Try using strips of t-shirt like cotton cloth for the curls instead of paper. I used this method years ago with success even though I have straight fine hair that does not want to hold a curl no matter what.

Regarding paper curls – try strips of fabric instead. Use them on wet hair before going to bed and even the lankest hair will hold the ringlets (applying a bit of styling product before twisting them up never hurt either). If you have very thick hair, make sure you use a lot of curlers – if you make too few curls, the weight of your hair and the dictates of gravity will prevail by the end of the day. I learned this technique from my grandmother whose mother painstakingly twisted up her hair each night before bed in order to achieve perfect ringlets, ala Shirley Temple.

When I want to create an up-do on my very fine, straight hair, I find it works well to wash with baking soda and rinse with vinegar, rather than using commercial hair products. Use 1 T. baking soda in 1 c. warm water (pour on and work into scalp for several minutes before rinsing). Then rinse with 1 T. cider vinegar in 1 c. warm water, and do a final warm water rinse.

One can go completely shampoo-free using this method – it does take some time for one’s scalp to adapt to lack of stripping from commercial shampoos, but after about two weeks it “settles in”.

This method leaves the hair with more volume, and it’s less “slippery” when dry, so it can be worked with more easily in up-dos.

I also find the ornaments from France Luxe invaluable in creating a modern, yet historically-inspired, hairdo.

http://www.franceluxe.com
(If you purchase three items, they automatically throw in a freebie. No affiliation.)

Thanks again for creating this wonderfully informative post!