The other day I realized that in all my years of experimenting with different hair styling doodads, I’ve never once used foam curlers. No particular reason why. I think I just fell in love with my curling iron at a young age.
But since I’ve been hitting the curling iron a lot lately, now might be a good time to give foam curlers a try.
I can remember my granny rolling foam curlers into her wet hair before going to bed, so I plan to do the same with the Goody Summer Waves Rollers ($10 for 15 rollers) some time this week. They’re designed to build big, loose beachy waves instead of dense, tight curls.
I did a bit of research online and came up with the following steps to hopefully make The Goody Summer Waves Roller Project a curly success. 🙂
1. Work in sections
At the scalp, collect about a 2-inch lock of hair in one of your hands (measured about 2 inches along the scalp, as opposed to the length of the hair shaft).
2. Decide on the size of the curls you want
The volume of hair you wrap around each curler determines how tight or loose the curls are. For tight curls, wrap less hair; for loose curls, wrap more.
3. Coat hair with a styling product (optional)
This seems to be an optional step. I’ll probably use a soft hold hairspray, since my hair usually needs the help of a styling product to keep it under control. I’ve also read that a light application of mousse works well.
4. Rolling, rolling, rolling…
Roll each lock of hair tightly into the curler and roll up (ultimately, you want the roller to look thinner in the middle than it looks at the sides). When you’re happy with the amount of hair you have wrapped around the curler, snap it into place.
For more volume and lift at the roots, roll the curler inward toward your scalp, as opposed to outward (away from your scalp).
5. Dry hair completely
Since a blow dryer would defeat the purpose of trying to give my hair a break from heat styling, I plan to sleep in these overnight (like granny used to).
6. Be careful when you remove the curlers
Once your hair is dry, slowly and carefully remove each curler by unsnapping it, and then slowly unrolling it out of your hair.
If all goes well, that should do it. I should be able to just run my fingers through my hair to loosen my new beachy waves/curls (wish me luck!). 🙂
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Awesome. I love my foam curlers. They’re amazing for a retro/vintage look.
One more tip: if you have thick hair then don’t roll them in towel-dry. Let them air-dry to about 40% dry. Otherwise you run the risk of waking up in the morning with one or two of the rollers not being completely dry. It’s often the two curlers at the back of your head in the middle.
Thank you for the tip, Karen! I have very thick hair that takes FOREVER to dry so I’ll try it.
Well if it’s really really thick it might be better to dry it completely after washing and then to spray it damp section by section.
Ashley has a great tutorial and a lot of tips on sponge rollers and that is one of them. 🙂 I hope it works great.
http://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet
My mom used to rocks foam rollers all the time. My problem with them is that they leave a crease in my hair, the plastic part that goes over to secure.
Though the one you have in the picture look different from the one my mom used.
These are a little different — they’re supposed to create beachy waves rather than straight up round curls. I want to try one of the old school ones too.
Do you leave yours in overnight or use a blow dryer?
Long long time ago when I tried it, I let it air dry. But I don’t do overnight as I find it makes the curls too tight…I take it out before bedtime…I guess it depends on your personal preference.
You can definitely use a blow dryer if you are pinch on time otherwise it would defeat the purpose, IMHO 🙂
Okay. I’ll do a couple of experiments and will try taking ’em out before bed, too. 🙂
Instead of foam rollers I do the dame thing with rags and just tie them up. Just as effective and easier to sleep on!!
Interesting. Do you cut up the rags yourself? How thick are they? I’m having a hard time visualizing the process…
Good luck – I’m keen to see the results!
Thanks — I really hope these work too! I’ll probably scare Tabs and El Hub rocking these around the house, but they’ll just have to deal, ha!
I could never get foam rollers right, the resulting style always looked so fake on my fine, thin hair. I might try these, though..they seem different.
Hi Lucia,
Did you use any styling products or anything with the rollers?
