Rollersetting vs. Air Drying?(long)

[Kalani]

I have a question. Normally I shampoo my hair about 2-3 times per week(3 times in the hot summer monthes), and condition wash every day or every other day(usually every day). I always air dry my hair and wear it out or loosely pulled back.

This past winter I started rollersetting it, using hooded dryer, weekly because the humidity had dropped, and my hair would hold out nicely for a full week without me having to do anything to it. At night I would just comb it out a little, roll my hair into 2 low buns, and tie a satin scarf around it. In the morning I let my hair out and all I have to do is just run my fingers through it a little and I'm good to go! Needless to say this method offers the least amount of manipulation throughout the week which got me thinking.

When I air dry my hair and wear it out in its natural state, it is good for a day but once I sleep on it, even in a scarf, its napped up the next day and needs to be rinsed or condition washed, then detangled, and have some product(usually leave-in + spray gel or leave-in +stlying lotion) applied through out the curls in order for it to look presentable. This means my hair is manipulated daily throught the week.

Is it healthier to rollerset it weekly even though it exposes my hair to heat once a week? ( I have to use the dryer because my hair is so thick it takes forever to dry, especially in rollers).

I was thinking of doing my own test by continue to rollerset it for an extended amount of time to compare the difference but I don't want to fry my hair! Any thoughts?

 

[webby]

I've always had much better results with roller setting. In fact, I wore a wash-n-go all summer, thinking that it would be better for my hair, but my stylist ended up trimming 4 inches (I believe anything over an inch is a cut, not a trim), because it was so dry and brittle from the sun.

I also thought that hotter hood dryers were better, but I recently bought a dryer that is not hot. I researched a few places and learned that air force/volume is much better the heat/temp. With that said, maybe your hair is like mine and just does better with rollersetting.

Remember that not every regimine works on every type of hair.

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

I think that's the safest heat to use. It's not directly on your hair. I don't think a weekly dry under the hood is particularly damaging to your hair.

 

[ladylibra_30]

I think that's the safest heat to use. It's not directly on your hair. I don't think a weekly dry under the hood is particularly damaging to your hair.

ita...and you can use low/med heat and then use cool for the last 5 minutes (it's easy to do this b/c i never just turn my dryer off from being on medium heat. i always switch it to cool and sit under it- good for my dryer and my hair)

 

[Kalani]

Thanks, ladies!

I do try to always use the medium heat setting on the dryer. I also put a little bit of a natural oils on the middle to end length of my hair before rolling it. Not sure if it protects from the heat but its does make my hair very soft!

Webby, that air force/volume thing sounds very interesting! About how much would one of those non heat dryers cost?

 

[peacelove]

This is such a good question and one that I am now wondering. When I air dry my hair, normally I use a daily moisturizer like scurl so my hair is never really dry. So I have my hair constantly moisturized, BUT I have more tangles and it is harder to comb. I find I lose more hair detangling. This past saturday I blew my hair dry on a low setting, used some old fashioned hair grease and flat ironed my hair on a low-medium setting (no smoking!) My hair came out amazing, it looks thicker than before (I think the mane n tail conditioner I used played a part in that) and the curls stayed. Most importantly, no shedding or breakage. The grease has helped to keep my ends protected and I can finger comb or wide tooth comb the hair once a day to keep it tangle free. I used satin rollers to tighten up the curls a bit, and I have been good. I can also get better buns this way because the has some shape and hold to it. The downside of this is the grease/flatiron combo. No matter how low the setting, the idea of using these two things even twice a month makes me a bit nervous. But my biggest issue has been hair shedding and loss in the comb, and this so far has worked the best in preventing my hair from coming out. In fact, this has worked better than roller sets and doobies. So as long as my ends don't feel fried, I think I am going to stick to this method through the winter. Wearing my hair in wet/curly styles has resulted in too much hair loss for me.

 

[Neroli]

I use the "cool" setting on my hood dryer for rollersets almost exclusively because there is zero exposure to heat and it significantly speeds up my drying time. It takes about 3 hours for my rollersets to dry completely on the cool setting as opposed to 8 to 10 hours to airdry just hanging around the house. I cut down my drying time by 70% without compromising on heat!

 

[webby]

@ Neroli - How long is your hair?

 

[Neroli]

About two inches past shoulders - 4b relaxed.

 

[webby]

Whoa @ 3 hours You must have some serious thick hair. God bless you

 

[Neroli]

Oh, I am indeed blessed with some SERIOUS thick hair, all 4b or whatever "type" would be the kinkiest, curliest pattern, completely defies gravity in it's natural state, etc., etc. . .

 

[Kalani]

Whoa @ 3 hours You must have some serious thick hair. God bless you

Thats what I was thinking! It takes me exactly 1 hour on the medium setting. Perhaps my hair isn't all that thick after all!

