Pageant Hair Styles for Girls: Finger Wave Instructions

Monday, March 22, 2010

Finger Wave Instructions

Women and men alike use gels, creams, sprays, hair dryers, crimping irons and many more appliances to get that just-right look. Women from past generations have used nature's tools to create their hairstyles: their fingers. One style made popular during the 1920s was finger waving. All that's needed is a comb and your fingers.

Finger Waves

Finger waves were first seen in the 1920s and were created to soften the look of the bobbed hairstyles worn by flappers. It became popular due to the influence of the many Hollywood actresses who wore these hairstyles. They wore styles such as the Pompadour Finger Wave, the Varsity Bob Wave and the Lorelei Bob Wave. Finger waving consists of shaping or molding the hair into s-shaped curves. When the hair dries, curves and deep waves are left behind. The process is successful on straight hair as well as curly hair.

Create Finger Waves

Start with wet hair. Styling product can be added and is helpful in maintaining the hairstyle. Decide where the waves are to begin. Lay the middle finger flat across the hair at that point. Take a comb and push it down against the topside of the finger. Pull the comb sideways running along the finger. Do this in 1-inch increments. Make sure the teeth of the comb are pointing straight down. This process has now formed a ridge. Without raising the comb, lay it flat against the scalp and place the index finger next to the middle finger. Gently push on the ridge to hold it in place. Turn the teeth of the comb to a vertical position. Comb the hair out while curving it back in the opposite direction. Move the middle finger down and continue forming the ridge until it is the desired length. This procedure creates a ridge of hair that is moving in one direction with a c-shaped wave going in the opposite direction.

Tips

Even though the process is successful on straight hair as well as curly hair, individuals with very curly hair may want to straighten their hair before attempting to create this hairstyle. Finger waving works best with short hair, but it can be done with long hair. If there is hair left over that cannot be finger waved, try making pin curls with those tresses. Adding a styling product such as hair gel is helpful in maintaining the hairstyle. Wrapping your hair in a silk or satin scarf can keep the style looking fresh for up to one week.