A lot of us curlies suffer from the dreaded flat-head.
The solution?
Duckbill clips.
Photo courtesy of http://naturalreviewbyl.com
There’s a fair amount of information already available about using duckbill clips for root lift, but despite doing a bunch of reading I found I still had a hard time figuring out a method that worked for me.
Since a few of you have mentioned that you’re having issues in this area, here are some pictures to show you how I use duckbill clips to enhance volume. Like I said, this is just one of many ways… but more information is always better than less, so here you go.
Please forgive the state of my hair in these pictures. This was the day I should have done a deep conditioning treatment and didn’t.
Really, all I do is slide 5 or 6 clips in along my hairline. It’s not at all difficult. But here is what it looks like:
I only bother clipping the top of my head, but some people do the sides and back, too.
Then I diffuse for a few minutes, paying special attention to the root area. It looks pretty unimpressive at first.
It looks worse after the clips come out:
But then I dump my head upside down and give my hair a good shake (without touching it, of course, because it’s still pretty damp):
Better, no? But it’s still pretty wet, so the increased volume isn’t really apparent yet.
After it’s dry… (and after I’ve put on a really ugly fleece vest, because it’s stinkin’ COLD in my house!)
This was the best pic of my hair, even though it’s the worst in terms of facial expression!
I think the difference is most apparent in this shot:
Using the clips lifts and separates (anyone else just have a flashback to Peggy Bundy describing her favorite bra? No? Just me?) the layers so the curls can hang free and turn around as many times as they need to.
For comparison, look at the difference between the top of my head as you see it above and this picture:
That was 2008, after dying my hair a color I was uncertain of (hence the facial expression). Note that the curls don’t start their fun twists and coils until somewhere around my temple. That’s what happens when I don’t clip my roots.
I much prefer for the curls to start their turns up by my hairline, like this:
Hehe. I love that picture. :0)
So, do you clip your roots? What method do you use?
HAHAHAHA! I love that last pic! LMAO! As for clipping… UGH… I’m still trying to master it, myself. Today I didn’t use them and it shows, really. I NEED them. I just hate messin’ with them – or with my curls when they’re wet, for that matter. ;o)
One thing I HAVE found is that I simply CANNOT use those small ones that you show in your first picture. I have some small pointed ones (just like the big ones, only smaller) that I CAN use. But, those other ones get tangled in my curls MUCH too easily. All that being said, I prefer the big, long ones because they seem to have strength to keep the root lifted without sliding down the hair; which is what happens with small ones in my hair.
As for technique, I do pretty much what you show here; mainly because it seems like the only way I can clip without bothering the curl. Forget trying to clip horizontally (across the top of my head, say, from ear to ear direction). That really messes with my curls. And I won’t even attempt “weaving” them across my part like I’ve seen suggested on Deva’s fb page. I have nightmares about what my hair would look like if I tried that. So, for now, I’ll keep doing what you do – stick ‘em straight in from the front. The thing I need to nail down is timing. I always feel like I take them out too soon. …Eventually, I’ll get it. As with everything else, I guess it just takes practice, practice, practice. ;o)
Oh I agree – I can’t use the small ones either! They’re a total waste of drawer space here. I should just throw them out!
Just found your blog-love it! Question-I have wavy hair that I am willing to become more curly…have the spirals BUT how do you avoid straightening out the hair closest to your roots when you clip? I totally went for it today and while I have a smidge more volume the its straight on top and the spirals start lower down. Ideas?
Hi there! Thanks for the compliment!
I’m curious… when did you take the clips out? I’m wondering if you left them in until your hair was close to 100% dry. I haven’t played around with clipping other people’s hair when I’m styling it, but on myself, I find I get the dreaded straight-at-the-roots phenomenon when I leave the clips in too long. Generally my hair is about 3/4 of the way dry when I take the clips out.
Does that help at all?
Absolutely! Thanks so much! You were right I left them in until I was completely dry…tried again today, following your advice and got better results. I think I was too focused on not touching anything until dry. I also tried the shorter clips in the picture and that may have helped a little. Thanks again!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for following up!
I do better by just using two long duckbill clips horizontally across my head, so it catches both sides of my part. I flip my head over, and stick one towards the front (but not the VERY front) and one at the very top of my head. Then I use about four plastic butterfly clips, one on each side, and two in the back, around the eyebrow level. It’s important that these are placed vertically. Then I use a diffuser or air dry. I do think you should wait until your hair is at least 80-90% dry, and use a diffuser to fluff out whether or not you air dried. The hot air fluffing is super important. This method is pretty much fail proof for me.
I’m so gonna use these! I totally have this problem and had no idea there’s a cure! Thanks!
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