Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

In the 1950′s, hairstyling was the key ingredient to creating an iconic hairstyle. This was before the age of precision hair cutting as we know it today where a hairstyle becomes defined by the way it is cut. Learning how to create beautiful, supple waves and curl in the hair was an art form and a daily practice. Today, we use blow dryers and round brushes to create fullness and bounce but these tools cannot create the same look.

Many women of the day would go to the salon once a week and have their hair shampoo set. This means that after the hair is shampooed and conditioned, the hair is wrapped with a setting lotion on medium to larger sized rollers and then dried with a hood dryer. Afterwards, the rollers are removed and the curls brushed out with a cushion boar bristle brush to create softness. Some women kept their style fresh by taping their bangs with styling tape and rolling the rest of the hair in rollers and then slept with them in. An uncomfortable practice but many women were very attentive to their hair because then, a well kept hairstyle meant you were a women with class and sophistication. Some great examples of this style can be seen on Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly.

This style looks best on hair that just hits the collarbone or slightly above. In order to make this style work best, go to your local drug store and buy velcro rollers. We recommend using Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner from Alterna Caviar beforehand in order to maximize the shape needed. A great setting lotion to apply to the damp hair is Anti Gravity by Kevin Murphy which is an oil-free volumiser using lavender oil. Roll the hair downwards around the ear and away from the face down the center of the head. Once dry, finger separate and then brush out smoothly. If you want more fullness at the crown, back brush it lightly with the cushion brush and then spray all over with Working Spray by Alterna.

If you are strapped for time, you may use an iron curl on dry hair instead but there is a risk it will not hold as well as a shampoo set. This style is best achieved on fine to medium hair types with minimal to no curl or wave.

These styles are classic and elegant and with time and patience you can achieve them at home. If not, give us a call and we will match you with one of our experienced stylists to help you look your best!

post by D’Arcy