Can I get curls without heat and product?

[Yedda]

My cousin's wedding is next weekend and I am a bridesmaid. She wants us to have an updo with curly hair.

Question 1: What is the hair-healthiest way to get curls?

Question 2: Any updo suggestions besides a ponytail with curls?

I have fine, shoulder length hair.

Thanks.

[fleurdelis]

Well, the one way I tried were pin curls, here is a pic

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad98/fleurdeliscz/pincurlssmall.jpg

it is a very healthy way, no damage involved, but maybe it is not curly enought...

[Aeon F.]

Some people have good luck using curlformers to get great corkscrew style curls, see:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=29888&highlight=curlformers

I've just recently found out that if I use aloe vera gel on my hair & put it up in a sock bun and let dry over night, I got great curls!! I did a sock bun as styled in this video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I13J7ArHTkM&feature=channel_page

As for updo- what about a simple peacock- up in a french twist with the curls artfully arranged and pinned on top?

[Roseate]

Yes, I think a peacock twist would be perfect to show off your curls!

You could do the pincurls, they are great at your length but do have a bit of a learning curve, so you'd want to practice several times. You could also use pillow curlers, or a wet set with magnetic rollers (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=1499&highlight=magnetic+rollers), but you'll want to use much smaller diameter rollers than Manderly in that tutorial for a curly look.

Take pictures of the finished product for us! :)

[jasper]

My hair is basically straight with a sight slight wave. If I want a bunch of curls, I roll my hair on rags. I use strips cut from an old cotton bed sheet. If it is damp and I roll it and sleep on it overnight, I'll have crazy curls. I don't think it's a damaging thing to do, as long as you're careful when tying the strips and unrolling the curls.

It's along the lines of this article http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=82 by Elainehali

[RocketDog]

My hair is naturally curly, but when I want to have it look more 'styled' and less wild-and-crazy curly, I use Manderly's method of sectioning and twisting my hair to get nice, even curls.

[manderly]

Keep in mind that your hair will shrink if you curl it. You'll probably end up with chin-length or so hair, so an updo might not be really doable. A peacock twist might be the closest thing you can do and it really does look great with curls.


I've used this tutorial to do curls when I was at your length, it works great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50yw2W5F_z8&feature=related

Everyone else gave great advice as well :)

[plaidprincess]

I've had great results with rag ringlets and pin curls - I'd recommend experimenting as much as you can before the big day so you know what works for you, how big to make the curls and how long they take to set.

[Medievalmaniac]

You can also use the fabric covered bending rollers - I got them at CVS for about $8.00, I think? They're soft and if you wear them overnight you can get curls without styling gel.

I ALSO discovered, entirely by chance, that when I did a twisted rope braid on my daughter's hair, she got glorious ringlets out of it when we shook the twists out - but her hair is longer, that might be a little hard on shoulder-length. There's a link to the rope/twist braid instructions in the VIT thread. :)

In terms of curly updos without a ponytail...you could try doing a curl flower? Use bobby pins to pin the curls around one another in a circular pattern at the back of your head, leaving the ends free. It's really pretty.

HTH!!