How to Get Big Curls With Foam Benders

While often overlooked in favor of shiny curling irons and bulky roller sets, foam benders create bouncy curls that last like no other. When wrapped around a foam roller, hair is smoothed out and molds to the shape until your next wash. This is a game changer for fans of big curls, as iron and roller curls tend to wilt by midday. Add a foam roller set to your dressing table to achieve big curls that will see you through any day.

Use your fingertips to work shampoo into the root of your hair while wet and rinse completely. Coat the ends of your hair with conditioner and leave it on for three minutes before rinsing. Use voluminous products if you have fine hair and moisturizing oil-based products for naturally thick or unruly hair to provide a base for the curls.

Gently squeeze the ends of your hair dry with a towel. Pour a golf-ball-sized amount of mousse into the palm of your hand and work it into the roots of your hair. Run a wide-tooth comb through your hair from root to tip to distribute the product and encourage volume.

Position a round brush under a 2-inch wide section of hair from the crown of your head, at the root. Aim a blow dryer at the hair on the brush and pull the brush through to the ends while drying on medium heat. Continue until the section is 70 percent dry, and move on to a new 2-inch-wide section. Repeat on all your hair, working your way toward the nape of your neck. The heat from the blow-dryer will help the curls to form and last longer.

Smooth a setting lotion through your hair from mid-length to the ends. A quarter-sized amount is enough for shoulder-length hair. This helps your hair retain the shape of the curlers.

Pick up a 2-inch-wide section of hair from the crown of your head and pull it taut with your nondominant hand. Position a 2-inch foam bender next to the end of the section, horizontally. Press the end of the section against the end of the roller and hold it in place with your thumb. Rotate the roller away from your face until the root of your hair is at the roller.

Grasp one end of the roller with each hand and bend it into a "U" shape. This keeps the roller in place. Wrap and bend the remainder of your hair in 2-inch sections, working your way toward the nape of your neck.

Leave the rollers in your hair until it is completely dry. Wear them overnight if possible, pulling a silk shower cap over your hair to keep the rollers in place while you sleep.

Grasp a roller on each side and pull the ends down to form a straight line. Pull the roller out of your hair to release the curl. Remove all the rollers.

Gently run your fingers through your hair to loosen the curls. They will already be large, due to the large sections and rollers used, but combing them through will give them a more natural look.

Hold a can of hairspray 10 inches away from your head and coat the curls, concentrating on the ends. Choose an anti-humidity hairspray for added protection.