A frequently asked question is what kind 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. Although it’s very rare, occasionally a client with this type of hair will ask for a finger-wave, and in these instances we recommend you try and persuade your client to go for 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 noticed that the ends will curl much more easily, and which then will mould themselves nicely to the head, thus keeping 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.
To get the best possible results, the hair should be carefully shampooed, as a head of hair not quite clean and, perhaps, slightly greasy, will not only be harder and more difficult to set, but will take twice as long to dry. Following the shampoo, partially dry the hair with a rough towel, so that the hair remains 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. After adjusting the parting, sprinkle or spray the hair with a good setting lotion. Some people are of the opinion that the lotion helps 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.
