How to Find Your Perfect Curling Method

'Vintage Curls' can take on many different shapes and forms, and can be achieved through a variety of methods. 

There is no one method that rules over all, as everyone's hair is unique and will respond to methods differently. Your hair may even respond to certain methods differently depending on the weather, your hair length and hair health. 

So, what is a 'curl method'? It is the techniques and conditions from which you create vintage inspired curls. 

The two main conditional categories are Wet and Heat curls. The techniques include the tools used to create the curl - pin curls, sponge rollers, hot tong etc. 

Perhaps you have experimented a little with creating vintage curls and used a couple of methods with varying success. Maybe you were encouraged by the results or maybe your curls left you underwhelmed. It is important to consider that hair manipulation is a little bit of a science and the only way to produce accurate and predictable results is to conduct multiple experiments using varying parameters in order to create your own comparative analysis on what methods and techniques work best in your hair to create the vintage curls you desire. 

To demonstrate how methods can change the types of curls you can create, I did a full comparison of 9 different methods in the online curl sets course 'Your Perfect Curl'. I used a mixture of heat and overnight (wet and dry) sets, as you can see from the images below, each created their own unique curl spiral ringlet and finished brush out style, even though they were all using the same techniques, products and similar curl size. In the online course you can see the video of how I set and brushed out each of the methods, and also a video comparison of all of the methods and the resulting curls.

For the sake of this blog, see below video snapshots for comparison and demonstration on my hair when it is cut into a modified middy haircut:

Dry Pin Curls: dry hair dampened with Setting Solution, set into pin curls and allowed to dry overnight ~12 hours. Curls last 2 days. 

Wet Pin Curls: towel dried hair with Setting Solution, set into pin curls, and allowed to dry for ~24 hours. Curls last about 2-3 days. 

Dry Sponge Rollers: dry hair dampened with Setting Solution, rolled with sponge rollers and allowed to dry overnight. Curls last 3 days. 

Wet Sponge Rollers: towel dried hair with Setting Solution, rolled with sponge rollers, and allowed to dry for ~24 hours. Curls last about 4-5 days. 

Dry Pillow Rollers: dry hair dampened with Setting Solution, rolled with pillow rollers and allowed to dry overnight. Curls last about 10 hours before significantly dropping. 

Dry Flexi Rods: dry hair dampened with Setting Solution, rolled with flexi rods and allowed to dry overnight. Curls last about 6 hours before significantly dropping. 

Wet Velcro Rollers: towel dried hair with Setting Solution, dried under warm to hot hood drier for 1.5 hours. Curls last 2 days. 

Hot Tong: dry hair with setting solution, set into pin curls using 19mm heated curling wand, allowed to cool for ~30 mins. Curls last about 4 hours before significantly dropping. 

Hot Rollers: dry hair with setting solution, rolled with hot rollers, allowed to cool for ~30 mins. Curls last about 2 hours before significantly dropping. 

 

As you can see, each of the methods produces their own type of curl and final brushed out style. There are also pros and cons for each of the methods and techniques.

By allowing myself the time and determination to experiment with curl sets, I personally go between multiple methods depending on the weather, my hair length, hair health, time constraints and style longevity. Additionally, as I have documented and kept track of my curl sets, I am able to set my hair knowing with relative predictability what type of curl style my hair will be at the end (or the next day as with overnight sets). 

Have you given yourself the grace to experiment, have fun and 'muck around' with different curl set methods? You can download some free curl sets resources that will help you further experiment and keep track of your curl set results. And before you know it, you will be confidently setting your hair and creating beautiful classic curls. 

Renae xo