When you can't curl your hair...

[agirlinwinter]

Hi everyone,

I have a medical condition which is affecting my left arm at the moment. I can't raise my arm without being in pain. I set my hair in sponge rollers and I can't do this one handed

I love to wear 1940s styles every day but straight hair is not authentic for a 40s look. Are there any cheats I can use to suggest 40s styles with straight hair until/if my arm gets better?

Many thanks.

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

Can you get someone else to do it for you? A family member should be able to do it for free or pay a neighborhood kid a few dollars to set your hair for you.

 

[agirlinwinter]

Thanks for your reply. No alas, I live too far away from my parents and I don't have any siblings. I've asked Mr agirlinwinter to oblige, but he really isn't keen.

 

[Miss Slapstick]

Can you use a curling iron ?Or maybe a wave iron - That won't take long. I also have problems with my right arm and can relate
I am actually thinking about getting a perm. Anyone have experience with bleached hair and perms ?

 

[agirlinwinter]

Thanks. Unfortunately I have a LOT of hair and even using a curling iron, I can't hold my arm up long enough to curl it. I asked my hairdresser about getting a perm, so I have a level of curl to work with. She wasn't keen and said perm technology hadn't advanced much. She thought it would be difficult to predict the outcome of a perm on my hair. Having had an horrendous perm in the 90s, I'm a bit wary! :eeek:

 

[Miss Slapstick]

OK. Well..then there is just the hairbands and scarves. Try various colors and fabrics etc. Part your hair on the side for a more vintage look.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I don't know how long your hair is -- but 40s style braids? I wear braids all summer because the humidity won't allow my hair to curl.

 

[agirlinwinter]

I had my hair cut shorter on Saturday, so alas no braids However, I did have a conversation with my hairdresser about trying a perm again. She thought it might be OK if we tried large perm rollers so I get loose curls and waves rather than tight curls. I'm going to think about it for a while. In the meantime, I've been trying scarves as headbands and using side combs. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

 

[GHT]

There is an answer, but, isn't there always a but? It doesn't come cheap. BaByliss PRO Perfect Curl.

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

This reminded me of the scarf hairstyles Clara Bow wore. They were so classy and Clara Bow did not always curl her hair as well it looks more like Clara would tease her hair. Since the frizzy look was in in the 1920s.
Here are a few photos for insperation.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUmGUz-Vh...oQZStE/s1600/Clara+Bow+1926+Art+Deco+hair.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZI7DBEEk...Bow-1920s+flapper+hair+growing+out+a+crop.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2338478850_0b1bbfd48c.jpg

http://api.ning.com/files/MRqZKa1bu...s*uk0N7o/ClaraBowRoughHouseRosieTheWinnah.jpg

Also here is a great no heat hairstyle even though the title is for a Great Gatsby look this hairstyle does look very much like a Clara Bow scarf hairstyle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tgpv6cmm6I

 

[agirlinwinter]

The Babyliss curler looks fab, but £165? *faints* I wondered about trying a pageboy style, as my hair is about the right length and only the ends would need curling.

MissNatalieVintage, LOVE CLara Bow and that is great inspiration, thank you

 

[GHT]

Did you know that The Artist director, Michael Hazanavicius, was inspired by Clara Bow, and loosely based his heroine, Peppy Miller, (Bérénice Bejo,) around Clara?
My wife is one half of The Bournemouth Bombshells, vintage hairstylists. If you are ever at an event and they are there, get yourself an appointment, just see how magical The BaByliss is. Then perhaps if you are really sold on it, a Christmas present, maybe?

 

[Vera Godfrey]

Perhaps the no heat headband curls? It's fairly quick and easy to do.

Also, I use Tasha's (By Gum, By Golly!) tutorial for a roll using a scarf quite frequently. Again, fairly quick and easy to do. Looks cute too!

 

[agirlinwinter]

@GHT - weirdly enough, I am based in Bournemouth I've been to a few vintage events, but not one with the Bombshells. I will look out for them.

@Vera Godfrey - I am going to try Tasha's scarf roll again. I've had more layers cut into my hair which is making it more manageable. I had way too much hair when I tried this before

I've decided to give up on a full head of curls for the moment and try for a 40s pageboy do. This means I won't have to strain my arm putting in my usual 16 rollers at the back of my head. I'll do one row of curls at the nape of my neck instead and set the front with the usual amount.

 

[Nettie]

I am PANTS with hair and I have tennis elbow, but I find the head scarf hair do works very well, as I can rest my arm as required and the pins etc, keeps the hair in place as you go - I can now do this in less than 10 mins. This is also a great style for me when I'm camping at military events where hair washing and styling can be a real chore. There is also a strange devise called a "Hare Do" for making the 'Gibson Roll' (watch a how-to on YouTube) but I still think op. A is great. All the best.

 

[agirlinwinter]

I have taken the plunge and ordered a Babyliss Curl Secret http://www.babyliss.co.uk/stylers/curl-secret (the consumer version of the Pro Perfect Curl). I'm picking it up tonight. Very excited! It's expensive, but if it curls my hair and the curls stay in for a reasonable time then I'll be happy.

 

[Stephanie Jay Em]

i second Nettie's suggestion of a gibson roll. I fell asleep last night instead of curling my hair, so this morning I just rolled it up around a small hair rat at the nape of my neck. It can say vintage and professional at the same time, which is pretty great too. And if the sides of the roll are a little messy, you can just throw a flower on it.