 

[Neroli]

Let me clarify, it takes 3 hours to dry my rollersets on the COOL setting. My dry times for heat settings under the hood dryer are:

HOT - 1 hour
MEDIUM - 1.5 hours
WARM - 2 hours

Non-heat drying times:

AIRDRY - 8- 10 hours
COOL - 3 hours (this was an experiment on my part that paid of kudos in avoiding heat completely, but yet rock a smooth, bouncy rollerset)

 

[webby]

Let me clarify, it takes 3 hours to dry my rollersets on the COOL setting. My dry times for heat settings under the hood dryer are:

HOT - 1 hour
MEDIUM - 1.5 hours
WARM - 2 hours

Non-heat drying times:

AIRDRY - 8- 10 hours
COOL - 3 hours (this was an experiment on my part that paid of kudos in avoiding heat completely, but yet rock a smooth, bouncy rollerset)

LOL, thanks for clarifying that, cuz I was just scratching my head and thinking, "Do I really want to let my hair grow back out?"

I am about 2 or 3 inches shy of my shoulder and it takes me about 1 1/2 hour and that's with a serious hair dryer. You had me so worried

 

[Neroli]

Nah, my hair is thick, but not THAT thick. It'll dry real fast if enough heat is applied! The cool setting is my hair's "saving grace" because:

1. no heat whatsoever = zero breakage = serious length retention
2. smooth silky bouncy rollersets
3. reasonable time frame to get hair "done"

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

I found that my temples started thinning from the rollersets . I was doing them once a week either by myself or at the Dominicans. Airdrying does have its problems -- as were mentioned in the original post -- so it is a toss up for me. I think that using bone combs has helped me to lose less hair. Also, I will NEVER stretch my relaxer past 8 weeks after I get my next relaxer. I am currently at 14 weeks and the tangling has been WAY too much.

Have you thought of airdrying and then using the caruso rollers? That might be a way to still get the silky look and avoid sitting under all that heat. I would love to hear if anyone has used this method.

 

[Kalani]

Omygosh, I tried the Caruso curlers years back and it was a nightmare. It looked awful after I took them out! My hair was all dry feeling and crunchy looking, not silky at all. My hair did not like those steam rollers for some reason! I returned those things after the first use.

 

[Kalani]

Let me clarify, it takes 3 hours to dry my rollersets on the COOL setting. My dry times for heat settings under the hood dryer are:

HOT - 1 hour
MEDIUM - 1.5 hours
WARM - 2 hours

Non-heat drying times:

AIRDRY - 8- 10 hours
COOL - 3 hours (this was an experiment on my part that paid of kudos in avoiding heat completely, but yet rock a smooth, bouncy rollerset)

Oh, okay. I do remember you stating that you used the cool setting but once I read the 3 hour thing I got completely distracted!
Yes, that makes perfect sense. I've rollersetted a couple times on the cool setting and it did take like another 45 minutes longer or something like that.

You know, I can sit for a few hours during a boring class or presentation but for some reason I get so restless under the dryer! I can barely hang out an hour under that thing unless I put a good movie on to watch. So, I'm not sure if i have the discipline to commit to the cool setting.

 

[aqualung]

Is it healthier to rollerset it weekly even though it exposes my hair to heat once a week?

Rollersetting everytime I wet my hair has worked better for me. (I'm 4b.) When I would airdry with ANY new growth at all, there would be matting close to the scalp.

 

[Neroli]

You know, I can sit for a few hours during a boring class or presentation but for some reason I get so restless under the dryer! I can barely hang out an hour under that thing unless I put a good movie on to watch. So, I'm not sure if i have the discipline to commit to the cool setting.

LOL! Yeah, I hate sitting under there too, but I hate waiting 8 to 10 hours for my hair to dry even more. Also, I think my ends dry smoother and more moisturized with the cool setting than when I simply air dry. The thing is I HAD to give heat because heat is the number one enemy of my hair and 3 hours under a cool dryer once a week is MY personal sacrifice for long healthy hair. It's not as uncomfortable with the cool setting (i really couldn't take 3 hours under there with heat!) and I get alot of reading done or just nap with my feet up. When I get real antsy, I set my dryer near the computer and surf the web, usually LHCF!

I hope you find a good non-heat drying method that works for you.

 

[Kalani]

LOL! Yeah, I hate sitting under there too, but I hate waiting 8 to 10 hours for my hair to dry even more. Also, I think my ends dry smoother and more moisturized with the cool setting than when I simply air dry. The thing is I HAD to give heat because heat is the number one enemy of my hair and 3 hours under a cool dryer once a week is MY personal sacrifice for long healthy hair. It's not as uncomfortable with the cool setting (i really couldn't take 3 hours under there with heat!) and I get alot of reading done or just nap with my feet up. When I get real antsy, I set my dryer near the computer and surf the web, usually LHCF!

