leaves, the bricks are twigs, the details are acorns and other things.


This is the model of the New York Botanical Garden greenhouse, the building we were in. HOW COOL. I love this greenhouse.


here's a picture next to the fireplace mantel in my apartment building, which was build in 1910. This hairstyle would have been worn in this building starting 10 years after it was built!
At the end of the night, hairstyle still intact.


11 comments:

  1. I like finger waves, they look great on you! :) I always wanted to try doing this (it's in one of my fashion books) but when I learned that it requires lots of hair product I was put off by it. I don't like the feeling of gel in my hair. I'm one of those tactile freaks who doesn't like the texture of certain things lol.

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    1. oh yeah, you'd hate it then. this requires a bucketload of gel, and you'll spend forever washing it out.

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  2. I love 20s looks! I think my uncontrollable hair would find a way out of finger waves, it doesn't mind being cut into a bob though. You look awesome!

    I love all those miniature buildings! So magical!

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    1. tiny buildings made out of leaves and twigs...i honestly thought of you and your fairy doors when i was there.

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  3. That is an amazing hairstyle. I tried to do it once and my hair ended up looking like something my cat coughed up LOL. You look great!

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    1. Thanks! I had a few sucky tries in beauty school too. it's not an easy hairstyle. lots of practice and even lots more gel

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  4. I love your hair! I saw a tutorial on this hairstyle once and it really is difficult. I think it looks great on you!
    the exhibition looks lovely too. those buildings are so cute!

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  5. That looks like a really neat event! I have a book on vintage hair styling and I have never been able to master the waves. I love how they look with your short hair, very classy.

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    1. Thanks! Seems like an awesome book. I should get something like that

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