Modern Finger Waves: Get the NYFW Look

Modern Finger Waves: Get the NYFW Look

Modern finger waves were hot on the NYFW runway of Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2016 show. Get the look from Redken Global Creative Director Guido who modernized an old fashioned technique that many future professionals cringe at.

Happy Tuesday beautiful, and welcome to another edition of the weekly how-to from Ask the Pro Stylist! Today we turn back the hands of time to every hairstylist’s nightmare: finger waves.

We all remember the dreaded finger waves and having to learn how to create a very dated hairstyle. Eventually, most of us got it, with many mastering the technique. Cheat finger waves (using a curling iron) became popular not too long ago, however, I tell all my students to not poo-poo the classic look as you may need to know how to recreate it for looks seen on Lady Gaga in American Horror Story: Hotel, and most recently, the modern finger waves rampant on the Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2016 runway during NYFW.

modern finger waves

According Redken Global Creative Director Guido: 

Marc Jacobs’ shows are always a surprise and not what you expect. This season is unnatural and all about a character. The look is a total top-to-bottom, fun, crazy, Marc Jacobs girl. I created finger waves, an old-fashioned technique that was popular in the 20s, but I modernized the look by leaving alone the ends of the hair. In the end you have two textures: a very sculptural, set look, and then the natural hair. It feels very gothic, strange and almost boyish. We’re so used to seeing things so precise and this look is quite arresting in a way. I used hardwear 16 gel, which we finger-waved into the hair, and then set with foreceful 23 hairspray. It is a very set look but something that could be translated to what you might see on the street. For example, if a girl wanted to do one simple finger wave and then leave the rest of her hair natural.

modern finger waves

Guido outlined how to get the modern finger waves seen at NYFW below. 

1. Using a comb, create a clean center part on dry hair. Starting one inch above the ear on one side of the head, use comb to create a horizontal section. Clip hair on the top half of the hairline section to keep out of the way.
2. On the horizontal bottom section, use fingers to generously apply hardwear 16 super-strong sculpting hair gel to area beneath the created hairline.
3. Repeat step two in sections one inch apart, gradually making your way toward the top center part. Repeat process on the opposite side of the head.
4. Apply hardwear 16 super-strong sculpting hair gel to center part to emphasize the part and add shine. Apply gel to a comb and press hair down on either side of the part to flatten.
5. Starting at hairline at the crown of the head, simultaneously use fingers and a comb to push hair up, creating a finger wave effect. Ensure hardwear 16 super-strong sculpting hair gel is covering fingers and comb at all times.
6. Continue the wave effect throughout the section, using fingers to hold down hair while the comb brushes downwards on either side. Use pins to hold each wave in place.
7. After completing each section, liberally spray forceful 23 super strength hairspray at a close distance for a lasting hold.
8. Once you’ve reached the top of each ear, stop finger wave effect and leave remaining hair untouched and natural.
9. Gently blow dry hair to dry and harden gel and hold shape. *Ask the Pro Stylist recommends a diffuser.
   

   modern finger waves

Now as all my future professionals know, we do not need pins to hold our modern finger waves in place. Visit next week for more hair and beauty how-tos. Until then, happy styling!

©Deirdre Haggerty, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior written permission and consent from the author.