Karen, I see this being a big success for you – I think your hair will be perfect for the beachy waves. I haven’t used foam curlers since I was a kid (and they were definitely the old school kind). It was not a good look for me because I slept in them, which was uncomfortable, and when I got up in the AM, many strands had come loose. My hair ended up looking frizzy with some straight strands throughout. Yes, I’m laughing now. The foam doesn’t hold well and leaves the clasp mark on thinner hair. I don’t think you’ll have that problem, though, since your hair is thicker. My mom still uses the old, hour glass shaped, plastic curlers with bobby pins. Luckily, my hair looks better when I just scrunch it with my hands while it dries. 🙂
Hi Kim,
Somebody else mentioned the issue with the clasp mark. I’ll see if I can find a way to get around it… hmm!
You’re so lucky that all you have to do is scrunch and air dry. Do you use any addition product to hold the curl?
I think you’ll be OK with the mark because your hair is thicker and it should blend well. Your biggest problem will probably waking up to damp hair (which someone else mentioned). 🙂
Right now I’m using Cloud 9 Blowout (Brocato) and really like it. I usually blow dry before work every morning, while scrunching. If I don’t, the top gets a little flat-looking, and I have some pesky cowlicks. If I’m just hanging around the house or with friends, I’ll let it air dry and scrunch. They don’t mind me in all my natural glory. HAHA!
I only ever used foam curlers for cheerleading and dance competitions. They always made my hair VERY curly, like Shirley Temple curly.
I’m interested to see your result though! i currently use a curling iron ala TiffanyD on YouTube, which looks GREAT, but takes freakin’ forever.
LOL, I had my hair done with Shirley Temple curls once and it was a trip! 🙂
Will let you know if this turns out well.
I’ve used hot rollers, but haven’t really perfected it. I also do rag curls on wet hair and sleep on them (not uncomfortable). I get a tight curl- not near the root though- that brushes out to amazing volume. The rags I use is and old sheet that I’ve ripped into strips one inch wide by eight or so inches long. The tricky part is rolling the hair then tying a knot in the rag. I use a fluffy-powder-brush’s handle- put the rag on it then roll the hair around the handle, the tie knot the pull the handle. My process might need work.
For beachy waves I make one or two braids in wet hair and sleep on it – finger style in morning. My hair is thick and waist length and braids are my savior 🙂
I’m fascinated by the idea of rag curls. Must investigate!
Oh, and thank you for reminding me about the wet braid trick. I use that one too, especially in the summer.
I’ve never used foam rollers, and those look intimidating. Then again, if I can just wake up, take them out, and look automatically adorable, I’d say it’s worth it.
Totally show us a picture after you use them!
I can’t wait to see your results !!!! My hair is super thick and it’s always a challenge to get it to hold curl. I love the idea of a beachy wave. My grandma used to roll my hair in sponge rollers when I was a kid. This brings back sweet memories for me 🙂 Hurry Karen and curl LOL! I can’t wait to see this look on you. You have such great hair!
Oh and where did you buy these?
LOL! I’ll try to do these tonight if I have time! 🙂
I happened to get these as a press sample for review, but you can find them at most drugstores and also online (the link in the third paragraph takes you over to Walgreens).
yes in 8th grade for cheerleading lol. looooots of hair spray!
Yep, I started using those pink spongy rollers when I was little. I would sit in bed in my jammies and curl my hair and then hit the sack. I think I had it perfected by 9 years old. LOL!
I still use them occasionally. I definitely have to use a setting spray or light hairspray before I roll my hair. I have fine hair, but a LOT of it. And it’s hard to keep a curl.
I can’t roll my hair wet or I WILL wake up with still damp hair. If you roll your hair up so that it’s vertical against your head then you will minimize the crimp in your hair from the clasp.
Sponge rollers are so nice when you’re limited on time. These have saved my butt on many occasions when I’ve slept through my alarm.
If your hair is too curly in the morning after using these, then just pull it up in a loose clip or ponytail for about 30 min. It helps relax the curl.
