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How to Make Victory Rolls: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Pin-Up Look By "Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies" Star Jessica Sherr

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Ever wondered how to get that retro look from the 1940s? Jessica Sherr, the writer and star behind the one-woman show Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies — premiering August 12th, 2011 as part of the New York Fringe Festival — shows us how to create the infamous Victory Roll look inspired by 1940s pin-up girls.


Jessica Sherr's Before Look

What you will need for this look is: a curling iron, round brush, heavy duty hairspray, mousse, bobby pins, and hair cream.

Step 1 — Curl your all your hair with a curling iron in sections. Jessica uses a regular curling iron to create a wavy look.

Step 2 — In a motion from the bottom up, use a light mousse on your hair to create a more malleable effect. Don't worry about buying a strong mousse for this step because it is mainly used to condition your hair for the next step.

Step 3 — Part your hair with a round brush to the side and not directly to the middle. Use your hand as a guide!

Step 4 — Pull hair into a pony tail to get it out of the way. This process makes the teasing process (next step) much easier.

Step 5 — Tease your hair. Although this process may be damaging for most hair types, deep conditioning can help reverse the damage caused. Starting from the back to the front, teasing is a technique used to volumize one's hair through an "in and out" motion with a comb while holding the hair tightly. In order to create as much volume as possible, separate your hair into parts to make this process more manageable.

Step 6 — V is for Victory Curls! Starting with a roll and a slight tuck, begin your roll from the back and move slowly towards the front to get that vintage look.

Step 7 — Fasten your curls with bobby pins and use a little hairspray to hold your look. This is an extremely important steps because it allows the curls on one side to hold as you concentrate on the next step.

Step 8 — Repeat V-curls on the other side. Finish the look off with more pins and hairspray.

Step 9 — Spray the whole look with heavy-duty hairspray. Hairspray is definitely your friend for this style.

Step 10 — Curl ends with a round brush to clean up the hair style. Use a small portion of hair cream to clean up with a shine.

Voila and here is the finished look!

Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies is a one-woman show starring Jessica Sherr. Also written by Jessica, this show is featured by the 15th Annua New York International Fringe Festival. Tickets can be purchased here and will play from August 12th, 2011 to August 28th, 2011. —Photos and reporting by David Chen
· Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies [Official Site]