I’ve been getting inundated with emails, DMs and comments about my hair routine lately, so thought I’d give you a quick breakdown of how I create the classic voluminous curls I’ve been sporting in recent months. Believe it or not, it’s a very simple process that really only requires 2-3 products and a trusty set of HOT ROLLERS! I know, I know, the 80s called and want their hair tools back. But hear me out on this one. I break down exactly what products and tools I use and exactly why I use them below. If you’re shocked and confused at my mention of hot rollers, you’re going to want to read up!
Before jumping in, I should mention that my hair is naturally straight, and the process I detail below starts right after I’ve blow-dried my hair (I use this blow dryer). If you have naturally curly hair, you’d likely need to straighten your hair first—either with a flat iron or with a round brush—before jumping in.
STEP 1: DRY SHAMPOO AND VOLUMIZING POWDER
Favorite Dry Shampoos:
SHOW Beauty Premiere Dry Shampoo
DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo (Brunette version HERE!)
Favorite Volumizing Powders:
Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion
Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing 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 and 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 this hair style, 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. 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. If you continue through the process, the products settle in and you’ll start to see results.
STEP 2: VOLUMIZING HAIRSPRAY
Favorite Volumizing Hairspray: Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
After applying dry shampoo and volumizing powder at the roots of my hair, I lightly spray this hairspray throughout my hair. When it comes to dry shampoos and volumizing powders, as noted in the section above, I have a few favorites that do a great job. However, when it comes to hairspray, I’ve never found a hairspray that holds a candle to this Spray & Play hairspray when it comes to volume and hold. After spraying it through my hair, I give it a second to dry and then completely brush out my hair again before using the hot rollers.
STEP 3: HOT ROLLERS
My favorite hot rollers for tighter curls: Remington Compact Hair Rollers
My favorite hot rollers for larger curls: Conair Pro Nano Hot Roller Set (also very similar set here by the same brand)
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. There are three main game-changer reasons I use hot rollers:
(1) WAY BETTER FOR 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) SO MUCH FASTER // If you’ve never used hot rollers before, it will take a few times to get use 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 pull out all of my rollers, brush/shake it out, and I’m done.
(3) WAY 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.
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 like the two sets that I link to above. 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 look, but if you want to achieve a more tousled, modern effect, you can also try the second technique.
STEP 4: MORE VOLUMIZING HAIRSPRAY
Favorite Volumizing Hairspray: Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray
After pulling the hot rollers out, I lightly brush my hair and spray all over the same volumizing hairspray that was used in Step Two above. Et voilà!
Let me know if you have any questions below!!