wedding hair questions

[bna_rapunzel]

Hey everyone! My sisters wedding is coming up, and my sister wants everyone to have curled hair. Specifically my hair, the curls "cascading ddown my back". I'm game for that, but I refuse to use heat and most products on my hair.

(I just posted a new semi-current pic in my album of my hair, just to give you an idea of what I'm working with)
My hair is very fragile and delicate, the use of heat and gels/hair spray make me kinda sick to think about :s lol!
How could I curl my hair, make sure the curls STAY (my hair doesn't like to hold curl too well) without killing it? Is there an organic or mostly natural hairspray or gel type of product that would be even a little less damaging?
I'm going to try all the no-heat curling methods I can find... she's looking for almost ringlets in our hair... and if I can help it, I'll be doing my hair to make sure its not too abused :)
When I gotmy hair done for my wedding, it was curled with a flatiron and a jumbo can of hairspray was used. I don't want to go through that again lol!
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks ladies and gents! :)

[DancingQueen]

You could try a sock bun, but there are several no heat tutorials on youtube. But if it is only this once, why not do it? I don't think it will be that bad if you do it once in a while. :)

[spike316]

I highly recommend these wrap snap n go thingers: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UJ246Y/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=10653220539&ref=pd_sl_6h6boid15y_e
I have bone straight hair so even when I wasn't worried about damage I didn't bother with a curling iron because about 3 hours later they'd be gone. I set my hair while just barely damp and then sleep with these in, wake up and bam! Beautiful curls. ETA: And the curls last the whole day!

[jasper]

Start experimenting early to perfect your no heat curl method. Rag or sock curls work well for me, but the trick is to roll a good size rag for the type of curls you want. Also rolling neatly and maybe using end papers would help avoid frizz. I have success rolling barely damp or even dry hair, but wet hair never dries for me in rollers.

I have heard beer is a good setting lotion, but can't speak from experience. It sounds like it would be smelly anyhow.

[Panth]

I would start practising early. You'll then know the best heat-free method for you or, alternatively, will know that only a heat method will work. You could also send photos of your attempts to your sister to see if the curls you get are 'curly enough' for what she wants.

Some ideas for you:
- braid waves (try english and french plaits, try different strand numbers (e.g. 4 or 5 strand plait), try doing different numbers of plaits (eg. many people find about 5 plaits give much better results than just one), try different starting points for the plaits, try having fabric/a scarf as one of the strands of the plait to bulk it out)
- bun curls (try fully rolled sock buns, cinnabuns, nautilus; also try doing more than one bun or sectioned buns)
- pin curls (try them pinned flat against the head or standing up like Victory rolls; also try different sizes of sectioning; also try different pinning methods / pin types)
- rag curls (try different sectioning sizes, try different methods (e.g. this one (http://vixenvintage.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-do-rag-curls.html), or this one (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=82))
- rag bun (as shown here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=51944))
- various types of no-heat rollers (e.g. Caruso rollers, maybe ... dunno, not my strong point!)

With all of those methods you can try to vary:
- how wet/dry your hair is when you do the plait/rollers/bun/whatever
- how wet/dry your hair is when you take the plait/rollers/bun/whatever out
- how recently washed your hair is
- whether you use any additional product

Personally, I think a good starting point would be:
- putting the style in when your hair is damp but not sodden (so, maybe 75% dry?), so that you have a good chance of getting the hair to dry whilst in the plait/bun/rollers
- taking the plait/bun/rollers out when the hair is 100% dry
- using as unwashed hair as you can
- using no product (yet)
- covering the style with a silk scarf or cap while it is drying, particularly if you have to sleep on it, to prevent frizz
- treating the dried hair like you would naturally curly hair (so, fingercombing only, no proper combing and certainly no brushing)

[archel]

I have a pack of those spiral curler things that you use to do a wet set. They just look like long bendy sticks covered in foam. I think mine are made by Clairol and I spent something like $4 on them. They were okay to sleep in and when my hair was dry BAM big beautiful curls with no heat.

