Curl Hair with Foam Rollers
Hair that’s curly, bouncy and attention-getting is surprisingly easy to achieve with foam rollers. Using these spongy cylinders can help create a signature mane attraction, or amp up the glam factor for special occasions. It also gives your locks a healthy break from hot rollers or the curling iron.
Contents
Steps
Preparing your hair
- Shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Do this around bedtime so that there will be plenty of time overnight for the wrapped tresses to dry completely.
- You know what works or your hair the best, so use whatever conditioner, oil, cream, and other products for your hair, as needed.
- Towel dry your hair. If necessary, use a detangling spray before combing or brushing out any tangles.
- Comb your hair with a wide tooth comb only, so as not to break the hair or split the ends.
- Blow (or air) dry with care, until your hair loses about half of its moisture. You want it damp enough to style, yet not so wet that it can’t dry out and hold its curls.
Adding the foam rollers
- Roll the bangs first. Prep them with a quarter-size spritz of setting lotion or mousse. Place the product on your fingertips and run it through the length of the bangs. Position a roller under the bangs, about two inches from the tips. This should give you enough hair to wind around once and catch in the roller. Continue wrapping till it touches the scalp. Get as tight a wrap as possible to prevent hair from loosening while you sleep.
- Divide the rest of your hair into five sections: top, sides and two in the back. Keep them separated with claw clips.
- Start rolling the top section. Try to make even rows, using large foam rollers. Section the hair roughly the width of the roller; the amount depends on how many curls you want. Prep with more setting lotion or mousse, making sure you coat the entire length of hair for each roller.
- For ringlets, position rollers vertically as you wind the hair inward. For fuller, softer curls, position the rollers horizontally.
- Roll hair on the sides, then the back of your head. Switch to medium or small rollers as you get closer to your neck.
- Prevent outer curls from getting unsightly top crimps or dents. These come from the impression in the hair left by the plastic clasp or closure on the foam roller. To keep this from happening, gently reposition the clasp from the top of the curl to the bottom after the roller has been fastened. Anchor the closure with either an aluminum duckbill clip or a bobby pin.
Removing the foam curlers
- In the morning, unsnap each roller and gently remove it. For a carefree, tousled look, lightly run your fingers through your hair, just enough to loosen the curls. If you must use a hairbrush, just touch up the ends of each curl.
- If desired, use hairspray to set your fabulous new ’do!
- Check your look in the mirror, then you're all set.
Tips
- The larger the roller and the more hair you place in it, the softer the curl will be. Likewise, a smaller roller/hair section will result in tighter curls.
- If your hair dries fast, lightly spritz the individual hair sections with water before prepping and wrapping them in foam rollers.
- To help keep rollers in place at night, tie a kerchief or bandana around them.
- If you’ve got frizzy hair, apply anti-frizz serum or spray right after you towel dry your locks.
- You can also twist the hair before wrapping it on the foam roller for a more spiral look.
- Make sure to put in styling spray before you roll up your hair in foam rollers so that when you take them out they last longer.
- As soon as you take the curlers out wrap the curl around you hair and go over it slowly with a brush. Then blow dry your hair and add hairspray.
- Style anyway that works for you, whether it be a braid to the side, placed up in a sloppy curly ponytail, to the side, or even just plain down. Either way, your curls will look like it took hours to do.
- When you're done putting all the rollers in your hair blow dry it with the rollers in your hair then when you're done, spray hairspray on your hair.
- If you have thick hair, use hair spray so that the results last longer and have a fresher look.
Warnings
- When removing the rollers, go slow and easy. Don’t yank them or hair will get snagged on the foam. Worse, like stretching a spring, the curls won’t be as strong.
Things You'll Need
- Foam curlers; a 24-pack should do the trick for shoulder-length hair
- Anti-frizz serum or spray, if needed
- Styling lotion or mousse
- Styling comb
- Claw clips
- Duckbill clips or bobby pins
- Kerchief or bandana (optional)
- Hair spray (optional)
- Hairbrush (optional)
