1
Dry Shampoo And Volumizing Powder
After blow drying my hair, I always spray dry shampoo lightly throughout my roots. Particularly, on the crown of my head. This not only helps add texture and volume to that area, but (fun fact!) it also extends your blow out. Applying dry shampoo right after showering actually prevents oil buildup. It does wonders for making your hair last for 2-3 days before the next wash (which is optimal for healthy hair). You don’t want to wait until your hair is already super oily to start the dry shampoo process.
PSA: If you’re a brunette that’s frustrated with the light powder of dry shampoos showing up on your dark roots, check out this dry shampoo that’s designed specifically for darker hair colors!
In terms of laying a volume-optimized foundation for these classic voluminous curls, dry shampoo at the roots is my go-to starting point on a daily basis. However, when I’m really looking for extra volume for a special occasion or my hair just feels lifeless, I’ll also sprinkle volume powder lightly at the roots as well or this amazing volumizing product from Aveda. When using these products, remember two things: (1) a little goes a long way; and (2) you have to work the products into your hair and give them a little time to set. Don’t be discouraged if your hair feels sticky and weird immediately after you apply dry shampoo, for example. If you continue through the process, the products settle in and you’ll start to see results.
2
Volumizing Hairspray
After applying dry shampoo and volumizing powder at the roots of my hair, I lightly spray this hairspray throughout my hair. My absolute favorites hairsprays for this stage are this Spray & Play hairspray or Aveda’s Control Force if I really want well-defined curls. If I’m going for a looser, more casual look, I really love Aveda’s Air Control hairspray. After spraying the hairspray through my hair, I give it a second to dry. Then, completely brush out my hair again before using the hot rollers.
3
Hot Rollers
If you get the right hot rollers and give yourself a week or two to get used to using them, I promise you, you’ll never look back. My favorite sets are this Babyliss set and this set by T3. They both contain jumbo-sized rollers which is the most important thing in achieving modern, bouncy curls and avoiding anything in the Shirley Temple category, however, they both have some negatives, too. The Babyliss set comes in a large, somewhat cumbersome base (I call it the spaceship) which isn’t a big deal when using on a daily basis, but makes it more annoying to travel with. The T3 set has a much sleeker design and comes in a case that’s travels easily, but this set comes with plastic butterfly-style clamps rather than u-shaped clips which is an absolute dealbreaker (as discussed below). My solution? I bought these metal u-shaped clips on Amazon to use with the set instead.
But let’s take a step back and discuss the three main game-changer reasons I use hot rollers:
(1) THEY DON’T DAMAGE YOUR HAIR //
Hot rollers are much much better for your hair than a curling iron or flat iron. Since hot rollers sit in your hair for a longer period of time, they’re able to use a much lower heat temperature. Slowly curling and adding volume, instead of scorching.
(2) THEY’RE SO MUCH FASTER THAN OTHER CURLING TOOLS //
If you’ve never used hot rollers before, it will take a few times to get used to wrapping your hair around each roller. But after a bit of practice, I promise you will find that the entire process of doing your hair is INSANELY FAST. To achieve this look, it takes me about 7 minutes total to do my hair from start to finish. NOT KIDDING. Instead of the painstaking process of curling each 1-2 inch section of hair with a curling iron, I throw each section of hair into its respective roller (it takes me about 3-4 minutes for my entire head), do my makeup for 10-15 minutes while the rollers set. Then I pull out all of my rollers, brush/shake it out, and I’m done.
(3) THEY CREATE MUCH MORE VOLUME //
Since hot rollers aren’t ironing out your hair (and flattening the cuticle), you’ll find that they produce significantly more bounce and volume from root to tip. Achieve perfect classic voluminous curls.
A MAJOR DON’T: I have used hot rollers since I was in middle school, so trust me on this one: DO NOT buy hot rollers that come with plastic clamps (that look like large butterfly clips, as pictured in this article). Only buy hot rollers that come with metal clips or, alternatively, purchase these metal u-shaped pins on Amazon to use with any sets that come with butterfly-style clamps. In recent years, tons and tons of companies have been selling hot rollers with large plastic clamps because they think the average consumer will find them easier and more convenient to use than the skinny metal clips.
The downside? I guarantee you will have giant crimps in your hair from where the plastic clamp holds the roller in place. They’re virtually impossible to prevent with plastic clamps and I’ve found that this is the reason 99% of people think they hate hot rollers—because they have no idea that the crimps that they see throughout their hair after they take the rollers out are due to the crummy plastic clamps. Metal clips secure the rollers in a way that totally prevents any crimping effect.
TECHNIQUE TIPS: When using hot rollers you have two options: (1) You can roll horizontally from the bottom tips of your hair to your scalp; or (2) You can roll vertically, starting at your roots and wrapping your hair around the roller from there. I almost always use option one to create that bouncy, retro, classic voluminous curls, but if you want to achieve a more tousled, modern effect, you can also try the second technique.
4
More Volumizing Spray
After pulling the hot rollers out, I run my fingers through or lightly brush my hair and spray it all over with the same volumizing hairspray that was used in Step Two above. Et voilà!
Let me know if you have any questions below!!
44 thoughts on “How I Create Classic Voluminous Curls”
yasssss love your curls! My hair is finally growing out of its bob and so looking forward to trying this! x
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Make a video!!!
