Ever feel like you just can’t get full, bouncy, voluminous locks at home no matter how hard you try?
It’s like, you spend all this money on products and buy all these self-gripping hair rollers that are supposed to be easy to use. But you still can’t get them to stay in place. No matter how hard you try.
Or when you try to take them out they hold fast and refuse to budge.
Ugh, so frustrating, right?
But, what if I told you there’s a solution to all your hair roller problems?
Maybe it’s just all you need a heapin’ helpin’ of “how-to”.
Granted it won’t eliminate the headaches for everyone, but what we share can help more than you might imagine.
Cause these self-gripping bad boys are designed to be super easy to use.
Add a little sage advice like what follows and you can get loose, long lasting, billowy curls in next to no time. Without the drama. And without ripping out precious hair from your crowning glory.
So, let’s see if we can’t cut through the noise for you with this beginner’s guide.
The idea is to get you on the right track with self-grip hair rollers. So you can you achieve success and the gorgeous hair you’ve always wanted.
Here’s what I’m talking about:
Quick Section Navigation
Tips Help You Avoid Messing Up
- How to Get Bouncy, Voluminous Hair Using Self Grip Rollers
- Heatless or Hot Tool Styling
- No Heat, No Problem: Easily Maximize Heatless Volume, Bounce and Body
- Why Sweat Sectioning Hair For Rollers?
- Right Sizing Velcro Rollers For Max Volume
- How Long To Leave Them In to Achieve Salon Worthy Glam?
- Tips for Avoiding Damage When Taking Them Out
- Are They Texture Limited?
- How to Enjoy Fab Hair For Days With These Rollers
- Yes Tension Can Be A Difference Maker When It Comes To Self-Gripping Roller Success
As you can see these may be the very insights you need to keep from messing up.
How to Get Bouncy, Voluminous Hair Using Self Grip Rollers
Looking to add some bounce and volume to your hair without heat? For that self-grip rollers are a great option. Here’s the typical routine
- Prep – work with clean, no more than damp, hair with styling and texturizing products worked in
- Section – create similar sized sections that are no bigger than the width of the rollers you’re using.
- Roll Up – for each section place the roller at the end. Make sure the ends are securely on the curler. Then roll towards your scalp.
- Wait – once on the rollers wait for it to dry completely.
- Remove – when dry carefully unroll them out of your hair starting with those at the bottom and working your way up
If you like you can speed up your heatless styling “dry time” by using a blow dryer set to low heat.
Over direction is another thing you’ll want to do make us of.
The more you over direct the more lift you get at the roots.
The less you over-direct, or if you don’t over direct at all, the less volume you’re going to get.
And by over direct I mean work the hair from the way it naturally falls. Doing so adds volume because it lifts the root. It’s probably a mistake not to take advantage of how this can amp up the body and volume.
Finally for a more modern take always roll away from your face. Rollering towards leaves you with a style your grandma would recognize from back in the day.
Next let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Using heat.
Heatless or Hot Tool Styling
I know some use self grippers to avoid hot styling tools. And for them they get the body and volume they want and are satisfied with how long they can go between washings.
Obviously how long depends on your hair. Some tresses are just more cooperative.
But what about heating things up?
Does that produce a longer lasting style?
Can it be done without ruining your hair?
What do you need to know?
Look. Unless you’re a heatless absolutist, and we get plenty of comments from those who are and there’s nothing wrong with that, consider this. Bringing a little heat to bear can go a long way to get a style that lasts beyond breakfast. Two days from now.
You see heat makes hair supple and shapeable. It works it’s magic by temporarily altering the chemical bonds of the hair which changes the texture.
We can use that trait to our advantage when applying Velcro rollers to warmed up locks. Doing so creates volume and body on heated strands that have wrapped around the curlers and then left to set.
There are commonly three thermal styling tools of choice.
We have a detailed guide that is packed with ideas for each one. Starting with the classic blow dryer round brush routine. It can produce seriously pretty looks when used with self gripping rollers.
