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A wet set is a method of curling your hair by applying rollers when your hair is wet and allowing the hair to dry with the rollers in it. The resulting hairstyle retains its curl and is easily undone with water. Curling your hair using a wet set rather than heat causes less damage to your hair, lasts longer, and costs less.
Steps
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Shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would. Massage shampoo and once you have rinsed it out, conditioner throughout your hair, from your scalp to the ends. Use a natural shampoo and conditioner if possible, as this promotes a healthy scalp and hair. [1] X Research source- Use a silicone free conditioner, as this won’t weigh your hair down and will keep it bouncy. The silicone in many conditioners is added to make your hair shiny, however this also makes it difficult for the curls to hold.
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Towel dry your hair until it's damp but not soaked. After your get out of the shower, squeeze the water out of your hair with a towel. You want your hair to remain damp, but you don't want it dripping water. Be careful not to over-dry your hair or you won't achieve tight curls. [2] X Research source
- Don't use heat to dry your hair at this stage, as it still needs to be damp for curling.
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Use a mousse for a lighter hold. Run the mousse through the length of your hair. Mousse is ideal for wet set hair rollers because it doesn’t weigh your hair down, but it will hold the curls. [3] X Research source
- Mousse will hold the curls more lightly than a setting lotion. This will create more relaxed, casual, and sleek waves.
- Styling foams like mousse also don’t keep your hair wet for too long.
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Spray on a setting lotion instead for vintage curls. Setting lotion has been used since the 1940s to create wet set hair curls. Simply spray your hair from root to tip, with enough setting lotion to lightly cover each part.
- If you are aiming for glamorous curls with volume, then vintage curls will be what you are after. Vintage curls are a classic old Hollywood look, and are all about bounce and fullness.
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Use hair clips to separate your hair into sections. Gather each section into a tidy twist, and place the bottom prong of the clip against your scalp, and the top in the middle of the curl. This lets you neatly put the rollers into each section of your hair, giving you curls that both look and hold better. [4] X Research source
- There should be around 4 sections overall, depending on how much hair you have. This keeps the rest of your hair out of the way while you focus on putting rollers into 1 section at a time.
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Put two to three rollers along your front hairline. Comb a section of hair as wide as the roller forward over your face. Hold the hair between your fingers up at a 90° angle to your head, so straight into the air. Wrap the ends of your hair over the roller, and roll the section to meet the base of your head. [5] X Research source
- Make sure you are rolling the way you wish your hair to curl.
- The number of rollers you that you use depends on the amount of hair, and the number of individual curling sections. The more hair you are rolling, or the more individual sections you want, the more rollers you will need.
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Secure the roller to your scalp with a clip. You can use either the clip which is attached to the roller if it has one, a bobby pin, or a double-prong metal hair clip. This will hold the roller in place while your hair settles into the curl.
- You can secure the roller using the clip if it has one by pushing the clip towards the roller firmly.
- A bobby pin or double-prong metal hair clip can be used by placing 1 prong within the center of the roller, and the other between the roller and your scalp.
- The rollers should be firm and secure enough to not move or feel loose, but shouldn't be so tight that they hurt your scalp.
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Put the rollers into the rest of your hair. This is exactly the same as rolling your front hairline. Wrap your hair ends over the roller and roll it towards your scalp. [6] X Research source
- Make sure the rollers are firm at the base, but are not so tight that they pinch.
- For a fuller look, stick with the 90° angle for the rollers. However if you are wanting less volume, try a 45° angle to your scalp.
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Spray each section with setting lotion again after it has been rolled. This will give your curls a better hold, and they will be defined for longer. Cup each roller in your hand to make sure that the setting lotion will reach it, and spritz once or twice. [7] X Research source
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Let your hair fully dry. You can either let your hair dry naturally, or use a hairdryer on a low heat. The amount of time it takes to dry your hair will depend on the thickness, length, product used, and how wet it was to begin with.
- Always leave the rollers in until your hair is fully dry, and never remove them earlier.
- If you choose to air dry, make sure that your curls are fully cool before removing the rollers. [8] X Research source Since it will take several hours for your hair to fully dry when air drying, it's best to sleep on them overnight. You can cover your hair with a silk sleeping cap to help keep it tangle-free, if you'd like.
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Remove the hair rollers 1 at a time. Unclip each roller, and then unwind each gently, in any order. Make sure not to tug or pull at your curls.
