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You've done big barrel curls and tight, curling-iron ringlets to death! It's time to work a new angle. Look to yesteryear for ways to bring new life to your hairstyles. The curls of days gone by are a little softer, but they derive real allure from how purposeful they look. Partygoers may believe your Saturday-night blowout has that wave on its own, but everyone knows you primped those bobby-pin curls to perfection. Aren't you glamorous!
Rags
Rag curls have a romantic droop to them that begs for soft lighting and wistful atmospheres. Take old rags and cut them into long strips. Wrap damp hair around the strips and then tie the two ends of the cloth together, securing the end of your hair within the knot. Air dry for extra softness or, if you're pressed for time, blow dry them. Spray hairspray on each before taking the rags out and set again with hairspray when done. This pretty, old-fashioned look is awesome for dates.
Bobby Pins
Bobby-pin curls have a bounce that's all their own. Section damp hair into half-inch sections and swirl each around your finger, securing curls to your scalp with a bobby pin across it (use two if your hair's thick or already springy). Air or blow dry and set with spray. When you take these out, have fun re-curling them into place with your fingers for a look that's pinup perfect.
Cold Rollers
"Cold rollers" is even an old-fashioned name. These are the hollow rollers that have grips on the exterior, called "cold rollers" to differentiate them when hot rollers became popular in the 1970s. Cold rollers give your hair that Breck-girl wave and work best on smooth hair and a center part. Section dry hair into 1 1/2- to 2-inch sections and wrap each around a cold roller before you go to bed. In the morning, unroll your hair and run a wide-tooth comb through it.
Foam Rollers
Foam rollers give you lots of control over your curl pattern. They've been around for a while, but they saw a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s, when big frizz was all the rage. You can keep it a little sleeker and mix it up with these spongy, traditionally pink curlers. Since they come in different sizes, you can try tight curls on the sides and crown and looser spirals in the back. Wrap sections of hair around each curler and clip it shut. Go to sleep in these, and in the morning, a little spray will do it.