[freecelt]

I recommend these foam curlers. http://www.amazon.com/Conair-61118z-Foam-Rollers-Pack/dp/B001KYS930/ref=pd_sim_bt_4 If I put my hair in damp it takes 16-24 hours to dry but comes out awesome and can last for 2 days. Good luck!

[embee]

I have stick straight thin fine hair that does *not* hold curl, so I feel your pain.

If this were me, I'd be practicing a lot now, but no hairspray or gels or any of that, just "how to get pretty curls without heat".

The day of the event you can spray the heck out of your hair with the strongest best spray you can find, it's a one time thing.

After the whole event is over and done, you can rinse the spray out before combing or brushing,. That should avoid the major breakage, don't you think? And do a nice conditioning or whatever is the most restorative treatment you know of.

Curls cascading down your back sounds beautiful, and for this special event I'd go for it. While you're modelling this lovely effect, have someone take some pretty pics of your hair, specifically for your archives!

At least the bride is *not* requesting the bridesmaids have a chin-length bob with bangs! :D

[TheLorelei]

Pin curls work well. also there is a technique similar to sock bun-where you use a headband. It made less messy curls like the sock bun does and more precise ringlets. You can also twist the hair before putting into pin curls and that creates a smaller ringlet. All of these can be done with dry hair and misting with water before putting into the curling mechanism, then sleeping on them at night. Dont brush through the curls and dont separate them with your fingers. Just take them down and go.

[allnight avenue]

Absolutely pin curls.

[LadyKate]

The Wrap, Snap and Go curlers that someone recommended work GREAT in my hair. My hair's also pretty fine, and has not held a curl well in the past (even using heat, which I no longer do), and these gave me amazing results. I bought them at Sally Beauty Supply, they were very reasonably priced. I put them in clean, almost dry hair, and I used Aussie brand Catch the Wave conditioning mousse (no hair spray). The curls held all day, though they did relax a bit by the end of the night.

[turquoisebud]

This tutorial is very helpful - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4PGm9CMtU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I havent tried it myself yet because I don't have the little foam stick things, but the curls look great in the tutorial. :) Good luck with whatever you choose! ;)

[Eirelin]

In some of my album photos, I have used Curlformers (there is also a thread about them). You can also pick up some cheaper versions on eBay.

To keep the curls, I used home-made "hair spray" by chopping up a lemon, boiling it in 2 cups of water down to about 1 cup, straining it out (I use coffee filters), and then adding a tiny amount of vodka as a preservative.

If you use the Curlformers at least overnight on very slightly damp hair, then style it, and then spray on your lemon hairspray, then wait until that has dried and spray it again (and continue as needed), it might work. I have done it and it worked for me. Most of the curls in my photos were done that way; otherwise I just end up with barely wavy hair.

With yours being waist-length, you might find it more difficult to keep the curls for a long time; mine is around 27" so I can get them to stay for a couple of days. Using Curlformers is pretty easy, too, much easier than most of the other methods I have tried.

Good luck and keep us updated on what you end up doing.

Edited to add: Here is a bride who used them on her wedding day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1PvhW-Q1oI. She did cheat and use extensions, hairspray, and a blowdryer, but you can see the kinds of curls she got from them.

[Maverick494]

Here are some tutorials that worked for me:
All you'll need is bobby pins and socks.

Kim Kardashian hair (heatless)
- http://youtu.be/dFrQSM7L7MU

Heat free dolly curls
- http://youtu.be/KXsCxRjPFw4

Heatless curling tutorial using bobby pins
- http://youtu.be/50yw2W5F_z8

[bna_rapunzel]

Thanks everyone. I have a couple ideas in mind, I'll be posting pics of my experiments :)
I appreciate all the help and advice. You're all wonderful :D
I think I found a method that works but I need a couple hours of free time to walk around looking like a looney-bird with my "cocoonies" on my head (thanks to beautyklove from YT :D lol!)
It brings my (almost) tb length hair up to my bra strap if I let the curls sit long enough :)