Roller setting and drying time -HELP

[amy1234]

I think I've hit a brick wall

the only way for my hair to come out straight and no bumps/dents, is to rollerset my hair while its soaking wet. I'll usually spray the section with my leave-in cocktail before I roll that section up (cocktail is, spray bottle, mixed with water, salerm 21, lacio lacio, infusium and NTM Silk touch leave-in.)
The problem is that my hair took about 4 hrs to dry under my hooded dryer last night!!!!! (while it usually takes only 2hrs). I don't know what I'm going to do for my next wash..I'm actually dreading that day now. I know that it is a good sign when your hair takes longer to dry -the hair strands are holding in the moisture. But the disadvantages are out weighing the advantages right now .

Any suggestions on what I should do???

 

[Poohbear]

4 hrs???

I like rollersetting my hair soaking wet too but it's never taken me 4 hrs...maybe at most 1.5 hrs. well, most of the time I airdry when I have time (if I rollerset Friday night and let it dry all night and Saturday) which takes approx. 14 hrs.

 

[Neroli]

Curlybun: could be you are putting too much stuff in your spray bottle which takes longer to dry. You may want to try just spraying with plain ole water -- it will "activate" whatever leave-in you've already put on your hair and let cut down on the drying time.

When I first started rollersetting, I would literally soak my hair with leave-ins and because I was inexperence it would take a long time to get it done so I would keep RE-WETTING my hair with those leave-ins and it took hours -- to put the rollers in and then to dry. I almost gave up until I ask my stylist and she told me to stop re-wetting with leave-ins and just spray with water. Also, she said I didn't need to have my hair soaking wet, but just damp enough to lie flat and snug around each roller. Sure enough, when I started using a "lighter" hand with the leave-ins and only sprayed with water AND just dampen enough to lie flat, I cut 2 hours off my drying time!

Indeed, I prefer my damp sets to my soaking wet sets -- the damp sets dry nice and soft whereas the wet sets tend to dry a bit "crisper"

I hope this gives you a few ideas. . .

 

[BlackButterflyz]

Good advice, Neroli! ITA

... It took me a long time to master my own rollersets, so my hair would often get dry before I was done

But now I just dampen it with a little water instead of adding a whole lot of products and that works better. Try using less products too... If I use too many products (especially oil based ones) my hair takes forever to dry. Maybe try using the Infusium and water to detangle and then one more on the list of your concoction (I like Salerm21-- but I think all those leave-ins that you mentioned are great).

Also I find that with my rollersets that if I let them air dry for a few hours first (like 4-5 hrs) and then sit under the dryer (medium) for 20-25 min. my hair is completely dry and feels more moisturized than when I just let it dry completely under the dryer

 

[patience]

Four hours...I remember those days. What setting was it on? Also, you may want to consider rolling your hair in smaller sections if that hasn't been suggested already (I didn't read the previous posts)...

 

[amy1234]

thanks for the tips! I have thought about just using water in a spray bottle, but I'm concerned that the leave-ins that I'll put in my hair prior to will be too concentrated and might weigh my hair down after my hair is dry. Has anyone experienced this? I think I might cut back on the amount of leave-ins that I add to my spray bottle or maybe add some lotta-body setting lotion?? ugghhh, I'm just looking for ways to achieve that perfect rollerset. Any more suggestions?

 

[amy1234]

forgot to add...rollersetting damp hair, is not really an option for me cause my hair is way too thick.

 

[Tracy]

I wouldn't continuously add Salerm to the hair as you rollerset. It can definitely extend your drying time. It's true that a rollerset on soaking wet hair can produce a better set, but water is all I add from my spray bottle when I rollerset. I put my leave in on when I first get out of the shower, and if I need to rewet I do it with water.

 

[Neroli]

Curlybun: not sure I understand the part about leave-in being too concentrated -- wouldn't adding weter help to thin it out and therefore won't weight hair down so much? Really, just TRY using plain water, that lottabody will only make your sets stiffer. I know it's hard, but sometimes, using less stuff really does produce superior results. PLEASE, just try using water once and see how it goes. If it don't work, then at least your tried. Also, my hair is awefully thick, 4b, course, resistant, defies gravity, etc., etc., and damp setting works like a charm. The key to rollersetting is not how wet the hair is, but how smooth and snug you wrap each section around the roller. If you never try, you never know . . .

If all else fails, get your hair professionally rollerset and watch what the sytlist does. That's how I learned. They don't soak the hair, no matter how thick it is, but they dampen enough so that each section of the hair is damp enough to "stick" to the rollers really flat. I hope I'm making sense but sometimes SEEING it done can cause the AHA light to go off much better than some one trying to explain it. . .

 

[lonei]

When I first started I used to use setting lotion, it used to take forever to dry and be so hard and crispy. Now I use motions leave in which is watery and IC Polisher which I plan to cut down on. I definately agree that your concuction may be too much, I would just stick to one light one and water. Wetting it with water as opposed to more leave in also helps with drying time.

 

[Huggette]

For rollersetting--especially with the weather the way it is now, I find that setting lotions and "cocktails" help to keep the humidity at bay. And as you know wet not moist or damp tends to give you the best results.

My hair can take anywhere from 2-4 hours to roll and dry, but many things factor into that. Like a few of the ladies mentioned, you may want to check into the thickness of the sections you are rolling. I find that using a fine tooth comb helps to smooth out the hair when i roll it--that also helps out with the drying time. The tightness and tension of the roller, the temperature you are using under the dryer. I know this probably sounds funny and is a given but...i get easily frustrated when i'm under the dryer. Pretty much the only time i can sit under all the way through is when i'm at the salon. My point is if you find "other things to do" or if you get out from under the dryer alot that adds to the drying time.

HTH

 

[amy1234]

thanks again for the advice! I think I know what I should do the next time. And that is, try not to use too many products. I realized that the salerm21's top ingredient is glycerin...no wonder it was taking so long to dry!
Even though I used alot of products last time, I still like the way my hair came out, its still bouncy looks very healthy and conditioned, and I don't think I will have to worry about the humidity for once!! Thanks again ladies, I'll keep experimenting