- If a roller is a bit stubborn, hold it out and away from your scalp. Then you can twist the roller clockwise to free it from your hair. [9] X Research source
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Use your fingers or a brush to style the curls. For tight, sleek curls, use your fingers to gently break them up. If you want a lot of volume, brush through each defined, main curl of your hair, with the bristles turned into your head rather than away from, and brush from front to back. This ensures that the brush gets all the way to the ends of your hair, creating smoother and more controlled curls. [10] X Research source
- Always use a brush rather than a comb, as plastic combs create static and frizz.
- If your hair is naturally frizzy, it's better to use your fingers.
- When you first take out the rollers and do the first brush strokes, don’t worry if you hair looks a bit crazy and clown-like! The more brush strokes you do, the more your curls will settle into sleek waves.
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Set your curls with hairspray. This will help to hold your curls in place over the next few days. Choose a quality hairspray to hold and moisturize the curls, as a cheap one may make the curls stiff and dry your hair out. [11] X Research source
- Be careful not to apply too much hairspray, as this can stifle the curls and lessen their bounce and swing.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I sleep in rollers?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.If you want to sleep in your rollers, it's best to choose a mesh or foam roller, which will be more comfortable. Once the rollers are in your hair, wrap a silk head wrap around them or put on a silk sleeping cap. This can help you sleep comfortably in the rollers.
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QuestionHow can I use hair rollers in dry hair and how is hair setting spray used?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.You can use the same steps provided above, but skip the section about shampooing your hair since it's already dry. After you take out the rollers, spritz setting spray onto your curls to help them last longer.
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QuestionWhen setting the rollers, do I use a spritz or a mousse?Ollie HeffernonCommunity AnswerI would recommend mousse as it doesn't dry as fast. The mousse will also reduce the risk of your hair feeling crispy afterwards.
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Tips
- You can buy hair rollers at a beauty supply store. Choose a roller that is a good counterpart for your hair length. You want your hair strands to wrap around the rollers at least 3 times for good curls.Thanks
- You might need to utilize rollers of different sizes depending on the length of your hair and whether you have bangs, layers, etc.Thanks
- If you have never used hair rollers before, use a mesh roller. Smooth plastic rollers produce the best curls, but they are the most difficult to manipulate.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Gel
- Mousse
- Setting lotion
- Hair rollers
- Hair clips
- Hairdryer
- Brush
References
- ↑ http://www.vintagecurrent.com.au/2015/09/14/what-is-a-wet-set/
- ↑ https://www.allure.com/story/five-major-hair-curling-mistakes
- ↑ https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/home/6-reasons-your-roller-sets-are-busted
- ↑ https://helloglow.co/3-ways-to-curl-your-hair-without-heat/
- ↑ http://bygumbygolly.com/2013/08/fast-basic-roller-set-everyday-vintage-hair/
- ↑ http://bygumbygolly.com/2013/08/fast-basic-roller-set-everyday-vintage-hair/
- ↑ http://bygumbygolly.com/2013/08/fast-basic-roller-set-everyday-vintage-hair/
- ↑ https://www.allure.com/story/five-major-hair-curling-mistakes
- ↑ http://bygumbygolly.com/2013/08/fast-basic-roller-set-everyday-vintage-hair/
About This Article
Article Summary
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Setting your wet hair with rollers is a great way to create lasting curls without heat damage. Start by shampooing and conditioning your hair as you normally would. Once you’re out of the shower, towel dry your hair until its damp. Run a pump of mousse through your hair, which will help hold the curls. Before you put the rollers in, use hair clips to separate your hair into 4 sections. Take 1 section and comb the hair as wide as your roller. Then, wrap the ends of your hair over the roller and roll the section up to the base of your head. Use the clip attached to the roller or a bobby pin to secure the roller in place. Repeat this process for the rest of your hair. Once your hair is completely dry, unclip each roller and gently unwind it. To learn how to use a hairdryer to help your curls set faster, read more from our Cosmetology co-author!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I tried wet-setting my hair several times with disastrous results, then I read this article. This highly-informative tutorial set me straight. Two points really helped the most: spraying each section with setting lotion again after it is rolled, and leaving the rollers in until my hair was fully dry (I was taking them out too soon!). Now my curls turn our wonderfully and they last a long time, thank you so much!" ..." more
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"I tried wet-setting my hair several times with disastrous results, then I read this article. This highly-informative tutorial set me straight. Two points really helped the most: spraying each section with setting lotion again after it is rolled, and leaving the rollers in until my hair was fully dry (I was taking them out too soon!). Now my curls turn our wonderfully and they last a long time, thank you so much!"
..."
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