Roller Set Question - Am I doing this right? Pics Posted - No Bueno

All,

I've been attempting some roller sets (my Avi is one I did earlier this year) but my curls are having no staying power. I have to do the style (and sleep with rollers in my head) every night to maintain. Pretty please review my routine for this and let me know where I may be going wrong.

1. Wash and condition hair
2. Blow dry hair until it's about 90% dry (my hair is fine and on the thin side, so I do this to achieve volume). This last roller set, I applied Taliah Wajiid's The Great Detangler as a leave-in.
3. Once my hair is stretched out, I finger part (I try to follow the way the hair is going) and apply a little coconut oil and setting lotion to each section of hair.


My hair is very soft and nothing I seme to put on it gives the curls any hold. I end up with very wispy, fluffy hair that only seems to curl at the ends. I've seen on here where people use gel - are you applying this the length of your hair?

I would trying setting on wet hair or more damp than 90% and not blow dry. Also gel will make this set last longer especially if you choose to do it on damp hair instead off wet. Wet hair sets better. When I use gel to set my hair in whatever style, I put it on all of my hair, where else would you put it???

But I hope this helps.

Thanks Hazel. I guess I feel I get more volume with my hair being dry, but I'll give a wet set a try.

As for the gel, I didn't know if people were only using it at the tip of their hair or using that in place of setting lotion, etc...

I would try wet hair as well and a little gel on all the hair not just the end....you want the hold on the whole curl.

Ok. Wet set tonight it is! I'm a little worried about using gel, I will admit, but oh well - I asked for advice so I'm going to heed it.

After I do my sets, I usually fluff my hair out and pin it up on the sides. When using gel, will the curls be tighter and I won't be able to fluff? Also, when using gel, do you still need a setting lotion? I'm thinking a leave-in, the gel and then something to seal - is that right?

After I do my sets, I usually fluff my hair out and pin it up on the sides. When using gel, will the curls be tighter and I won't be able to fluff? Also, when using gel, do you still need a setting lotion? I'm thinking a leave-in, the gel and then something to seal - is that right?

Remember you don't have to use product on all of your hair. You can skip the sections that you are going to pin up. Just a suggestion.

BlakButterfli wrote:Ok. Wet set tonight it is! I'm a little worried about using gel, I will admit, but oh well - I asked for advice so I'm going to heed it.

After I do my sets, I usually fluff my hair out and pin it up on the sides. When using gel, will the curls be tighter and I won't be able to fluff? Also, when using gel, do you still need a setting lotion? I'm thinking a leave-in, the gel and then something to seal - is that right?

Well what if you do minimal gel with something oil based so you will be able to manipulate the hair some?

I remember from my relaxed days I wore "The Clair Huxtable" roller set....it was my go to weekly do and I used to have them set it hard and let the curls fall with a little oil sheen. So maybe putting oil before and after the gel drys will help a little?

Now you have me wanting to roller set mine....maybe I'll do it tomorrow and let you know what worked!

EMarie wrote:

BlakButterfli wrote:Ok. Wet set tonight it is! I'm a little worried about using gel, I will admit, but oh well - I asked for advice so I'm going to heed it.

After I do my sets, I usually fluff my hair out and pin it up on the sides. When using gel, will the curls be tighter and I won't be able to fluff? Also, when using gel, do you still need a setting lotion? I'm thinking a leave-in, the gel and then something to seal - is that right?

Well what if you do minimal gel with something oil based so you will be able to manipulate the hair some?

I remember from my relaxed days I wore "The Clair Huxtable" roller set....it was my go to weekly do and I used to have them set it hard and let the curls fall with a little oil sheen. So maybe putting oil before and after the gel drys will help a little?

Now you have me wanting to roller set mine....maybe I'll do it tomorrow and let you know what worked!

lol - Sorry, I didn't mean to get the roller set ghost to kick you! lol @ The Clair Huxtable roller set. I think I'm going to put some of my DB Madagascar Vanilla Styling Cream on BEFORE I use the gel and then I'll seal with shea butter.

I want to see pics of your new Clair Huxtable!

@BlakButterfli Let me know how the DB Madagascar VSC works.

BlakButterfli wrote:

EMarie wrote:

BlakButterfli wrote:Ok. Wet set tonight it is! I'm a little worried about using gel, I will admit, but oh well - I asked for advice so I'm going to heed it.

After I do my sets, I usually fluff my hair out and pin it up on the sides. When using gel, will the curls be tighter and I won't be able to fluff? Also, when using gel, do you still need a setting lotion? I'm thinking a leave-in, the gel and then something to seal - is that right?

Well what if you do minimal gel with something oil based so you will be able to manipulate the hair some?

I remember from my relaxed days I wore "The Clair Huxtable" roller set....it was my go to weekly do and I used to have them set it hard and let the curls fall with a little oil sheen. So maybe putting oil before and after the gel drys will help a little?

Now you have me wanting to roller set mine....maybe I'll do it tomorrow and let you know what worked!

lol - Sorry, I didn't mean to get the roller set ghost to kick you! lol @ The Clair Huxtable roller set. I think I'm going to put some of my DB Madagascar Vanilla Styling Cream on BEFORE I use the gel and then I'll seal with shea butter.

