1930s Authentic Coiffures
Shorter waved hair defined the nineteen thirties coiffure. Hair was primarily worn at chin or just above shoulder length with deeply set waves. The permanent wave was a popular method to aid the in setting of waves. The look of the thirties was clean, sleek, and sophisticated. Longer hair would be waved and the length of the hair wrapped in a low bun at the base of the neck.
Wet Wave Setting Techniques
All techniques described below were to help approximate a natural wave in the hair before permanent waving techniques were perfected. Women blessed with naturally curly hair would have more easily set their hair in the mode of the day by guiding their natural waves into their desired direction. For those women who had straight hair, there were several waving techniques that could be utilized.
Finger Waves
Unlike the Marcel Wave which is achieved with the use hot iron on dry hair, the Finger Wave is a wet set achieved by combing and pushing waves into hair using the length of a finger to guide the set of the waves.
Water Waves
Water Waves are different from Finger Waves as they use curved combs to set the wave in wet hair.
Wet Curl Sets
Brush Curling
Another way to achieve waves that can be dressed to mode of the 30s is a curling method called Brush Curls. These are a series of open tubes rolled around fingers that look like how hair in curlers do without the curler inside the roll.
Pin Curling
The difference between Brush Curls and Pin Curls is that Pin Curls are rolled around the finger and secured flat to the head. This is the easiest set to do without assistance.
30s Hairstyles
Straight-back Comb Wave & Variations
The hallmark of the Straight-back Wave is that each row of waves circles the head.
Bias Wave
The Bias Wave is achieved by setting the waves on the bias (diagonally) on the head creating a clever asymmetrical set.
Direct Swirl & Variations
Swirls are waves that end in curls that point upward in the middle of the head.
Saucer Wave
The Saucer Wave begins at the top back of the head and are created with concentric circles around the head
Sculpture Wave
Sculpture Waves run in a parallel rows from the forehead to the base of the neck.
Windblown
The hallmark of the Windblown is that the finished wave forms a heart-shape on the head.
Wet May Murray
The Mae Murray is mostly an evening hair dress that is a combination of Straight-back wave with cluster curls at the back of the head.
