Rosalie wrote: http://gallery.hairboutique.com/details.asp?ID=4291 I post this before but nobody answered... I'm wondering how short I'd have to cut it to get a style like that, and what I'd have to do to maintain it and get it to poof out like that. MY hair is naturally thick and curly, so it naturally sticks out a bit.

OK first of all that is not an everday style. That is a model on a photo shoot who had her hair set and also I'm willing to bet there are some hair pieces in that doo too. I'd say 2 maybe 3 hair pieces in that hairdo just look at the crown. If that is a look you are looking for you should check for professional hair pieces that clip into current hair. You could easily achieve that look.

Rosalie, this is off-topic but I really like your outfit

Anais

Rosalie wrote: I mainly want to know how to achieve the "bigness" effect. My hair currently looks like this - As you can tell it's already pretty big. Will cutting it short in layers on it's own produce a similiar effect? I just want it big with large curls basically...

Layers release weight and create volume. Hair texture will dictate how the overall look will appear. You hair looks wavy in texture at the perimiter is that a perm that is growing out? Perms with larger rods are a good way to create a wash and wear style slightly shorter than what you currently have and the layers will give it a lighter overall appearance and create volume.

When getting a perm you need to remember this....

1x around the rod and you will have a "C" shaped curl of hair.

1+1/2x around the rod you will have a wave

2+1/2x around the rod and you will create curls. (THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT)

Also placement of the rods dictates the volume that will be achieved. The general rule of thumb is the larger the roller, the greater the volume but you want to make sure your hair goes around 2 1/2x around the roller to create the curl.

As for roller placement there is...

On Base - For Full Volume, the Roller sits directly on it's base. Overdirect the strand slightly in front of the base and roll the hair down and onto the base section of hair. (THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT)

Half Base - For Medium Volume, the roller sits halfway on it's base and halfway behind the base. Hold the strand straight up from the head and roll the hair down.

Off Base - For the least volume, the roller sits completely off the base. Hold the strand of hair 45* degrees back from the base and roll the hair down.

Before you perm the hair you could cut it to the desired length of a length that you feel you would like and then do a Wash n Set or Roller Set where the wet hair is wrapped around rollers with setting lotion saturated throughout the hair and spray the hair with setting lotion after it's rolled as well then sit under a dryer for 30 minutes or until dry then take it out and comb or pick lightly thru it to see if that is the look you want before you actually perm your hair. All the fundamentals listed above apply for roller sets as well as perms.

G'luck and let us know how you make out.

Thanks for sharing those, Rosalie! The umbrella makes it look really playful.

Anais