We are often asked what types of hair are best suited for finger waves. Some hairdressers believe that all kinds of hair may be so treated—straight, naturally curly, and permanently waved; in fact, any kind of hair 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, any of the hair on the head—needs to 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 really a very important factor, and finger-waving should never be commenced 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. Following the shampoo, rub the hair with a rough towel, so that the hair is only just damp. This is important, not only from the setting point of view, but also to ensure the client remains comfortable. Hair that is too wet is going to cause drips down the client’s face and neck, which will not be appreciated. Adjust the parting, and then sprinkle or spray the hair with a good setting lotion. One school of thought is that the lotion helps to set the hair better and more easily. This is entirely erroneous; its main advantage is that the finger waves become dry much more quickly and provides at the same time the advantage of an additional sale.

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