I made a video!

My first YouTube video! I hope I get a bit more skilled at producing vintage beauty videos, I hope to create more.

My Middy

I finally got the guts up to get the Middy which is a hair cut popular in the 1940s. The reason for my nerves? Not one single hair dresser knows what you are talking about when you ask for it. So when I made an appointment at a salon (a la Living Social) I asked for the stylist to research this. Of course the first appointment was postponed a week and when I went on Saturday I found they didn't look it up, but did know I wanted a hair cut that they were not familiar with... again, this is why I asked for it in advance. No problem, I brought the iPad and had the diagram all queued up in case, I was not going to roll over and let them destroy my hair.

I was lucky that my stylist was the owner himself and he did an amazing job, It even looks fabulous when it's unstyled. One thing that I will need is some practice getting used to the layers, but for my first run, I have to say I'm satisfied.

1940's "Girl Next Door" hair style

Quick and easy set for your hair and it goes great with a hair net, head scarf or snood.

This wet set works best using the Rag method. I prefer to use the Conair Slip-Free rollers, but cloth strips or those great Wrap Snap and Go rollers (tie them instead of snapping them)work just as well.

To start, part your hair in the middle and apply your setting lotion/wrapping foam to the sections of hair (seen in diagram) onto the rollers and tie/bend them to hold. Sit under a hood dryer or sleep overnight. When sleeping in rollers, don't forget to use a scarf or other soft fabric to protect the hair.

In the morning, remove the rollers. Get some pomade on your fingers and begin to separate the curls before combing them out. Once your hair is nice and fluffy begin brushing it out, brush the hair against your palm to prevent frizzing at the ends.

When every thing is to your liking section out the "fringe" and part in the middle. Brush these sections and when you ease the tension on the hair you should see the wave created by the rollers. Pin this section back with a bobby pin. then take the section of hair above the ears and comb it out. twist this section (as you would a french twist) up and pin behind the first bobby pin. You can add a flower pin at this point or collect the hair in a net which is my preferred method. I have a small collection of decorative hair nets, these are nets with the addition of small coloured beads. Gather your hair in the net/snood and pin in place. Voila! Instant adorable vintage.

Today's Vintage Hair style (with style diagram)

Today's hair style is reminiscent of the 1930s, with the soft wave down one side of the face a la Veronica Lake. Shockingly enough, this is my hair after a ten mile ride on my scooter under a large Lady bug printed helmet.



The directions are simple and I have set up a diagram of how I set the rollers. I prefer to set my hair the night before and sleep with a scarf over the setting to protect the hair. This style is also achievable with pin curls but I find that using the large roller (my rollers are the drug store Conair brand) I get a better effect and more body.

When doing a wet set, I generally use a setting lotion as well as a foam wrap lotion which is found in the ethnic isle of a Sally's Beauty salon or drug store. Using dry hair, I spray a section with a mixture of setting lotion and water to moisten it, do not make the section of hair too damp or it will not hold the curl. I then pump a small dab of foam wrap onto my fingers and work that into the hair. I know this is over kill but my hair is thick and the climate is somewhat humid causing my hair to flatten in the time it takes me to walk my dog.

Once the section is moist, roll the hair around the roller making sure not to twist the ends too much when doing this as it will make them frizz. Continue in the pattern until the whole head is covered and then tie on a scarf or any hair wrap (also found at Sally's Beauty.) fix your favorite night cap and slip into la-la land.

In the morning, once your makeup is on, take out the rollers and separate gently. Take your brush and start combing those curls out until they start forming waves. You may need to help it along by using your brush to form the waves along your face, clip them down if necessary and mist with a hair spray. when everything is to your liking, sit back and admire your work, everyone else will.