Put the part of the hair you want in the hair rolls up in curlers so you're rolling up towards the back of your head, and towards your part. Real rollers on damp hair is the best, though you can use hot rollers in a pinch. Using mousse works wonders. You can do it by yourself, or have a friend over so you can help each other.

Let your hair dry thoroughly. Do your nails, read a book, gossip with your friends while you wait... When the hair is dry, take out the rollers.

Tease the part you curled to within an inch of its life from the inside of the curls. You are trying to develop enough volume to have something to roll the hair around. You'll look like Medusa if you've done it right.

Using your fingers, or even something like a round hairbrush handle, gently roll the hair into a fat sausage. It does take a bit of practice. The roll should be like a tube, not closed up. The back of the roll should be a little tighter than the front, so that it blends more with the head - it should sort of grow like a cone from the back to the front.

The ends that are all tattered and uneven from the teasing will tuck inside the roll. The outside of the roll should be the least teased part, and you should be able to smooth it out with gentle brushing or a comb. Use a couple of big bobby-pins from the front and the back of the roll to fasten the whole roll to the top of your head. Use the smaller ones to fix bumps and add security.

Hair spray. Don't use the super hold, better to use the gentle hold and use more. You don't want a helmet-head.

Dance. Wiggle your head. Jump up & down. Find any part you think might be loose, and pin it & spray it some more.

If you want, tie a pretty ribbon around your head to hold your hair out of your (and your partner's!) face and spruce up your hair-do even more.

The more you practice, the faster the process will go, and the less teasing, bobby pins, and hair spray you'll need. Give it a try, and let me know if I need to refine these notes. If they worked for you, send us a picture by clicking on the envelope below!

As an alternative to spending all that time under the hairdryer to get the volume you need, you can purchase hair rats, which are kind of netting tubes that have some give. You wrap your hair around them to give your roll volume. They are available from almost any beauty supply store, or take the toe of an old stocking and stuff it with your own hair from your brush to make your own. Rats might be cheating just a bit, but it's faster if you're in a rush. Most people will never know the difference!