Hair Glossary

A Marcel Wave is a hair wave designed to mimic a perfect natural wave which is produced by means of a heated iron. The Marcel Wave was originated by Francois Marcel who was a renowned French Hairdresser. The Marcel Wave was named after he invented the wave. Marcel Waves requires the use of a very hot iron which can burn or damage hair. The heat of the iron is tested on a piece of white paper by dropping water on the paper to determine if the Marcel waver is the right temperature to create the proper wave.

Marcel Waving iron can be much more damaging on very fine hair than on coarse hair and thus requires less heat. There is also danger of blonde and white hair becoming discolored by irons if they are too hot. Marcel Waves can be carrying completely around the head in one continuous wave or it can be dropped. Dropping a Marcel wave means that it's discontinued. Instead of carrying the wave completely around the head the hair is parted on one side so that there are more waves on one side of the head then on the other side of the head.