How to Create a Disco Diva Hairstyle
Continuing in the theme of Halloween hairstyles, I’ve decided to demonstrate how easily you can get a super-curly look without having to been born with it or making a permanent commitment. Of course, while the inspiration for this was the Disco era and the Afro-centric looks of many disco divas of the 70s, this look would also work for other costume inspirations.
A redhead could use this to create a perfect "Little Orphan Annie," and add some clown makeup and brightly colored temporary spray, and you can make a clown look without resorting to an irritating wig. The possibilities are pretty varied, so think about what you want and if a super-curly style would make your look complete, we’ve got the techniques to help you make it happen.
• Freshly washed and conditioned hair
• Setting lotion or firm-hold mousse
• Small-to-medium sized perm rods
• End papers for perm wrapping
• Tail comb
• Spray bottle with water
• Wide-toothed comb or pick
Hair Length:
The ideal hair length for this particular style is five to six inches, with the hair cut into a layered style – ideally a uniformly layered or circle cut. However, due to the nature of the style and the poof-ball effect of the curls, you can usually hide some variance in lengths by fluffing out the areas that are shorter and leaving the longer areas more tightly coiled.
The only time that length will be a real problem is when the hair is extremely long (in excess of eight to ten inches). This can often be alleviated by using a stronger styling product, but it will require more effort to fluff it out properly and get the look you want. For individuals with very long hair who want the puffed-out look, I typically suggest pulling the curled hair back into a ponytail at the crown, or into separate pigtails at the sides of the head and fluffing the hair into puffballs in those positions.
How-To:
The process is really simple: after you shampoo and condition your hair, and rinse as directed, you towel-dry the hair and apply a generous amount of your preferred setting product. Comb the product through the hair to distribute it evenly, and then you wrap the hair on perm rods just as you would for perming the hair.
This is where your tail comb comes in. The fine-toothed comb part is perfect for smoothing the hair and distributing the styling product, and the tail gives you a thin "finger" with which to separate the strands of hair to wrap on the perm rods.
You can use any wrapping technique you like as long as it uses the croquignole method. For our demonstration, we used the standard perm wrap: a column of rods from crown to front in the top section, a column of rods from crown to nape in the center back, and the sides divided into even halves with side-by-side columns.
Most women, unless they are well-practiced at rolling their hair or perform self-perms regularly, will probably need to enlist the aid of a friend for this. Consider taking turns doing this with a friend who also wants to get a disco diva look.
Once the hair is wrapped, it’s time to let it dry. You can leave the hair to dry on its own (generally taking a long time – probably overnight) or use a hooded or bonnet hairdryer to speed things up. If you do use a hairdryer, remember to let the curls cool completely before you try to take out the perm rods. Otherwise, you can stretch out the curls and loosen them, which could reduce the effect.
To fluff out the hair, use your wide-toothed comb or pick and start at the top of the head. Slide the teeth of the comb under the curls along the scalp and lift away from the head. Work in small sections with one or two curls at a time, and repeat the "insert and lift" action until the hair is stretched as far as you can get it or as far as you want it to go. Slowly incorporate new curls as you work your way around the scalp in a radial fashion.
If you want to keep a more "curled" look, stick to a very wide-toothed comb or pick; but if you like a fluffier look to your Afro, you can shift down to a less-wide-toothed comb. You’ll really want to make sure to slowly shift to a comb with narrower spacing between the teeth, since using a comb that is too fine to begin with can result in tangles and knots in the curls. Work your way down to smaller tooth spacing to avoid damage.
Once you’ve fluffed the curls out as much as you want them to be, take a moment and use your pick/comb to finish the shape of the style. Use the comb to lift areas that seem sunken in, and use your fingers (pressed together) to pat down areas that seem too fluffy. Once you have the shape you want, use a generous misting of hair spray to provide some extra hold.
Finishing Touches:
Finishing the style really makes everything come together. Consider adding some sparkle to your style by adding a spray of glitter-laden hair spray. Use a thin satin scarf to accent the style by tying it around the base of the hair along the perimeter. Tie it in a square knot at the temple for something funky, or at the nape for a chic finish. You can even tie it around the Afro at the forehead, like the classic Jimi Hendrix style.
Other options for dressing up your hairdo include using jeweled hairpins inserted into the hair, silk flowers pinned in place, and gold or silver cord (try looking for the elastic type sold in the ribbon aisle of your local craft store) wrapped loosely around the hair in random fashion to add some glitz and glamour.
Whatever you choose to do to make your look your own, be bold with it. The afro look was meant to show pride in oneself and to get noticed, so don’t sell the look short.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Disco look
Bride of Frankenstein for Halloween