We’re going 1920s glam with expert hair style tips on how to get Gatsby-inspired finger wave,  a.k.a the retro chic Marcel wave.

By Ava Baccari

Photography

ImaxTree.com

 Blame it on Gatsby fever or the mop of ultra-shiny curls at Jason Wu’s Spring/Summer 2013 runway, but the crimped hair style that defined 1920s glam has made waves again this season. The Marcel wave (or, the “finger wave”, as it’s colloquially known) is a must-try summer hair style for a sophisticated retro throwback that works for chic night out or as a bridal look.“A woman who wears this hair style exudes confidence and is definitely fashionable!” says Dan Nguyen, a celebrity hair stylist and founder of LURE Salon in Vancouver. Nguyen, who can be found backstage styling looks at Giorgio Armani and Viktor & Rolf during fashion week, gives us his expert tips on how to get this classic, feminine retro wave.

Get the retro hair look: Be like Zelda Fitzgerald     

 Created by François Marcel (the French hair stylist who invented the curling iron,) the eponymous wave that has become synonymous with old-school glamour also has a dark side to it. “Shorter hair in the ‘20s was popularized by socialites like Zelda Fitzgerald, who epitomized a life of glamour and rebellion,” says Nguyen, who lists iconic short-haired celebs of that era—Clara Bow, Joan Crawford and Louise Brooks—with whom Zelda hosted lavish parties along with her husband, The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

“This was a way for woman to defy the feminine convention that was set up by their elders—short hair, dressing with legs and arms exposed, and wearing makeup echoed the exciting times and the birth of celebrity culture.”   

Get the retro hair look: Prep hair  
While this perfectly badass curl is typically styled on short hair, the good news is that most lengths can wear the finger wave, says Nguyen. “Shorter styles and longer lengths with layering will work best.” What you need on hand: clean, just-washed hair, a fine-tooth comb and quality hair care products. “I recommend the Gel Serum from Oribe or the Color Minded UV Protective Styling Balm from Bumble & Bumble,” he says. 

Get the retro hair look: All hands on deck If you don’t have a curling iron, don’t fret: it’s called the finger wave for a reason. Comb wet hair and divide small sections into a wave pattern, pinning into place and allowing hair to air-dry. “Once it’s dry you can brush it out to give it a lovely airy texture or break it up with your fingers,” says Nguyen. Finish off with shine-inducing spray for the glossy Jason Wu spring hair-inspired finish. “A lightweight shine spray will add that wonderful reflective quality,” says Nguyen, who recommends Oribe Shine Light Reflecting Spray. “Weightless and ultra-shiny!”

 

Get the retro hair look: Go pro (if need be) For major events such as your wedding or flapper parties (your excuse to have one of those now), Nguyen recommends seeking out a hair stylist for the perfect retro look. “This is a very difficult style to achieve, mostly because you have to work on the top of your head.” But as we imagine Daisy Buchanan flitting about in a white flowing gown, the key is to have fun when sporting this stylishly iconic coif. “Go sleek and shiny for nighttime and brush it out for daytime, or vice versa!” he adds. “As long as you have the confidence to pull it off and the time to style it, anyone can rock this look.” Our summer look just got infinitely more Gatsby.

Thirteen Vancouver salons will be using their talents and scissors next week to help raise funds for the Hematology Research and Clinical Trials Unit for Leukemia & Lymphoma at VGH. The first annual Beautify Me Vancouver aims to also raise awareness for blood cancers in a new way.

Spearheaded by Kimberly Hoogendoorn, Senior Designer at LURE Salon, the event began in 2011 as Cut for The Cure. After seeing her uncle, LURE Salon’s co-owner Dan Nguyen, battle the blood disease in 2010, Kimberly wanted to find ways to give back to the VGH unit that helped her family.

“When I was with my uncle, with his doctors, one of the things that came up was how the Leukemia and Lymphoma unit at VGH is one of the best in the world. A lot of their funds come from charities, and it kind of just clicked with me. The people were so amazing there and he was getting better on the accounts of people fundraising. I was so grateful that they were able to do something for him that I wanted to give back as well,” said Kimberly.

She began Cut for the Cure, and for the first two years it was a single day event. The two events to date have raised over $30,000 for the cause. But Kimberly said there was only so much you could do in one day.

“This year I wanted it to be bigger, I want to raise awareness everywhere, and more money for them [VGH],” she said. And from there, with the help of other Vancouver salons, Kimberly was able to create Beautify Me Vancouver. The event will run in-salon from April 15 to 20, 2013. Think Dine Out Vancouver, but with salon and spa services instead of food, and with proceeds being donated to the cause. The salons include LURE, Is. Salon, Rain Salon, Axis (both locations), Bling Nail Studio, Luxe Beauty Lounge, Sense Spa, Space Salon, Caramel Salon (both locations), VHA (Vancouver Hairdressing Academy), and Silk Hair Design & Esthetics. Each of the salons has featured menus to choose from.

To jump start the five-day event, a Fashion & Beauty Fundraising Gala will be hosted at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia on Monday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $80 can be purchased here or at LURE Salon. All proceeds will benefit the Hematology Research and Clinics Trails Unit for Leukemia & Lymphoma at VGH.

According to the VGH Foundation, approximately 2,000 new cases of blood diseases including leukemia are diagnosed each year in B.C. Support from donors has a direct impact on the lives of patients and families affected by blood cancers by enhancing the care of the Hematology unit, which provides research and care for patients.

Kimberly said her uncle is doing really well now, and although he is still in treatment, he is almost in the clear. And with this year’s event, she is not associating a dollar amount to her goal.

“This is something I am passionate about and so thankful for. I am grateful for all the support,” she said.

For more information, visit Beautify Me Vancouver.

Connect with Yasmin on Twitter at @MissAdvanture.

Photo: LURE Salon Facebook

Photos Taken by Rob King

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