THE “WAVE CUT”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1938, Page 8

THE “WAVE CUT”

AN EXPERT’S CRITICISM. Mr John B. Lohle, the well known hair expert, commenting on the new Christy hair wave, discusses the whole question of tapering, together with its possibilties and limitations. Readers will find much food for thought together with valuable hints in connection with tapering and the permanent wave. Great publicity has recently been given by the Press to a hail’ cut patented in America by a hairdresser of Parkers Landing, Pennsylvania. His invention is claimed to produce “a life-time wave from one cut,” Mr Lohle states. These Press comments have caused a “tempest” in professional circles throughout the world, and as I see it the storm centres around two points (a) that Mr Christy’s claims are ridiculous, and (b) that others have been doing the same thing for years. Briefly, the claimant says that he can put a lasting wave into any head of hair, be it thick, long or lank, without the use of lotions, irons or any mechanical device. The hair is supposedly cut in grooves whereby the remaining hair, in a wet state, is combed over the grooves formed by the cutting and this is supposed to form waves. In other words, it is a distortion by cutting the growing hdir to enable a form of wave or movement to be imparted. Having carefully studied the claims, the writer, as well as many other Eugene Wavers, is .at a loss to understand how it is possible to obtain neat, clean waves by merely cutting perfectly smooth or straight hair according to this method. All our theories and practical experience is opposed to what Mr Christy has claimed to have achieved. We know, of course, that it is quite possible to show naturally wavy hair to better advantage by cutting the hair short and with judicious tapering, but to produce a permanent wave upon straight hair is only possible by physical changes brought about in the hair structure with the aid of chemicals and steam. To be able to produce this effect by cutting does not seem possible, and even if the claim should be substantiated, what would happen to hair that is hard and bristly? This would certainly always require a ■ special and permanent treatment to make it soft and pliable. What is the obvious disadvantage of such a hair cut? It would limit one entirely to the same shape of design and dressing. A fundamental change of hair style would only be possible after a considerable time by allowing the grooved hair to grow. What then of the hair when growing? The points would, without question, protrude through the long hair and present a very unsightly effect. We would have nothing but smooth points of hair, and with the demand and present vogue for curls this does not seem at all possible. Therefore, a wave which will last a life-time by the groove cut seems to the clear thinking hairdresser, a gross exaggeration, because in this way the hair does not become transformed into curls, which, as we all know, is the basis of all waving. “If this ‘wave-cut’ does nothing else but bring home to the women of all countries the necessity for tapering hair in readiness for permanent waving and perfection of hair styling, at least something has been achieved; but I cannot foresee the scissors taking the place of the machine. Each strong minded and clear thinking hairdresser will agree in this,” writes Mr -Lohle.