DIY- Fast Finger Waves

by Ladonna Stein

Grace Gotham rocks the finger waves. Photo: DallasPinUp.com, MUA/H: Ladonna Stein

1. Part the hair on the side. A very deep part was a popular style in the 20’s. You would sometimes see it almost on the side of the head.


2. Using a curling iron or hot rollers, starting at the part, roll the hair all in the same direction around the head. The smaller the curling iron barrel, the tighter the wave will be in the end. Set your curls with pins and allow them to cool in a rolled up position. This would be a good time to do makeup while the curls set.


3. Take out the pins and brush or comb the hair straight down. All the curls should come together to form waves. You can leave it like this for a looser, Hollywood hair effect (like worn by Dita Von Teese).


4. For more of a 1920’s finger wave, use a comb and hairspray to sculpt and perfect the waves. Start at the top of the head and work your way down, holding down the top waves as you sculpt the lower ones. Use bobby pins to create more dramatic curves. Just be sure to try and hide them in the hair. You can also use clips to hold the sprayed waves in place while they dry.


5. For the ends, hold end of the hair against your hand and comb it all in the direction you want it to lay. If your hair is long, you can pin it under in the back. A hairnet is a great way to help keep it in place for the rest of the day.

A special thank you to Grace Gotham for modeling, and Ladonna Stein of Dallas PinUp for styling, writing, and teaching!

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