Dance mom, hair help please!

[MoonFaerie]

How in the heck do I get tight curls to stay in fine, thin hair? I curled dd's like I would mine. I put it up in the pigtails, and then used the small curling iron and did lots of small sections. It was great for about 45 mins, and then it morphed into one big curl. Where did I go wrong?

I need the curls to stick around for several hours. Thanks to all the holiday traffic, I'm planning on it taking 2 hours to make the 20 mile trip to Gatlinburg. Then there's the hour that we're there ahead of time to get in costume and everything. Plus she's in the second act, so add close to another hour.

[nat1234]

It's been awhile since I've had to do hair for dance recitals but I'll try to help. First you need to get some of those sponge curlers (they look like a piece of sponge with a part that clips over the hair to hold the curler in place). Next get either gel or a setting lotion. I always used gel. This works better if your daughter's hair is a little dirty. I know it sounds awful but it does stay in better. Pull her hair into a ponytail or two if that's what you need. Now like you were doing with your curling iron, take little sections and put a little bit of gel on the section from the top to the bottom of the section and roll it in the curler. And you keep doing this until all the hair is rolled. I used to do this the night before and my DD would sleep on it (that's why you use sponge curlers) and would go to school this way if it worked out that it was after school. After your DD is dressed and her make-up done, then you remove the curlers, no brushing, and spray with a firm hold hairspray. My DD's dance recital would usually take place on two nights and after the first night we would repeat this process without washing her hair, and it usually worked better the second night. I couldn't wait to wash her hair when it was all over. I hope this helps. It does look cute when it's done but boy is it a lot of work. Good luck.
I forgot to add, if she's in the second act don't take it out until the intermission or just after.

[MoonFaerie]

Thanks! I'm so out of my element with this dance stuff. And all the other moms know each other and aren't in any hurry to let me in their clique. (I'm the weird one with pink hair, piercings, and tattoos. Not surprising that I don't fit in, but it'd be nice to not be clueless about everything.)

[redrosesix]

Originally Posted by nat1234

It's been awhile since I've had to do hair for dance recitals but I'll try to help. First you need to get some of those sponge curlers (they look like a piece of sponge with a part that clips over the hair to hold the curler in place). Next get either gel or a setting lotion. I always used gel. This works better if your daughter's hair is a little dirty. I know it sounds awful but it does stay in better. Pull her hair into a ponytail or two if that's what you need. Now like you were doing with your curling iron, take little sections and put a little bit of gel on the section from the top to the bottom of the section and roll it in the curler. And you keep doing this until all the hair is rolled. I used to do this the night before and my DD would sleep on it (that's why you use sponge curlers) and would go to school this way if it worked out that it was after school. After your DD is dressed and her make-up done, then you remove the curlers, no brushing, and spray with a firm hold hairspray. My DD's dance recital would usually take place on two nights and after the first night we would repeat this process without washing her hair, and it usually worked better the second night. I couldn't wait to wash her hair when it was all over. I hope this helps. It does look cute when it's done but boy is it a lot of work. Good luck.
I forgot to add, if she's in the second act don't take it out until the intermission or just after.

ITA with all of this. As for hairspray, we use the cheapest stuff in the store that says firm hold -- the kind of stuff your grandmother probably used (your brands might be different from ours so I won't bother with that). And always aerosol. For the uncurled part, I actually spray my DD's hair until it's wet and smooth it down with my hands.

[nat1234]

Don't worry about it. I didn't really fit in either because neither of my daughters did competitive dance. Nothing against the parents whose kids did, my girls just wanted to dance for the fun of it. And I didn't have a clue either when my oldest daughter started either. It just takes practice. I was lucky that one of the girl's she went to school with also took dance and her mom was able to tell me how to do it. I just hope that your little one will sit still long enough for you to be able to do her hair. They really do look cute when it's done. I hope the instructions work for you. Please let me know.
Natalie

[nat1234]

Originally Posted by redrosesix

For the uncurled part, I actually spray my DD's hair until it's wet and smooth it down with my hands.