Your hair always looks flawless! Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks! 🙂
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Hi Mary! Your hair always looks great! What blow dryer do you use?
I use this blow dryer! : )
Great outfits! x
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Your curls are always amazing! I love how voluminous it is!
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Hi Mary – how do you secure the thin metal clips? Is there a tutorial you’d recommend? Most I have seen use the big butterfly looking clips. Thanks!
Love this! I definitely want to try that. I have thick hair so I spend over an hour sometimes curling my hair and it STILL doesn’t turn out the way I want it to. I’m all for quick & Easy so this sounds like the go to hack for me. Thanks for sharing!!
I have thick curly hair and hot rollers work wonders to give me tidy curls. Highly recommend them!
How do you use roller with curly hair? Do you blow dry t straight and then put the roller in?
I have straight hair, but according to my curly-haired friends, the answer is yes! They typically blow dry it straight (sometimes use a straightener as well) and then put in the hot rollers. : )
Thank you! I had a suspicion that hot rollers were the trick. With these product recommendations, I’ll try going back to them. Interesting tidbit about the butterfly clips. Also, Do you have enough of the 10 rollers per set? I have a lot of fine hair and I always seem to need a dozen or so.
I have really thick hair and these work great for me! But, when I do smaller sections of hair, I’ve thought about buying two sets of the Remington rollers so that I have more of them to use. That might be a good idea!
Do you use the Remington compact for travel and the BaByliss for at home use? Would you say there are equivalent and what is your thoughts on the BaByliss thermo-cermaic vs the titanium rollers?
Many thanks:)
Thank you so much for putting that on!
Finally, a chance for me to have volume in my hair! xxx
So in love with all of your outfits and also really love your hair style!
xx, Jeany from http://vogueetvoyage.com
Would you suggest this method for women with very thic k hair ?
Yes! I have very thick hair, so highly recommend!
This post came at the perfect time for me. I have recently grown my hair our from a bob and I have been struggling to find a way to add volume and interest. I have ordered everything in this post and I cannot wait to perfect this style on myself.
I think they still have some of the hot rollers on Groupon but they are running out. They’re a good deal if you can get em.
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-babyliss-pro-nano-titanium-20-roller-hairsetter-set-3
What shampoo, conditioner, style preps, etc do you use?
Kristin
I recently cut my hair into a little shoulder skimming bob and I used to love doing hot rollers in my longer hair. Would you recommend the larger or smaller rollers for short hair? With the big ones I’d be concerned that maybe my hair wouldn’t wrap around the roller enough times to get true loopy curls, but I’ve never used smaller rollers and also would be afraid of a Shirley Temple look.
What set do you recommend for fine shoulder length hair? In the pic in the fushia suit, is that tight or loose curls?
Hot rollers & hair spray ordered! Can’t wait to new me in 2018 😉
Hi Mary,
I have a really hard time keeping my hair looking good Day 2 and 3 (see: rat’s nest) when I add hairspray to my hair. How do you preserve the volume/bounce in the morning without ripping out half of your hair?
I love this! I can’t believe it’s hot rollers!
I would like to ask what hair color you use? It looks so perfect!
Hey! Question: I have been using hot curlers since I read this post, but I am struggling with my hair looking messy and “frizzy” with the hairspray. How do get yours to be so soft and smooth?!?
If the ends are looking crimped and frizzy, then you might need to be careful with how you’re wrapping each section of hair around the curler barrels. Think of each curler barrel as a curling iron or curling wand. Hair needs to be wrapped flatly and evenly around each one in order to produce a smooth curl. Aside from that, if you happen to have curly or really wavy hair, you might need to straighten it beforehand (either with a blow-dryer and round brush or a flatiron).
Your hair is so beautiful. I like it…
Any tips on keeping your hair looking great through gym sessions in the morning? I’d love to do this but I go to the gym every morning before work. How do you keep your hair from getting that wacky hair tie crimp in it?
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I would love to know what you tell the hairstylist to do when you get a haircut. Your hair is #goals
Mary,
Your hair is beautiful! I just recently moved to NYC and was wondering if you had a hair stylist you use that you could recommend? Your layers are sensational.
Mary I love your style your clothes and hair! Do you recommend a UK version of the rollers? I’m struggling to find the conair babyliss version.
Kind Regards
Gaby
How do you use the metal clips? I can’t seem to figure it out… it always falls almost immediately 🙁
Love this article and love my hot rollers! Would you ever consider doing a tutorial video on how you curl your hair? Would love to try out a new technique!
Your hair always looks flawless — thanks for sharing your masterful secrets!
Would LOVE to also hear your hair routine for what products you use before the blow dryer… a request for a future article?? ????
Do you own the Remington rollers or the Babybliss?
Hi Mary – Super helpful tutorial! If this is how you initially style your hair on day one, how do you go 3-4 days before washing it again? I do the same, but I just blow dry on day one, day two is half up and days 3 and 4 are usually a messy bun. Maybe another hair tutorial on days 2-4 would be helpful to more than just me.
Thank you, Mary! Ironically, I had most of these hair products. I just ordered the travel set. I have fine, slightly wavy hair and it has incredible volume and feels so light.
What hairbrush do you use? Love how classy you are ????
Do you put anything in your hair before you dry it – mousse, serum, heat protectant, etc.?
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this!