Retro Wave Hair Styles Makes a Comeback

Wave hair and curls are coming! You can see locks reminiscent of every decade from the ‘20s to the 90s. Whether it’s modern, gently curved ends, or ‘40s-style finger wave har, you’ll want to give at least one of these styles a try.

’40’s Galm
The look is a sexy return to glamour and has been featured in the runway collections of Valentine and Christian Dior. See your hair stylist for the full effect, or get retro feeling at home with hot rollers and a heat setting spray. After creating a deep side part, set sections that are the same width as the roller, and roll them under, directed toward your face. Be sure all of the rollers are going in the same direction to create a uniform wave in hair, and allow them to cool completely.

Once you’ve uncoiled your curls, brush them into pretty waves, turning the ends under. Smooth hair with a medium-weight pomade to hold hair waves together. Then, decide how you want to finish the hairstyle. Do you want to wear it all down like Madonna or tuck one side behind your ear like Liv Tyler? You may want to add a little something sparkly. The same technique applied to a bob will take you back to the ‘20’s with a super cute, flapper-esque feel.

‘7Os “Farrah” Hair
Chloe Sevigny has been opting to a full-bodied look. A modern take with wavy ends, made so popular by Farrah Fawcett. For this hair style, use a 3/4 curling iron. Curl the ends of 1” sections under, making sure they wrap around the barrel about three times. Then, unwind the iron and clip curls in place until they’ve cooled. Once you remove the clips, brush curls into the luscious waves in hair that model Petra Nemcova has been sporting lately. The look is late ‘70s-fabulous!

’80’s Power Volume
For something less tricky, brushed out waves and curls may be the perfect way for you to get a throwback hairstyle. This look is a little more imperfect, which means it’s easier to do yourself. You’ll use the same setting technique that you used for ‘40s waves but instead of turning the rollers under and toward your face, roll the bang area away from your face. You can roll all the rollers back, and brush your hair into looks similar to those worn by socialites Tinsley Mortimer and Tracee Ellis Ross. Or, for a look pulled straight from the ‘80s, change the direction of every roller and skip the pomade.

Pre-’90’s
If you have longer, straighter hair, you might like to experiment with the curled-under ends seen on the runways at Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. You’ll need a curling iron, curl clips and that all-important heat-setting spray. Starting from the bottom, curl 1” sections of hair under and toward your face. To keep the curl at the ends, don’t wrap rollers farther than a few inches up.

If you just want to bump ends under, mist on a thermal protector and wrap just the ends around the barrel of a 11/2” curling iron. Then, clip ends in place until hair has completely cooled. lf you’re ready for a retro look with wave hair, curl and sexy movement, dust off those hot rollers, ask your mom if she still has her big-barreled curling iron, and get to curling. Totally undone ‘dos are on hiatus this season, and it’s time for glamour.

Have a nice try!