We are frequently asked what types of hair can be finger-waved successfully. Some hairdressers say that all kinds may be so treated—straight, naturally curly, and permanently waved; in fact, any kind except very coarse, thick hair. It has been the author’s experience, however, that fairly straight hair must be slightly inclined to curl; unless there is a slight wave or inclination of a natural wave, however good the following setting or finger-wave may be, it is not possible for the wave to stay in the hair for more than a day or so. It may not happen too often but occasionally a client with this type of hair will ask for a finger-wave, and in these situations it is advisable to try and persuade her to indulge in a permanent wave. However, should the hairdresser happen to encounter this type of hair during his routine of work, the use of combs is recommended, by means of which quite a pleasing result can be obtained; but in no circumstances whatsoever should combs be used upon permanently waved hair, as the hardness of the waves obtained through inserting combs will spoil the nicest of coiffures, and the work will thus become considerably depreciated.
A very important point, one to which too little attention is paid, is the ends; the side-pieces in particular, which are usually left in a clubbed condition, and can, therefore, never be finished gracefully and neatly. The ends, or side-pieces—in fact, the hair all over the head—should be carefully thinned or tapered. It will then be found that the ends will curl much more easily, and at the same time will mould themselves shapely to the head, thus retaining their curl much longer. This is vitally important factor, and finger-waving should never be started until the ends are properly tapered or thinned.
Clean hair is much easier to work with, Dirty hair is harder to set and also takes much longer to dry. After the shampoo, rub the hair well with a rough towel, so that the hair remains only just damp. This is essential, not only from the setting point of view, but also for the client’s comfort. If the hair is left too wet, it is inclined to drip down the client’s face and neck, and this must be avoided at all costs. Adjust the parting, and then sprinkle or spray the hair with a suitable setting lotion. One school of thought is that the lotion helps to set the hair better and more easily. This is an error; its main advantage is that the finger waves dry much more quickly while at the same time there is a chance of a possible sale.