Hair Setting And Drying Techniques
Roll – Up:
A roller set forms the basis of many styles, it can be used to smooth hair, add waves or soft curls, or provide a foundation for an upswept style.
- Shampoo and condition your hair, then partially dry to remove excess moisture. Mist with a styling spray.
- For a basic set, take a 5cm/2in section of hair from the centre front and comb it straight up, smoothing out any tangles.
- Wrap the ends of the sectioned hair around the roller, taking care not to buckle the hair. Then wind the roller down firmly towards the scalp, keeping the tension even.
- Keep winding until the roller sits on the roots of the hair. Self-fixing, rollers will stay in place on their own but if you are using brush rollers you will have to fasten them with pins.
- Continue around the whole head, always taking the same width of hair. Re-mist the hair with styling spray if it begins to dry out.
- Leave the finished set to dry naturally, or dry it with a diffuser attachment on your hand dryer, or with a hood dryer. When using artificial heat sources allow the completely dry hair to become quite cool before you remove the rollers. Brush through the hair following the direction of the set. Mist the brush with hairspray and use to smooth any stray hairs.
Tong And Twist:
Tongs can be used to smooth the hair and add just the right amount of movement.
- Shampoo, condition and dry. Apply a mist of styling lotion. Avoid mousse as it sticks to the tongs and bakes into the hair. Divide off a small section.
- Press the depressor to open the tongs.
- Wind the whole section of hair around the barrel of the tongs.
- Release the depressor to hold the hair in place and wait a few seconds for the curl to form. Remove the tongs and leave to cool as you work on the rest of the hair. Style by raking through with your fingers.
Tip: Never use tongs on bleached hair. The high heat can damage the hair, causing brittleness and breakage.
