Calling all pin-ups: pin curling for longer(ish) hair?

[theodora]

Hi everyone!
So I have recently been slightly obsessed with victory rolls and other retro hair styles. I did a first try at rolls a week ago on my hair and although I got there in the end, it took me a very long time and I was literally shaking and on the verge of a panic attack (I'm weird like this, things like failing to remove contacts and other frustrating tasks can put me in a state).

After doing more research I realised I should try pin curling first - especially as my hair is on the straighter/slippier side of things. So I did a pin curl set last night on dry hair following a youtube tutorial by vividmakeup. My set didn't look amazing but I didn't have the courage to redo it all. I slept in it protecting it with a scarf and took it out today.


My curls are not very good. They basically only curl on my ends. Now I've just done a hairdo with these failed pin curls and yes, it did help making rolls easier to form. But I was also hoping I could potentially wear my hair down with the curls, but they really didn't look that good.

Anyone here who pin curls on longer hair (mind you I'm only a little past APL) can chime in and offer some advice? Or is it that pin curling is reserved to people with SL hair or shorter?

[Gabriel]

Hi! Pin curls take practice to learn. When I went through cosmetology school (many years ago!), it was one of the basic skills that we had to learn and we pin curled and pin curled our practice mannequins over and over and over. It was tricky on someone else, so it can be trickier to actually pin curl your own hair.

The hair should be rolled smoothly, ends tucked in. Product that will offer some hold to the curl on your hair is probably a good idea. I remember lots of gel being used but I've gotten away with a light hold gel on my own hair and soft waves/curls resulting. There is also a setting lotion you can purchase for pin curls/roller setting.

In fact, if you have a training school nearby you can have them set your hair for relatively cheap and get a firsthand look on how it's done. (If that's even a skill still taught!)

I looked at the YouTube channel you mentioned but she's got too many tutorials for me to guess which you followed.

You could practice pin curling the lower part of your hair, (a section from ear to ear horizontally) and roller setting the top of your hair in the direction the victory rolls will be going. Magnetic rollers can be good for this. Smaller sections will be curlier than larger sections.

Don't work yourself into a panic attack though!

ETA: I just remembered not too long ago a few folks did some pin curl type styles recently. Here's the thread, Ms. Alice's Most Excellent and Useful Coiffure ;) (http://http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=75039&highlight=pincurl) with a tutorial and pictures.

[theodora]

Thanks Gabriel for your words of wisdom! It's just that a lot of the tutorials on blogs/youtube make it sound like it is very easy. I will definitely persevere!

[turquoisebud]

After all the great info Gabriel gave :), I don't think there is much to add because she covered pretty much everything! I have done pin curls for about 2 mouths and I find a good setting lotion or gel work wonders. LottaBody is a great brand that a lot of the "vintage girls" use. Also, I'm sure you already know this from the vividmakeup tutorial, (she's great!) but don't forget to brush, brush and brush the curls after they are dry. I use a smaller round brush because I find it works best in forming the curls. Thing of your hair a play dough or something and MOLD. (I'm weird) :p The longer your hair is the more weight there is to pull down the curls, that's why pin curls work better on shorter hair, but they look great on longer. More of a Veronica Lake look. Hope everything works. Give us a pic soon! :)

ETA: I just realized our sigi pics are very similar! Great minds. ;)

[Roseate]

I find a full pin curl set gets very tough to do once my hair has any length at all.

These days when I want to do a vintage set I use a combination of rag and pin curls; I do the pincurls just around my face and the rag curls all over the rest. An old pictures of my results here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=2719&pictureid=53324). The pattern I used was pretty much like the last two examples on this page (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p_VRZY3jolk/SpxNNCz7AcI/AAAAAAAABO8/fjPVux5namc/s1600-h/sophistocrat003.jpg). More vintage rag and pin curling instructions here! (http://beautyisathingofthepast.blogspot.com/2009/10/click-on-images-to-see-full-size.html)

[UltraBella]

I can only get pin curls to work for me if I have my hair slightly damp when rolling. If my hair is dry, no way am I going to have good results. I use a Biolage setting lotion and it really helps too.

[spidermom]

I can do pin curls on my hair, but it takes some upper body strength and dexterity, so if you're weak, you might want to take up a little weight lifting or other resistance exercise to build some muscle. I also have to use the longest bobby pins I can find. I pin down the side with the ends securely and let the other side poof up.

I like the pin curls as a style in and of themselves.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/2.jpg

I get pretty curls, too, but they don't last long.

[theodora]

spidermom I agree that your pin curl set looks like an excellent updo in itself! It really suits you as well!
I think I will try on wet hair as well and see if it helps and I might try smaller sections potentially, and perhaps using only one pin as I was using two pins in a cross formation.
And if it gets too hard with length, I'll try the combination of rag curls and pin curls!

Thank you all for your suggestions, I really like experimenting and you've all given me different ideas to try!

I wish I could put a picture of the hairstyle I ended up doing but I still can't upload a picture to my album, so maybe some other day!

[hototogisu]

LisaFreemontStreet is my goddess when it comes to vintage hair - http://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet

I've only ever done roller sets on damp hair, and the curls have always held. Lisa sprays each section with a mixture of setting lotion and water before curling. I've actually had the greatest luck setting my hair on perm rods; I get phenomenal, wild curls after that, though I wouldn't want to do it too often!

[Celtic Morla]

THere's a site called fedora lounge (http://thefedoralounge.com) and there is a lt of talk about retro hairstyles including pin curls. I have learned a lot from them just don't have the time to try it!