How to Roller Set Relaxed Hair

Roller setting or "wet setting" is the healthiest way to maintain relaxed hair. Roller setting gives hair bounce and style, without having to resort to the heat of a flat iron or blow dryer, especially you are trying to achieve length with your hair. However, roller setting can be very challenging to learn, especially if you have a full head of hair. Practice your roller sets every week and you will notice a difference in the health, texture and length of your hair. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A wide tooth comb
• Skinny comb
• Magnetic rollers (large for bigger waves, small for tighter curls)
• Duckbill hair clips
• A water bottle (spray or spout)
• Leave-in Conditioner
• Setting lotion or setting foam
• A silky serum
• A towel
• A hooded hair dryer

How to Rollerset Relaxed Hair

1. Shampoo and condition you hair. Rinse out the conditioner but leave your hair wet. If you have to towel-dry, just press the towel on your hair. Do not rub it!

2. Take a dime-size of serum depending on how thick your hair is and apply all the way through your hair, focus on the ends. Comb with your wide-tooth comb.

3. Take a dime-size of your leave-in conditioner, depending on how thick your hair is and apply all the way through your hair, focus on the ends.Comb with your wide-tooth comb.

4. Fill up up your water bottle and re-wet your entire head. You might have to repeat this application, step-by-step once you get to each section.

5. OK, this is the easy part: with your skinny comb, part you hair down the middle, like a mohawk. Use your clips to keep the sides of your hair down. You should have three sections of hair: left, right and center.

6. Beginning with your mohawk first, take the front section and part about 1 inch. Hold between your fingers, spray with water and apply your setting foam or lotion. Comb your hair with your skinny comb down so it's hanging in front of your eyes. Hold the ends.

7. Take a roller and place it on your ends where your fingers are, on top of the hair. In other words, the roller should be on the other side of your hair, away from your face. Roll upwards towards the sky and onto your head. Secure at the base with a duckbill clip.

8. Repeat Steps 6-7 all the way down the mohawk, keeping the hair saturated.

9. Now, go to either the section on the right or left side. With your skinny comb make three sections, vertical. Use your clips to hold the hair out of the way.

10. Hold your hair between your fingers, spray with water and apply your setting foam or lotion. Comb your hair with your skinny comb down. With the section closet to your mohawk, part a 1-inch section, place the roller on the back of your hair, so it is by your face not on top and roll under and up. Secure with duckbill clip.

11. Do this for the entire section, then move to the last one. Repeat all the same steps.

12. I highly recommend sitting under a large hooded dryer to set your hair. Give yourself at least 1-1.5 hours on medium to high heat under the dryer. You can also air dry; but it will take longer and the results may not be as smooth.

13. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you take out your rollers.
    Periodically check at least one roller for dampness, this will let you know how much more time you need under the hood. Your hair will frizz if it's not dry!

14. Take out your rollers one by one. Be careful as the duckbill clip is metal and be very hot. Shake out, finger-comb or brush your hair into a "Wrap", depending on the style that you are looking for. Enjoy big bouncy beautiful hair!

Tips & Warnings

• Keep each section soaking wet, especially the ends, they should "cling" to the rollers once your start applying them.
• Use tension when rolling your hair. This is ensure that your hair will sit straight on the roller and get a better curl and silkier finish
• Make sure the roller is clipped to the scalp. They should not feel nice and tense, not wobbly.
• Use different rollers to achieve your look you want. Use smaller rollers for a tighter curl; larger rollers for lose waves and curls.
• Decide if you like foam or setting lotion. I prefer foam, it makes the hair less crispy and gives me a great feeling to my hair.
• For serums try Silken Seal from Keracare. It's an amazing product.
• A good roller set takes lot's of practice! Don't be surprised at this.
• Give yourself enough time to roll hair and sit under the dryer. The whole process will take between 4-5 hours, so maybe think about roller setting on the weekends.
• Use lots of water! Keep hair wet for a nice set.

Resources

• Healthy Textures Website
• Ultra Black Hair For Rolling Tips

[mshealthyhair]

on 5/11/2009 This article was extremely helpful. I just did my first roller set and it was a success! Thank you.

[igotahavit]

on 12/29/2008 What is the best hooded dryer and handheld dryer for afrian-american hair? I have thick heavy long hair and I do roller sets just as you described but my roots crinkle up and if I go over it with a flat iron or curling iron it strips the shine. What would you recommend?

[igotahavit]

on 12/29/2008 What is the best hooded dryer and handheld dryer for afrian-american hair? I have thick heavy long hair and I do roller sets just as you described but my roots crinkle up and if I go over it with a flat iron or curling iron it strips the shine. What would you recommend?

[Pineappletree]

on 11/17/2008 Thanks for this. It was very helpful. This was the first time I was ever able to complete a roller set successfully!

[Pineappletree]

on 11/17/2008 Thanks for this. It was very helpful! It was my first time completing a roller set sucessfully!