How to Roller Set Natural Hair

Roller setting temporarily straightens natural hair.

Natural hair is free of chemicals such as a perm, relaxer or color. Hair in this state may be a little harder to tame because of its texture, but it is manageable. Depending on the roller size, roller setting natural hair provides a chemical free way of straightening your hair or creating curly styles. Roller setting is also a healthy alternative to using a flat iron or a curling iron. Make sure you set aside enough time to do your hair without rushing, because patience is key when working with natural hair.

Things You'll Need

• Water bottle
• Styling lotion
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Wide-tooth comb
• Fine-tooth comb
• Banana clips
• Shine serum

Instructions

1. 

   Working with clean hair is vital to ensure a bouncy, flowing roller set.

   Wash and condition your hair with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Rinse the conditioner out thoroughly and towel dry the hair. Spray in your leave-in conditioner and begin detangling your hair using a wide-tooth comb.

2. 

   Make a horizontal part.

   Part your hair down the middle horizontally beginning at the hairline. Clip each side up with two banana clips.

3. Take down one section of the hair and make a perpendicular part that is 1- to 2-inches thick at the back of the hair line. Pin the remaining hair up and out of the way. If the hair is drying out, mist it with your water bottle and apply your styling lotion. Comb through the hair once again with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it is smooth and free of tangles.

4. 

   Completely roller hair.

   Begin rolling the hair upwards toward the scalp. Make sure the ends are laying flat and the roller is secured tightly to ensure your roots will be as straight as possible. Take down another section of hair and complete the same steps working your way to the front of the head. Once one side of your head is done, repeat the same steps on the opposite side of the head.

5. Allow the hair to dry. You can use a hair dryer or allow it to air-dry naturally. Once your hair is dry take out the rollers and set them aside. Apply a little shine serum to your hands and run it through the curls. If your roots are not straight enough, use a blow dryer or flat iron to straighten them. Style your hair as you normally would.

Tips & Warnings

• Your hair should be wet and slick when roller setting.

• There are numerous rollers available depending on your hair length and the style you're trying to achieve. Using mesh rollers allows your hair to dry faster.

• Don't put too much hair on the roller when roller setting. This will increase your drying time and could affect your curl formation.

References

• Long Health Hair Advisor: How to Roller Set Natural Hair