I could never under stand why it all had to be smooth. My girls even had to have their bangs pulled back. When they were dancing, I'm should have bought stock in the hairspray company. I'd be rich just by selling to the dance moms alone

[nikkistevej]

My DD's dance teacher also wanted no bangs- I went and bought some of the Got2B glue- that stuff works like a charm!!! At another recital we were at(my DD wasn't in it- but some of the girls she is friends with were)- they all bought curly hair ponytails and used them- I think maybe about $10 from the mall- it stayed in all night and looked great. Good luck!!

[Sagginit]

when i was younger i had a slight wave to my hair, and it was long and fine. my mum used to put my hair in the sponge curlers while wet and i would sleep on it. in the morning i looked like a long haired shirly temple. i also used to know girls in cheerleading, they did some sort of rag curl. they also sold "cheer curls". you put the hair in a bun and put that piece over it and voila, instant curls. i had to do french braids for my dance school, my mum learned how to do it because it was too expensive to take me to the hair salon all the time. we too used super cheap hairspray.

[powellrj]

Originally Posted by nikkistevej

My DD's dance teacher also wanted no bangs- I went and bought some of the Got2B glue- that stuff works like a charm!!! At another recital we were at(my DD wasn't in it- but some of the girls she is friends with were)- they all bought curly hair ponytails and used them- I think maybe about $10 from the mall- it stayed in all night and looked great. Good luck!!

Thats what I was going to suggest. I know the show choir girls all had curly pony tails and thats what they used. They would dance all day and still look great for night time finals.

[mjkacmom]

Originally Posted by powellrj

Thats what I was going to suggest. I know the show choir girls all had curly pony tails and thats what they used. They would dance all day and still look great for night time finals.

LOL - I was going to chime in about my irish dancer (with fine hair) is lucky that they wear curly bun and full wigs (although the full takes about 20 minutes to put on!). She'll be sporting it at her 8 am competition tomorrow!

[taximomfor4]

We are in the Irish Dance world....need tight curls often so bought wigs (both bun cover type, and full-head type). But we USED to curl hair ourselves. The answer is Soft Spike curlers. You order them.

[taximomfor4]

Originally Posted by mjkacmom

LOL - I was going to chime in about my irish dancer (with fine hair) is lucky that they wear curly bun and full wigs (although the full takes about 20 minutes to put on!). She'll be sporting it at her 8 am competition tomorrow!

HA! We have gotten wig application down to about 4 minutes, but for the Oireachtas, they want teams to half the pouf in front -- we always do side swoop. So I bet it'll take me longer on Saturday!!

[mjkacmom]

Originally Posted by taximomfor4

HA! We have gotten wig application down to about 4 minutes, but for the Oireachtas, they want teams to half the pouf in front -- we always do side swoop. So I bet it'll take me longer on Saturday!!

LOL - it's the front pouf that gets me (dd8 has FINE hair). Luckily, one of dd's teachers will do her hair at 7 am tomorrow - she's very tiny, with a large head, so I only do bun wigs at feis' - so much easier!

[taximomfor4]

Originally Posted by mjkacmom

LOL - it's the front pouf that gets me (dd8 has FINE hair). Luckily, one of dd's teachers will do her hair at 7 am tomorrow - she's very tiny, with a large head, so I only do bun wigs at feis' - so much easier!

For my littler dd, we do bun wig as well (not even a curly one!) Her hair is still baby hair, all around the hairline. A pouf is gonna be quite the feat on her. Have to have her hair and makeup done by 6:45AM on Saturday. EEEEEEEKKKKKK!

I am assuming you are headed to the O as well. GL to your dd!!

OP, when do you need this hair done? If it is a week or 2 away, consider the soft spikes. They are soooo great, many Irish Dance competitions have vendors selling them!

[mjkacmom]

Originally Posted by taximomfor4

For my littler dd, we do bun wig as well (not even a curly one!) Her hair is still baby hair, all around the hairline. A pouf is gonna be quite the feat on her. Have to have her hair and makeup done by 6:45AM on Saturday. EEEEEEEKKKKKK!

I am assuming you are headed to the O as well. GL to your dd!!

OP, when do you need this hair done? If it is a week or 2 away, consider the soft spikes. They are soooo great, many Irish Dance competitions have vendors selling them!

The same teacher got her hair done last year - I'd be thrilled to have her dance Saturday instead of Friday! We're heading to Philly right after dinner tonight. GL to your dd as well!