I want to see pics of your new Clair Huxtable!

LOL....Im going to attempt it today if I find the time otherwise it will have to be Sunday! I will definitely post a pic for you! LOL

So...I tried the rollerset with gel. Epic fail for me.

I washed my hair and while it was still fairly wet, I sectioned off pieces with my fingers. I applied Taliah Wajeed's the Great Detangler as a leave in ad to detangle my hair. After that, I parted my hair with my fingers and applied Darcy's Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Cream to each section, followed by Eco Stylers Olive Oil Gel. I then sealed with the vanilla cream again and rolled my hair.

Now, I have VERY soft and fine hair. Normally when I apply Eco Styler, it clumps very well and defines my curls and that's exactly what it did last night. I ended up rolling clumped coils/curls on my rollers. After I rolled my entire head, I used my hand dryer for about 30 minutes (I don't have a hood dryer) and applied the heat all over my head to dry.

This morning, I had these itty bitty little rolled curls - but still no hold. It's like the softness of my hair refuses to hold ANY kind of curl, even with gel. I started to pull apart the curls and I just ended up with a semi-frizzy/semi curly/coily little fro.

Headband city this morning.

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Updated with pics

BlakButterfli wrote:Updated with pics

Well its still cute....I know it wasnt what you were looking for!

Im going to mess with mine tonight.....I think Im going to get a wrapping and setting lotion....guess we'll see.

lol - Thanks EMarie. I feel it looks an EXTRA hot mess, but thanks again!

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My hair is just so soft and won't hold a curl. I think I will try the Crinkles and Curls setting lotion I have from Taliah Wajeed and see what it does in combination with her The Great Detangler.

Fierce Fridays today showcases a young lady with a BEAUTIFUL roller set and I just want to get to THAT level. Hair frustration is setting in, sadly.

BlakButterfli wrote:lol - Thanks EMarie. I feel it looks an EXTRA hot mess, but thanks again!

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My hair is just so soft and won't hold a curl. I think I will try the Crinkles and Curls setting lotion I have from Taliah Wajeed and see what it does in combination with her The Great Detangler.

Fierce Fridays today showcases a young lady with a BEAUTIFUL roller set and I just want to get to THAT level. Hair frustration is setting in, sadly.

I have fine hair also, so I understand what you are going through. IMO You are using too much cream/moisture, because the same thing happened to me. If you are going to use gel, then seal with a light oil and not cream. If you are not going to use gel, then use very little of the cream and seal with a light oil.
HTH

Thanks Naturally Esq. I'm going to try another set tomorrow night and see what happens. I have coconut oil and will try it with that and gel.

Don't get hair woes you'll work it out.

BlakButterfli wrote:lol - Thanks EMarie. I feel it looks an EXTRA hot mess, but thanks again!

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My hair is just so soft and won't hold a curl. I think I will try the Crinkles and Curls setting lotion I have from Taliah Wajeed and see what it does in combination with her The Great Detangler.

Fierce Fridays today showcases a young lady with a BEAUTIFUL roller set and I just want to get to THAT level. Hair frustration is setting in, sadly.

I saw her pic and want to a roller set just because. I think the key is heat and stretching your hair out when rolling it. Nikki had a setting lotion recipe that a few folks tested and liked. Let me see if I can find it for you!

This is Nikki's
http://www.curlynikki.com/2009/11/trying-out-new-product-combination.html


This is Tia's
http://tiashauntee.blogspot.com/2009/11/mixtress-works-holding-cream.html

I am sure one of them will help!

Ok, so I roller set my hair this morning. I had to go to Sally's and get the rollers with the plastic covers because me and the roller clips just weren't seeing eye to eye.

I used KBB Hair Nectar and Giovanni's Vitapro Fusion (as leave in's and a heat protector) and then Giovanni's Natural Mousse Hair Styling Foam to hold the curl.

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I think Im going to roll it in a different direction next time so I can hide more of the roots because they just wont lay down!!

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The finished product with a little Olive Oil and Coconut oil rubbed all thru the hair!

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Good job! I also use Giovanni's Natural Mousse Hair Styling Foam.

Naturally Esq wrote:Good job! I also use Giovanni's Natural Mousse Hair Styling Foam.

Thanks!!

I came across it in Walmart and figured it would be good to roller set....I actually did a wash and go with it yesterday when I had to go buy rollers.....a little frizzy but no crunch....I like it!

I reduced the frizzies by applying it over GDLI and a little castor oil. No crunch AND no white build up. Love it.

I feel like you are doing to much, and in the wrong order. Here's what you should do:
-wash hair
-add leave-in
-seal in moisture with some type of oil
-add your holding product like a gel or setting lotion/foam
-roll hair
-let dry [i recommend the dryer because it sets the hair better]
you sealing again after the holding product just counteracts the holding power.

I have no idea what look you're going for but I did a rollerset on my DD's hair (for the first time ever!) last Thanksgiving. I will have to find pics for you but I knew we wouldn't be using any heat so I just did it on stretched hair. I used large rollers and use shea butter/coconut oil mix and ORS lock & twist gel. It came out cute. Definitely needed a different product though. I can't imagine trying it on her wet hair though, lol. I don't think it would look like a rollerset.

Off to find some pics...