Hair Did Done! (How I do my sets!)

In the four years I have been setting my hair (before it was air-dry or blow dry then flat-ironed), I have tried several methods i.e. foam rollers, ceramic curling iron, pin curls (disaster), flocked velvet steam rollers (eugh), hot sticks, and hot rollers.  After much experimenting, I have come to discover that hot rollers are the best way for me to set my hair and have it last for three days.  My  hair is naturally very fine and my scalp is very oily so despite my best efforts, I simply cannot make my set last longer.  Things just get limp and icky.

Nevertheless, this is how I set my hair:

I wash with Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and condition with Pureology Hydrate Conditioner.

After towel-drying, I use a blend of Surface Bassu Oil Gold and Surface Trinity Protein Cream on my ends and my blond highlight section. Then I apply a quarter-size dollop of Ouidad Moisturizing Curl Gel to my hair. I comb through, section my bangs, apply my Rogaine, and then let things air-dry while I do my makeup.

After the face is done, I roll my bang section in grippy rollers, spray them with Layrite Grooming Spray, and then I finish drying overall with my hair dryer. I concentrate my dryer on my bang section to set the curl. The Layrite Grooming Spray is activated with heat. 

While I am blow-drying my hair to ensure it is totally dry before setting*, I plug in my Remington Tight Curls hot rollers. There are 21 in a set but I wish there were 24. Anyway, once I have achieved completely dry hair, I roll my hair in sections with the hot rollers. I spray a tiny spritz of Layrite on the very ends of my hair and roll up. Finally, I secure the curl with a clip (from a 12 pack from Sally. I bought two). The U clips that came with the rollers were crap. My fine hair would just unroll and the roller itself would fall out onto the floor.

Here I am with my natural hair texture. Can we say 'fuzz ball?!' My bangs are set with the grippy rollers and I am about to set the rest of my hair:

 

I leave my rollers in for about 30 minutes. While my hair is cooling, I make the bed, do laundry, feed the cat, read CNN online, make lunch for work, and then get dressed.

Then, I unroll my curls, remove the grippy rollers, and I finger style my hair with a touch of Layrite Original Pomade. On my bang section, I use the husband's heavier type of Layrite Pomade (the darker colored jar). I shape my bangs, roll, and pin.  Then I spray curls into their final shape with Aussie Instant Freeze Hairspray.

When I go to bed at night, I simply wrap a chiffon scarf around my set. The next day, I apply a light amount of TiGi Catwalk Dry Session Series Dry Shampoo to fluff curl and give it a refreshed look and feel. I re-pin my front roll and I may use hair combs. On the last day of my set, I will re-apply the dry shampoo spray and put my hair into a ponytail.

I like to set my hair because not only does it give me the vintage style I want, I look like I have more hair! Let me tell you, my hair is so thin and fine. I have had stylists in the past give me a blow-out and then flat-iron (standard for modern salons), and I hate it!!!! Sure, my hair looks silky but it also showcases how little hair I have. I feel so bald! Oh what I would do for more hair.

Anyway, all pouting aside, I love to set my hair because I can make my style last longer, I wash my delicate hair less, my hair is vintage-looking, and I look like I actually have a good head of hair! Curl = volume!

So, what is your "tried and true" hair routine?




*Please, take it from me, never EVER use any type of direct heat from rollers, curling irons, flat irons, etc on damp hair! Even slightly damp hair will be damaged. Doing so causes your hair to be boiled and your cuticle destroyed.

The Most Amazing Blond/Highlight Shampoo Ever! Clairol Shimmer Lights!

Now that I have my beloved blond highlights back, I want to share with you all one of the best highlighting shampoos ever created: Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo in "Blonde/Silver!"  This "holy grail" shampoo has been a mainstay in my hair care arsenal since 2008. You can find this shampoo at Sally Beauty Supply stores, online at Sally Beauty's website, www.haircareusa.com, and www.ballbeauty.com. I know other places/sites should have it on stock as well. I buy the 16 ounce bottle at Sally Beauty for $8.49 USD. The shampoo also comes in a 4 ounce bottle as well as a 32 ounce size.

This Clairol Shampoo is intended for natural and highlighted blondes who want bright, platinum tones instead of yellow. The violet color cancels out any brassiness. Right now, I have quite a bit of yellow/warmth in the lower half of my hair. Over the next couple of salon visits, these tones will be bleached out. I would love to have my hair all platinum now but doing so would be very damaging! It is best to process hair slowly. Due to the presence of these yellowy sections, I use this shampoo to brighten the platinum tones and to help fade the warmth in my blond.

In fall 2008, my stylist, Corry, colored my hair black with platinum blond on top:
After my color was done, I used Pureology Hydrate Shampoo as well as Pantene's blonde shampoo. I washed my hair with the Pantene a few times a week to help brighten/maintain my blond but its results were lackluster. Moreover, the shampoo began to dry out my hair! I needed something that would help brighten as well as condition.

When I was in Aspen, Colorado for a 5 week business trip in November 2008, I visited Carl's Pharmacy with the hopes of finding a better replacement for the Pantene shampoo. As I browsed the shelves in the hair care section, I stumbled upon "Clairol Shimmer Lights Blond and Silver Shampoo." I bought a 16 ounce bottle for 11.00 USD (gotta love that resort ski town mark-up!).

After my gym workout the next day, I washed my hair with my new shampoo. The shampoo was a super bright violet pearl shimmer that had a light, pleasant clean-scented fragrance. It had a creamy, thick lather too. I rinsed my hair, applied conditioner, and rinsed in cool water.

As I towel-dried my hair, I could already see that my hair looked more platinum. I really noticed the difference when I blow-dried my hair! Wow! Most of the remaining yellow tones were pretty much gone!

Yesterday, I used the Shimmer Lights once again and I today notice that my blond looks brighter. The yellow tones are still there but they are not as glaring. My hair also feels soft too!

So, if you have blond hair and/or highlights that need brightening, then give Clairol Shimmer Lights Blonde and Silver Shampoo a try! If you also want blond conditioning, Clairol also makes a coordinating conditioner!