Bored with Flat Hair? How About a Change to Bouncy Hair with Volume?

I'm not afraid to say it: I'm over flat hair. I've been straightening my hair for 3 1/2 years, and seriously, I'm bored with it. Ever since I dyed my hair smoky black and got rid of the red streaks, I'm not interested in getting that smooth flat look.

But what other options are there, you ask? How about fun, beachy, volumized curls? Or even waves? How about doing something completely different than every other girl out there with her flat hair?

Enter velcro rollers. Truly, a gift for those of us who need a bit of bounce. Cheap, easy to use, and effective. You can use them on wet, dry, or even damp hair. You can create corkscrew curls, bouncy large curls, or even skip it and just go for volume at the roots. They can be time consuming at first, and there is a bit of a learning curve, but soon you'll be wondering how you did without them.

First, get yourself a good set of rollers that offers several different sizes. If you're just going for volume at the roots, get a set of six jumbo rollers - the biggest you can find. Everyone else will probably prefer various different sizes. Because it's Earth Day, try the Conair Bamboo Self Grip Rollers, 28-Pack.

Most people will tell you to dry your hair completely first, and lightly spray your hair (I use Elnett, it's the best ever). I think that's great, but I'm trying to minimize the damage to my color-treated hair, so I put the rollers in when my hair is still damp. Section hair by the crown (top of the head), back, left and right. Using a rattail comb and starting at the bottom of each section, grab a section of hair that is no wider than the roller and no thicker than about two inches. Roll hair under and make sure the roller is flush against the head. Use a bobby pin or roller clip to hold in place if need be. You will probably have about three rollers per section, if not more.

Next, I like to wrap it up in a silk scarf and go find something else to do until it dries. If you're the impatient type, you can hit it with your hairdryer. Extra points if you have a soft bonnet hair dryer. I just bought one today, and haven't used it yet. More details to come.

After the curls are completely dry, carefully and without pulling (which will cause frizz) remove rollers. Let them completely cool if you used heat before brushing out. Otherwise, brush with a natural bristle brush if you wish, spray generously, and style as usual.

If you're going for volume only with straight hair, dry hair completely and flat iron. Take the jumbo rollers and roll only the crown section of your head in the rollers. Let sit for 15-30 minutes, carefully remove, and spray with a good hairspray to keep the roots up.

Have you tried velcro rollers? Are there other rollers you prefer? How do they work for you?