Rag Curls

When I was a little girl, I used to always see my grandma curl her hair for Sunday morning with strips of brown paper bag. I don't really know or remember how that came to be her choice over rags but I think some of it may be that she grew up in an atmosphere of using whatever you had.

I loved to have my hair done that way. I can distinctly remember the crinkle that it would make when I would have to sleep on it. My favorite part was the tight ringlets that it would produce. I had hair down to my waist until I was about 12 years old. I would have my mom roll the hair up wet the night before church so that Sunday morning she could brush it out into a gorgeous POUFFF. Even my bangs! I laugh and cringe at that now when I think about it. I'm sure glad my taste and style has changed. ;)

Now my children love to have their hair done in rag curlers. I opt not to use the so tight paper bag curlers on them, though. Instead, we 'up-cycle' our tights that get runs in them. I cut the legs off the tights into 3-4 pieces a leg. The thickness of the tights give a nice size ringlet. I refuse to brush their hair into that previously mentioned beautiful poufff. After undoing the rag curler, I twist each ringlet with my finger and a little texture cream or mousse. This gives a much smoother and cuter 'Shirley Temple' affect. After a day I will then brush it out for a softer look.

Who knew that brown paper bags and tights with runs in them could produce such endearing memories?