I hope you find a good non-heat drying method that works for you.

Setting the dryer up by the computer isn't a bad idea at all! Shoot, I can kill 2 hours easy if I play Sims 2!
Hmmm..I am suddenly inspired to give the cool setting another go! It is true about the ends drying smoother! I did notice that difference when I had tried the cool before.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Neroli]

Setting the dryer up by the computer isn't a bad idea at all! Shoot, I can kill 2 hours easy if I play Sims 2!
Hmmm..I am suddenly inspired to give the cool setting another go! It is true about the ends drying smoother! I did notice that difference when I had tried the cool before.

Thanks everyone!

There you grow!! Give cool setting another go with Sims 2 and see what happens . . .

 

[Isis]

Great thread Dtachi! I airdry overnight in a rollerset. My hair is very thick also but in this way, I'm not waiting for it to dry so it's time effective. If I use too much leave-in, it take a lot longer than overnight to dry.
Neroli - So drying on cool setting with a hooded dryer is not using heat... I haven't thought about that. :scratchch I wonder if it's worth investing in a hair dryer. Does your hair look and feel different airdrying in a rollerset versus a cool dryer setting? What are the benefits besides saving time?

 

[chicamorena]

I used to rollerset my hair every week, but I've gotten lazy so I've just been putting my hair in 2 pigtails or 4 ponytails and rolling the ends and then letting my hair airdry or using the cool setting on my dryer. I don't get the shedding/breakage that I usually do when I airdry my hair loose or in a bun.

 

[sengschick]

I dry my hair on low or cool too (when time permits) but my hair is huge when I take the rollers out. So I thought maybe the higher the heat the str8er it made your hair . I use medium most often b/c I notice my hair feels drier on high.

As far as the original question, I noticed this same trend. I haven't done a wash n' go in awhile now b/c it's so unruly and just works better in the summer for me. The thing I don't like about rollersetting is that it requires me to comb my hair or wrap it for a few days. And I've noticed split ends which I didn't have for 7 mos when I was air drying exclusively. I only do air dry rollersets on really fresh relaxers, otherwise it takes too long to dry.

 

[Neroli]

Great thread Dtachi! I airdry overnight in a rollerset. My hair is very thick also but in this way, I'm not waiting for it to dry so it's time effective. If I use too much leave-in, it take a lot longer than overnight to dry.
Neroli - So drying on cool setting with a hooded dryer is not using heat... I haven't thought about that. :scratchch I wonder if it's worth investing in a hair dryer. Does your hair look and feel different airdrying in a rollerset versus a cool dryer setting? What are the benefits besides saving time?

I THINK cool set drying is not heat because its cool air circulating, much like the room termperature air in house only it's more focused under the hood dryer. IMO, it's worth the investment if trying to eliminate/avoid heat and still rock smooth bouncy rollersets. Other benefits besides saving time: my hair comes out smoother with the ends more moisturized with the cool set rather than with airdrying, I'm not sure why. I have very coarse, kinky, tightly coiled type 4b hair, relaxed. I use an old school Hamilton Beach table top dryer that I "found" in my aunt's attic about 4 years ago -- it must be over 20 years old but rocks. Has 4 settings: hot, medium, warm and cool. Works like a charm.

 

[keylargo]

wow, you ladies have inspired me to rollerset my hair for the first time! I will this week-on a cool setting.

 

[Isis]

I THINK cool set drying is not heat because its cool air circulating, much like the room termperature air in house only it's more focused under the hood dryer. IMO, it's worth the investment if trying to eliminate/avoid heat and still rock smooth bouncy rollersets. Other benefits besides saving time: my hair comes out smoother with the ends more moisturized with the cool set rather than with airdrying, I'm not sure why. I have very coarse, kinky, tightly coiled type 4b hair, relaxed. I use an old school Hamilton Beach table top dryer that I "found" in my aunt's attic about 4 years ago -- it must be over 20 years old but rocks. Has 4 settings: hot, medium, warm and cool. Works like a charm.

Thank you so much Neroli! This is valuable info. I was going to ask you if your dryer was an ionic one but I see that it isn't. I need to find out why your "hair comes out smoother with the ends more moisturized with the cool set rather than with airdrying." Mine is 4b also and I should have similar results. I'm going to research this some more and I look forward to anyone else's experience with this also.

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

Rollersetting everytime I wet my hair has worked better for me. (I'm 4b.) When I would airdry with ANY new growth at all, there would be matting close to the scalp.

I think we might be hair twin, Megonw . You mentioned somewhere that you rollerset with coconut oil. Could you tell us more about how you do this? I love coconut oil and would love a step by step instruction from you so that I can try this the next time that I rollerset. Thanks in advance .