Dry vs. Wet Pin Curl Sets

I think hair quality is an important factor. My hair is rather thick and dry pin curls just don't hold the curl for me. However, if I dry curl it when it is already curly and sleep on it, then my curls keep longer. I use both booby pins and two prong clips and have no problem with indentations on either.

My hair is thin, fine, wavy, and fairly long. I use double-prong pincurl clips.

I get great results either way, but I find dry pincurl sets work better when I am wanting to accomplish a big wave, which I usually am. So that's what I usually do. Also, I seem to be better at setting my hair dry. Sometimes it takes the curl too much and I can't get it to brush out right if I set it wet (and by wet I mean damp).

Zombi -

I think that is what was happening with me when I set mine wet - too much of a curl, plus the indentation marks. When I set part of it dry last night, The curls were softer and larger. I also think that it was easier to roll my hair dry, but everything you read says to set it wet when you first start out, to make rolling easier. So I don't know. I guess it is all individual, like most things in life!

I set mine wet and sleep on my rolls. And I use velcro rollers, quite large you know! I've been doing this for... mmm... let me count... more than 7 years I guess!

Isis said:

I use both booby pins and two prong clips

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lol
Sorry, this just made me chuckle!

Wet sets tend to have better holding power and curl definition because of the structure of hair itself. The reason being when wet, bonding agents in the hair strand are broken up. Rolling, braiding, etc. the wet hair does nothing to the bonds - but once it is dry the bonds will reform into whatever shape the hair was placed in. Wetting the hair again starts the whole process over, hence the reason some of us who curl on raining days have trouble. Dry hair may still hold a shape, especially if it is close to the hair's natural state, but it won't have the same tightness or staying power.

I've read this in a book, but here's a chemist's take on it: http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2009/07/some-additional-hair-chemistry.html

I think rolling hair is easier when it's dry, but I think wet sets would almost certainly be longer lasting, for the reason Clabbergirl has outlined above.

I have fine, straight hair, and I compromise by doing one proper wet set with setting lotion on freshly washed hair, then for all the days after that I roll big pincurls dry before I go to bed, spraying them only lightly with water.

With regards your particular issue, I have never, ever, found that double pronged pincurl clips leave indents on wet or dry hair... hmmm.

Amy Jeanne said:

lol
Sorry, this just made me chuckle!

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The Booby pins are just a little harder to handle.

I do dry sets with bobby pins. I've never had trouble with indentation, and I find it quite easy. In fact, since I stopped using so much hair spray and such, my curls have had better staying power. Go figure.
Oh, my hair is about medium thickness and just barely to my shoulders.

Dry sets do nothing for my hair. Wet sets all the way. But even with wet sets I have to use almost-undiluted setting lotion--my hair doesn't curl easily.

First off, I'm new to the boards and I just wanted to thank you all for this wonderful place! I have found a wealth of knowledge here and I am so glad to finally have found other ladies like me!

I also just wanted to share that I have always wanted to have a 1930's 40's look, and though I've tried with clothes, never thought I could pull it off with my hair. But I decided to give it a go for a major dance event that we had in the area this past weekend. Boy am I glad I did! I am so excited with the results! I have always had fine/thin hair to begin with and never thought I could achieve the volume and staying power that I did with using hot rollers, pin curls, and lotta body lotion!! I'm still perfecting it, so I'll probably have a lot of questions, since I'm new to this, but I just wanted to share with you my excitement!

This is what my hair looked like before:


n592812316_2876500_1356662 by Romamor4, on Flickr

As you can see it is quite fine and thin!

Here is how my hair looked after a wash, blow dry with lotta body lotion, heat protectant spray and hot rollers, using techniques from Lisa Freemont Street. My hair has NEVER looked this full and vintage!?! I am sooo happy with the results! Now to try some more pin curls...


193465_10150112619698807_572833806_6637541_1829150_o by Romamor4, on Flickr

Cassi