Karen, how long have you been in school? My daughter (high school cosmo) says use gel with extra strong hold and add a very small amount of water to it. I wonder if you could use spritz instead of water? I'll ask her tomorrow.
Karen, I commend you for your passion and drive. I'm sure after you practice enough times you'll start to get a feel for it. To be honest I'm not a big fan of that hairdo but I can see why your school has you learning it. You're practically sculpting but the medium is more challenging!!
You may have already seen this but here is a link that looks pretty informative. I was curious what fingerwaving was when you mentioned it so I looked it up and found this http://www.revampvintage.com/30sfingerwaves.html
I think its a really cute hairstyle, I may try it. Well hope that helps.
Hi....thanks so very much for the link.
Unfortunately there are several links on the web (I have been to all of them) that are almost identical to this link which is actually taken from a Pivot Pointe Cosmetology book.
While the steps at Revamp (and all the other sites that copy these instructions) are correct as taken directly from the PP book...most people like me following them will quickly discover that they do not really provide helpful "inside" information.
It looks easy from the instructions but once you have the hair and the comb....not so easy. In fact....very very hard.
I have been able to glean some helpful finger wave creation tips which I am happy to share. I have received a few emails from hairdressers (thank you all that took pity on my pain).
They told me the following:
1. Fingerwaves are very difficult to do on fine, slippery, soft or very healthy hair. This is because once you get the ridge of the wave created by pushing the comb along the index finger, the ridge collapses.
2. Hair that is coarse, damaged from color or chemicals or has a natural roughness to the cuticle is much easier to finger wave than any other type of hair.
I actually tested this theory and when I made finger waves on hair that was bleached, the ridges held so much better.
Billy and I have been experimenting every day with different hair types and have tested various hair textures and types. Definitely hair that is soft or fine...is much harder to do.
3. Gel does not work as well as a heavier molding mud.
Also....if the hair is too wet or has too much gel, additional problems getting the ridge to form and hold well. However, you might think that the gel has to be layered on. Not so. It needs to be just the right amount...not too much but not too little.
I have also had better luck with gel that is mixed with a little water rather than straight gel.
4. Hair that is too long is more difficult to finger wave than hair that is shorter.
5. Hair that is layered is easier to finger wave than hair that is all one length.
6. You have to have a really good comb to make sure that there is no hair separation.
7. Practice, practice, practice.
8. Keep your fingers free of product or else it is harder to pinch the ridge to hold solid.
So yes, there are lots of good printed instructions on the web but unfortunately it is very hard to follow them and get good results.
I am learning this every day.
As I type this I am exhausted from doing 2 days of non-stop traditional roller sets...first on mannequins and then on human heads.
I had no idea that doing roller sets could be so difficult but then when you have to make sure that your sections are perfect and the rollers are the correct width and that you work the right direction on the head.....you gain a whole new perspective.
But I must say the hair turns out looking really great and all the human models loved the styles. So I guess it is worth it. :-)
Thanks again. I appreciate the link. Let me know how you fare if you do the look on your own hair. I would love any secrets you discover.
Edited by Karen Shelton - August 22 2007 at 12:26am
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
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You may have already seen this but here is a link that looks pretty informative. I was curious what fingerwaving was when you mentioned it so I looked it up and found this http://www.revampvintage.com/30sfingerwaves.html
I think its a really cute hairstyle, I may try it. Well hope that helps.
omg i hate finger waves!! no advice for you apart from take deep breaths!
Hi....unfortunately deep breathing makes it hard for me to grouse. HA HA.
I think that practice, practice, practice and hopefully damaged hair will help. I can't believe that people with soft, silky, fine hair can hold the finger waves for any amount of time.
Not sure why the hair extension sections don't hold the finger waves, but I am going to keep trying.
Thanks so much.
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
ughhhh i remember finger waves back in school. They are not easy-
Karen, are you going to cosmotology school?
I used lots of gel mixed with water, and use a spray bottle to kep misiting it while you work...
Hi Sand,
Yes...I am going to night cosmo school. Grueling. Working full time at HB.com and then going to school from 5-10 every night plus homework.
I LOVE it but it is definitely giving me an entirely new perspective on everything.
A friend of mine said that for state boards it is best to do the finger waves on "damaged" hair. This morning Billy and I permed a mannequin head and got one that was blonde (already damaged). Supposedly it is easier to get the waves to hold if the hair is "damaged". Also shorter than longer.
I am going to try your trick of keeping the hair spritzed wet with gel mixed in. Straight gel just doesn't seem to work as well. It is almost overkill.
Also...in class we were not allowed to clip the waves in place but every book I found or instructions said to clip them and let them air dry into place.
The mannequins we were using in class all have long dark hair and I softened the heck out of them to make sure they didn't tangle. But then every time I would get some nice ridges going, they would fall out. Zap.
Thanks for your tips. I think that I have to just keep practicing and experimenting.
I once watched Ken Paves put an entire head of finger waves into Jessica's hair while I watched. He did it really fast and they were perfect. I know that he likes to do them on Jennifer Lopez as well. I would ask him to talk to me about it but getting him on the phone is more challenging than getting the finger waves down. HA HA
Edited by Karen Shelton - August 20 2007 at 1:44pm
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
My daughter did them last school year so I'll ask her for you. Fingerwaves are making a comeback but I doubt very seriously that I'd ever wear them again. They were very popular in the late '80's early '90's which was retro back then too. We used to wear the fingerwaves in the front and have our hair rodded or crimped in the back. Oh big hair I miss you so. Everything old is new again.
Hi Ms. Honey....yes...please ask your daughter. I am determined to get a couple heads of perfect waves and it is not easy. It looks so darn easy until you do it. Shessssh.
By the way...what school did your daughter go to? Night or day?
Edited by Karen Shelton - August 20 2007 at 1:45pm
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
My daughter did them last school year so I'll ask her for you. Fingerwaves are making a comeback but I doubt very seriously that I'd ever wear them again. They were very popular in the late '80's early '90's which was retro back then too. We used to wear the fingerwaves in the front and have our hair rodded or crimped in the back. Oh big hair I miss you so. Everything old is new again.
While it is unlikely that any of you DIYers would have secret tricks for creating old fashioned finger waves, if any of the pros that visit here create finger waves and you have ANY secret tips, please let me know.
We had to do them in class last week and they are freakin hard. The instructions sound so easy but once you get that comb and try sculpting the ridge, all hell breaks loose. As soon as I had a good ridge going it seemed to always drop or I couldn't avoid separation.
Even worse, the "real human" head I had to work on, had extensions in her hair except along the front. I managed to get some good ridges in the front but could not even begin to get anything to hold in the extensions.
A hairdresser friend of mine told me that molding mud actually works better than gel but unfortunately our teacher would not let us use anything other than gel.
I know...practice, practice, practice but if you have any special tips..please help.
Also, if there is a trick to doing them on extensions....please share. It never occurred to me that people would want finger waves in their extensions but apparently it happens.
Thanks in advance.
That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-)
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