Last week I was invited to Don’t Tell Mum, a retro inspired hair salon in Thornbury, for a lesson in retro and vintage hairstyles by the fabulous Lexi DeRock .

You would imagine having a name like Lexi DeRock would raise expectations and I was not disappointed. Lexi was very clever in the hair styling and makeup departments, a highly skilled teacher, AND she has spent copious amounts of time in Paris. Amazing, no?

Originally from America, Lexi has spent time in the city of love, honing her craft in all things hair, beauty and fashion, before coming down to Melbourne and working with Don’t Tell Mum. The salon is decked out with a car (yes, A CAR), hair accessories, clothing and all things 50s, 60s and 70’s.

After checking out the store, it was time for our lesson to begin and I was perched in front of the mirror, ready to rock and roll. Having decided on a 50s style (this is one of my fave era’s of fashion!), we planned on doing pin curls at the front of my head – 3 in fact – which is the easiest way to start out when you are learning (just in case they don’t match!)

Now, I will confess, I thought the whole thing would be easy. I thought I was pretty savvy in the hair styling stakes but it turns out I was a little bit wrong. While it’s not hard per se, it certainly will take some practice. We started with curling using a flat iron (to create body), then sectioned and backcombed and prepped for the curls.

And this is where it got complicated. I had to twist and contort my wrist to get the angles of the curls right, then pin and tuck the curls without squashing them. I think we did this about a dozen times. (And I thought I was a quick learner!!)

But while I felt I wasn’t getting it, Lexi assured me I was picking up the technique rather quickly. Sooner, rather than later, I had three barrel curls atop my head and was looking every bit the vintage pin up – minus the make up and the outfit.

Lexi gave me a copy of her book, Decades of Style, so that I might take a step by step guide home to further practice my skills and hone my technique, including make up stylings! You can pick it up at The Vintage Garage and Sixties & Seventies, both vintage stores located on Smith St Fitzroy, on online.

Check out this fab video put together by Jennifer Estrada (on an iphone 3 no less – talented girl!) and visit Lexi at the Don’t Tell Mum salon in Thornbury before she jumps on a plane back to Paris next month and you miss your chance to learn from a pro.  She will return at the end of June though, so use your forward planner if you are busy til then. Don’t Tell Mum are also a full service salon (with a retro twist) so if you are in the area, so stop by!

Thanks to Lexi and Tracy for having me at the salon and teaching me the tricks of the trade!