I was in the process of coming up with ideas for content creation and I thought it might be fun to look at all of the different methods for creating pin curls that I have at my disposal. I have a number of vintage publications, some authentic, some reproductions, but all are fascinating. Four of them had pin curl specific instructions. And every one of them is a little different in the descriptions of how to make them. I chose to record a video of me not only looking at these books, but also trying out the pin curl techniques.
The first book I looked at is a reproduction merely titled: 1940's Hairstyles You Can Do. It is a small book with few pages. I found the most interesting of the instructions in this one. It directed me, in the instance of using a hair pin(rather than a bobby pin), to 'stitch' the hairpin through the center of the curl. I have honestly never heard this instruction before. I am more accustomed to using two hair pins and making an "X" to secure the curl
Hairstyle Design, a reproduction originally published in 1946, had slightly more familiar instructions for creating a curl. It did not, however, have any word about how to actually pin the curl. This was a textbook aimed at the beauty school student. There is so much more than just styling. There is information about cutting and caring for hair along with the styling section.
I worked through the sculpture curl section in Creative Hairshaping & Hairstyling You Can Do by Ivan of Hollywood. This is another reproduction, originally published in 1947. Ivan of Hollywood created the Middy hairstyle that was very popular in its day. For the how-to on the sculpture curl, he makes sure to note that you start the curl from the base out to the ends, rather than starting at the end and rolling up to the base. This was a curl type that was more used with permed hair. It was already curled, it just needed direction.
Finally, I got to Miss Ingerid. From her book, Ingerid's Alphabet of Curls, published in 1962. This is a book that I have the original. I would like to have more of these books from Miss Ingerid's school. This is a focused book for teaching foundational techniques for very specific types of curls. I modified to show that I mostly use her techniques when I create pin curls. I like how she demonstrates and how much she encourages practice until you can whip out a lot of curls in a very short amount of time.
I am pleasantly satisfied with this little excursion. Please let me know what you think about the topic. Is it worthwhile to practice pin curls? Would you wear a pin curl style? I would love to hear from you.