This unofficial guide has all sorts of helpful tips for blow drying hair with a round brush and blow dryer. That show you how to
- volumize hair that isn’t so voluminous naturally
- get lift at the roots
- add body and bounce to the all-important Mohawk section
- minimize damage risk with stuckless roller removal
I realize some find hair dryers challenging. Others go so far as to admit to possessing zero skills when it comes them.
But don’t worry. That’s why hot air brushes were invented. And they’ve taken the hair styling market by storm. No surprise there.
If you’d love to learn more on how to use blow dry brush click that be link and be whisked to a step by step demo.
Or course others have curling iron chops to spare. Which is why that’s their hot styling tool of choice. And it too works wonders when combined with heatless rollers.
If you’re curious as to the how-tos there’s a video tutorial here that shows how. Plus you’ll see how varying the size of the barrel can give you a different, but still full-bodied, look.
No Heat, No Problem: Easily Maximize Heatless Volume, Bounce and Body
Here’s the thing. Velcro rollers are meant to build body not lush curls. So you’re better off using a curling iron if a more curlified look is what you’re going for.
Like I said the purpose of this humble tool is to create bouncy, full-bodied locks loaded with lift, movement and incredible volume.
To that end picking the right sized roller is important as we’ll discuss in a second.
Also you typically want to roll the hair on the roller with the hair on the underside of the roller.
What this does is add lift to the roots. Which insures the bodification starts right next to your head which volumizes nicely.
Doing otherwise, while not a mistake, won’t give you the high impact body and bounce you’re looking for.
So if you’ve got anywhere near an inch of hair before it starts to bend around the roller don’t be surprised if you end up with less volume. Much less. And I have to say brought about by your own sabotage.
Plus all this is more important for those with limp, lifeless fine hair that tends to just hang around.
Now if you want to know how to get the most out of Velcro rollers for fine hair check out our recent article. We cracked the curler code for finer locks to help yours look OMG-orgeous.
Why Sweat Sectioning Hair For Rollers?
Here’s why. Those who get good results with these curlers section their hair first. Those who don’t don’t. Instead they take random sections but do little on purpose.
So it’s important to not jump in and start rollering no matter how tempting that may be.
And really we’re talking about two things here when you section.
One is for you whole head. Dividing that into as many as three sections.
First there’s the Mohawk (roughly as wide as from the middle of your brows). Trying to go no wider than the width of your roller.
Then all around on the sides and back. With a section maybe starting at the level of your eyebrows. Then one lower still at mid ear. (Obviously the exact location you start depends on how thick, coarse and long your hair is.)
And the second bit of sectioning to do involves breaking each of those three into smaller sections or more manageable parts. Again going no wider than the width of your roller.
The most important is the Mohawk or area around your crown. Getting volume right on the top of your head makes the most difference in your look.
Right Sizing Velcro Rollers For Max Volume
As you know roller size determines the ultimate shape and style as our Velcro rollers size guide shows.
When it comes to size, you want to go with a roller that’s big enough to hold the entire length of hair. Which is why you use jumbo rollers on long hair.
If looking to maximize volume roller size also makes a huge difference. The diameter controls the look of the style.
- Smaller curlers will produce more of a curled effect although not near like what you’d get with a curling iron.
- While larger rollers create oodles of mind blowing body. Aiding the quest for volume much better than the tiny ones.
It’s usually a mistake to go too small. Or using a roller that requires the hair be wrapped around it more than a couple two three times.
So …
Hair roughly chin length or shorter? Medium sized should about do it.
Shoulder length or longer? Medium can be used but going large or jumbo are not out of the question.
And as mentioned long, flowing locks require bigger rollers. Thicker hair may as well.
So don’t assume you’ll use smaller rollers with even medium length hair. Using jumbo rollers to style medium length hair can give you just insane volume.
The other big mistake is working with sections that are too big (read too wide) for your selected roller thinking you can speed the process up that way. Not a short cut you want to take.
Finally being sloppy when guiding the hair onto roller is another common mistake. At least if you want to use these fearlessly.
In that case it’s best if you don’t leave hair hanging over the edges of the roller. That’s just asking for it to get tangled if you aren’t extremely careful.
How Long To Leave Them In to Achieve Salon Worthy Glam?
