1950's Full Set Tutorial

How to curl your hair to create a 'pin-up' look

(via my vintage vogue)

First you need your tools:

A set of hot rollers

The clips that come with the hot rollers

Lottabody Setting Lotion

Styling Cream

I always wash my hair and then add some styling cream. Most people love the Lottabody, but I prefer the Paul Mitchell Styling Cream. I have heard Aveda also makes a great setting lotion, but I have yet to try it. After I have added the cream I blowdry my hair until it is 100% dry. Here is what it looks like:



Yes, that is me with super straight and super thin hair that doesn't take a curl very well.

Then I separate the hair into 5 sections: One on the top of my head, one from just behind the ear to the top section on the right, and I repeat it on the left, and then I split the back hair into two vertically. Here are some shots that sort of show you what I do:




The main purpose of separating the hair is to keep it out of the way and help give me a 'path' to follow.

So first I take the clip out of the top section of hair and brush it out. Then I separate the first section of hair, spray it with a medium hold hairspray- especially at the ends- and begin to curl away from the face using the smallest size roller:



Then I repeat with the next one- I brush one section of hair, spray the ends with a medium hold spray and roll the smallest curler away from the face and clip it on top of my head:



Then I start on the right side of my head. These are rolled with a medium roller and rolled horizontal to the head with the curl rolling down:



Then I follow with more curlers until all the hair in that section is finished. Sometimes I have two curlers, sometimes three. I also switch up the size and sometimes I use the smallest curler- it just depends on my mood:



Then I repeat with the left side. This time I used three curlers- there was no reason behind it, it is just what ended up happening. Remember to spray each section with a medium hold spray each time.



Then I move on to the back. I usually start with the left side back and start with a small section on the top and work my way down. The curlers are rolled horizontally to the head and rolled under. I used the largest size for this set, but sometimes I use the medium for a tighter curl.



Then I repeat with the right side:



At this point the set is finished and I wait about 30 minutes for it to cool down.

To take out the curlers, I start in the back with the first two or three rollers. I brush each curl in the back as it comes out of the roller to keep it smooth and turned under:





Then I move to the front and take all of the curlers out and I don't brush them- yet:



Then I brush the curls out taking care not to tug too hard or pull on the curl too much so they don't fall out. And then I spray the heck out of the do with a heavy duty hairspray. I am not kidding- I spray it all around, underneath, on the sides, etc. Then I wait for the hairspray to dry and I spray it again. I have done it up to FIVE TIMES before I have gone out- it just depends on how long I need the style to last. Here is the final product:




I consider the above to be my 'pin-up' look. But sometimes I want a softer hairstyle-more like a pageboy. For this I set the hair the same way, but I brush it out different. For the pageboy I brush each section as it comes out of the curler- the same way I do on the back. This keeps the hair smooth and structured. Here is that look finished:



I like this look with a hat as well:



Thats it! So that is what I call the 'full set'. It takes me about 10-15 minutes to roll, 30 minutes to cool, and five minutes or less to brush and spray. I have found the key to keeping the curls is hairspray, hairspray, hairspray. And I DONT touch my hair after I have sprayed with the heavy duty spray. EVER. I don't brush it again until the evening when I brush the whole thing out.

Tomorrow I will show you how to do a faux 1940's hairstyle with three variations. Then on Thursday I am hoping to show you the 'quick' set and on Friday I will show you really quick hair styles like the chignon, the french twist, and the ponytail.