Once dry, the waves would be brushed out with a flat brush. Depending on the amount of hair and its thickness, this could take quite a while. The process was time-consuming in part because it required the woman to actually sit under the salon dryer until the thick setting gel dried completely. The finger-wave was originally created with finger-wave lotion, setting gel, and a comb - as opposed to the curling irons that we grew up with. Jessica Chastain's recent Golden Globes look was a perfect example. Ahead, find a walk-through of the wave - its old and new iterations - plus how-to tips and techniques for recreating the look on your own.ĭecades ago, the curl process could take an entire day.
There's lots more volume and movement, plus a versatile quality that can work for both day and night, red carpet and real world. The modern take on the retro wave is softer, looser, and edgier than its historic counterpart.
Today, it simply has a more "undone" curl - one that is not so defined, and not as hard to get.
It's always chic to channel Old Hollywood. Retro-glam looks are forever on-trend, gracing red carpets season after season. Think scarlet-red lips, cat-eyes, and playful pin-curls. Veronica Lake and Lana Turner were two of the iconic, silver-screen beauties who helped popularize the classic 40s-inspired finger-waves, and the look is still making its way down red carpets.