You can’t microwave gorgeous hair. Otherwise we’d all be lugging around a mini one in our purse, right?
So to answer the how long question – not so long as to be unbearable.
On the other hand don’t be a hurry to take the rollers out either. That would be mistake. All the more if you have fine hair. These guys need time to work their magic. And that is to shape and mold your hair to bake in the style.
So … It’s not unusual for hair to need 30-45 minutes to set. And by “set” I mean dry if your hair was damp (or cool down if you use heat) completely. Anything less can cut short how long any style you do achieve lasts.
Tips for Avoiding Damage When Taking Them Out
When it comes to removing these guys there are actually many ways to skin a cat.
Begin with the end in mind.
It starts with having hair that is smooth, brushed out and tangle free. This gives you the added bonus of a smoother finish when done.
Always start wrapping with the roller at the ends. Making sure the tips are lying smoothly on the roller.
Yes, you can place the roller mid section. Just slide it to the end before the roll up commences.
Next slow and steady beats rushed.
Then calm beats panic if something gets stuck. Panic will only make it worse.
Start the removal with the rollers in the bottom section and work your way up to those in the crown.
If you’re having troubles see if clamping down on the hair closest to your scalp with your fingers when unrolling helps.
There’s lots more I could say. For a quick refresher on the rest of the story check out our ultimate guide on how to take out Velcro rollers without damage. It’s got the tips for success you need.
Or how about this?
Use rollers that are like Velcro rollers only without the Velcro? That’s not to say Jet Set Grip Curlers can’t ever get stuck in your hair. They’re just less likely to do so.
And if you’d like to see them in action here you go.
The first couple of minutes are her blow drying with an emphasis on the Mohawk section. Then she takes you step by step through her routine.
If you’re in a hurry here’s the time stamps so you can get to the ideas you need.
- 2:51 Start by rolling up dry hair
- 4:12 Hit the rolled up hair with the blow dryer
- 5:20 Remove the roller followed by a light brush out
- 6:50 Admire the final product
Texture Limited? Or Can Self Grip Hair Rollers Be Used On All Hair Types
Can self-grip hair rollers damage my hair?
This is a big concern. All the more in the long hair community.
Short answer. They’re not texture limited if used correctly.
While all hair types can have problems those with thick fine seem to have the most. That doesn’t mean those with that hair type can’t use them. It just means you have to be more careful when you do.
Repeating what’s been said before I mean roll up hair no wider than the width of your roller.
And two, use the right size roller. Longer hair calls for large or jumbo rollers to stay out of trouble.
How to Enjoy Fab Hair For Days With Self Grip Rollers
Yes, Virginia, you can enjoy voluminous styles that last. For days.
Use the right volumizing products when prepping your hair. Texturizing sprays, mousses, Yes, which ones work best for you will some trial and error to discover. But then you’re set.
Avoid deep conditioners as they can sometimes weigh your hair down. Or make your hair too soft making it less likely to hold a style.
Sleep right. Use a slippery silk or satin pillow case. Or try a satin bonnet like this popular choice on Amazon. Or this one for those with long locks
Yes Tension Can Be A Difference Maker When It Comes To Self-Gripping Roller Success
For sure you can score a voluminous, loose Victoria Secret hairstyle with bounce, fullness and glam in spades without heat using Velcro rollers.
And these rollers’ self-gripping feature is an often touted selling point.
Forgetaboutit.
Come closer. Let me share a little bit of beauty salon magic.
An often overlooked trick with these Velcro rollers is the need to keep them taut. And the only way to keep the necessary tension going is to use them with clips. Their built in self-grippiness won’t be enough.
Duckbill clips are okay. The creaseless ones better.
Also do all you can to maintain decent tension all the way down the strand during the wind. This will also help your hair to go around the curler smoothly.
You’ll probably also want to elevate the section straight up and away for added lift at the root level. This lets you take advantage of the Over Direction Effect mentioned before. Then clip them in place.
Now if you want your mane to look devastatingly cool rather than devastated why not follow our Pinterest boards where we share all kinds of fab finds and extremely useful ideas to brighten up your look!
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