Q. I have quite long thick hair, which really needs lift to look party-bouncy but I am so hopeless at putting in rollers.  Can you help?
 

A. Actually this is one of our strong suits – or rather Sarah’s, as she has much the same hair.  Way way back, when we wrote our first Beauty Bible ever in about 1995, we asked hairstyling legend (and great chum) Charles Worthington for his tips on this.

He told us that the key is the angle!  Not of the dangle but of the lock of hair.  So… if you are starting at the top front, use your fingers or a tail comb to separate a section of hair a little less wide than the roller you are using (more on those later).  Now, using your comb or round brush, pull the hair forward (ie over your forehead) from the roots.  Keeping it at that angle, start winding hair round the roller from the ends.  This gives you maximum lift and hold.

Repeat this all over your head, then leave the rollers to ‘set’ for a few minutes before gently pulling out.  If you want maximum lift, backcomb the roots a little with your tail comb.  You can mist a fine hair spray over to keep it that way.  (Sarah is still a fan of the classic Elnett…)

Now the rollers:  to give lift without much curl, use large rollers or medium-sized if you want a bit of curl/wave.  Sarah likes the old-fashioned slightly bristly ones, secured with a long Kirby grip.

Finally, Sarah’s most favourite gizmo ever is the John Frieda Salon Shape Air Styler. This is essentially a big round brush, which blows hot air through it.  It has ionic technology, which means it smooths out frizzies, and you wind it round locks of nearly dry hair, using the same technique as we describe above.  For real oomph, pop a roller into each lock after, while hair cools down.

UK readers find John Frieda Salon Shape Air Styler at www.boots.com/£39.99 – buy here