I definitely want to check out these new ones! Thanks for the review Karen!!!!
Can’t WAIT to see your results. Good luck!!!
It sounds like you have hair just like I do, Sondra! Fine, but a lot of it and it holds moisture and takes forever to dry!
I can’t wait to see your results! I’m also a bit envious – I wear my hair extremely short, and I love it (it just works for me) but I always wanted loose waves. Alas, even when my hair was long, it was so thick and heavy that it wouldn’t hold a curl – not even a perm.
I have these cool rollers from ebay that look like a ball with a slot in the middle to wrap your hair around. It makes you look super funny too when they’re in lol
ooooooh Miss Karen I am sooooooooooo going to go get these!!! I have long thick hair and I LOVE doing my hair in pincurls, I am going to give these a try!!!
Good luck!!!
Karen =)
I’ve never used foam curlers but it would be a great way to do hair when it’s warmer or if you want a little extra sleeping time in the morning. Can’t wait to see how they worked for you!
i do have a set of regular foam curlers. theyre pretty handy when i need to bring curling stuff when we go on trips.
those wavy ones up there – i want! 🙂
I used to use foam rollers all the time when I was younger (junior high). My hair was very thick and straight back then, and the roam rollers were the only things that made it curly. I’ll have to check out the Summer Waves rollers.
I did foam rollers when I was 7 (-= but I really like the looks of these! Make sure to let me know how it goes, ’cause I can’t wait to see!
My mom used you used these type of rollers..she has really thick here..she used to wet her hair with water spray and then put the rollers..it worked wonderfully
These look interesting. I have fine, curly hair and remember Mom putting the pink foam rollers in the night before special events (Christmas programs, dance recitals, Easter Sunday). I always had the clasp mark, too, but wonder if it’s because my hair was so fine and thin. I had serious curls (like the Shirley Temple remark someone else made above), but I wasn’t really a fan of the look, even when I was 7 yrs old 🙂 I liked the look hot rollers gave me much better, because I could control the amount of curl much better. I’ll bet these will work great on your hair, though, since it’s so thick and long and wavy.
Karen!
I am the self proclaimed beachy wavy hair QUEEN! I always get asked how I get that just stepped out of the ocean look and here is my secret!!!!
The Remington 3-in-1 styler. It is a hairdryer but it comes with three attachments (one of them a diffuser) and the MAGIC happens with the air wave attachment. It looks scary, I know, but all that you do it attach it and slip a piece of hair in, let it twirl and dry, and then you look like you have a head full of dreads… but at the end, you gently pull apart the twists and VOILA, beautiful beach waves.
I bought mine at Target for 24.99 and i do not know what I would do without it.
Here’s the reviews on MUA – I’m sad that more people do not know about this amazing tool!!!!
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=133385/Remington_3-in-1_Styler_Hairdryer/0/Hair_Styling_Tools
Hi Karen,
Another tip for foam rollers if you do not want to do it the night before is to wash and dry hair. Immediately, with hair still warm from the dryer, roll the hair as normal for loose waves. (For longer hair, wind the hair around the roller mid-way for a spiral look). Spritz very very lightly with water or leave on conditioner from a spray bottle. Then, blast the hot dryer on the rolled hair for a couple of seconds per section. Unwind, tousle and brush.
Many, many years ago when I was in high school, I used to set my (dry) hair every night using a big jar of Dippity-Doo hair gel and foam rollers. I’d sleep in them and when I woke up the next morning I just brushed my hair out and it was curly and ready to go. I have very fine, straight hair and back then it was about 5-6 inches below shoulder-length. I haven’t thought about doing that for years and my hair is shorter now, but still, this makes me want to try it again. Can’t wait to see how yours turns out!
i just bought these last night and i was dumb enough to throw away the instructions. i have never used foam curlers before. i’m anxious to see how my hair will turn out.
These beachy rollers are on groupon goods for $4.99/ set right now!