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Clip your roots while air-drying

For damp waves or curls that tend to dry flat at selected roots, small lightweight clips can hold those areas away from the scalp during air-drying. The result varies; this guide focuses on placement, comfort and removal.

A woman supports a damp root clump upright with one hand and positions an open small root clip with the other.

Step by step

  1. A woman lifts one small damp root clump at her crown while lightweight root clips rest on the bathroom counter.
    STEP 1 OF 4

    Choose the roots to lift

    • Finish your usual wash and styling steps, then set lightweight smooth root-lifting clips within reach.
    • With damp loose hair, use your fingertips to lift one small clump at a flat part or crown area.
    • Work only where both hands can reach comfortably; a perfect part or equal spacing is unnecessary.
  2. A woman supports a damp root clump upright with one hand and positions an open small root clip with the other.
    STEP 2 OF 4

    Place one clip at the roots

    • Hold the clump up and away from the scalp with one hand.
    • Squeeze a clip fully open with the other hand and bring its jaws around the lifted hair close to the base, clear of skin.
    • Release the clip gently. The root clump should stay raised without feeling pulled, pinched or stretched.

    The photo shows a small root clip positioned around lifted hair. Keep the clip clear of skin; do not drag closed jaws into place.

  3. Four small lightweight clips lift selected crown roots while loose wavy-curly hair air-dries indoors.
    STEP 3 OF 4

    Check and let the hair dry

    • Repeat only at other selected areas, using a separate small clump for each clip.
    • Look and feel around every clip. Remove or reset anything that tips, pinches, pulls, hurts or stings.
    • Leave the clips alone while the hair air-dries indoors. Wait until the roots and inner layers feel fully dry.
  4. A woman supports dry hair with one hand while lifting a fully opened root clip clear with the other.
    STEP 4 OF 4

    Open and lift each clip away

    • When finishing the style, confirm the roots and inner layers are dry; remove any clip sooner if it feels uncomfortable.
    • Support the hair beside one clip with one hand. Squeeze the clip fully open with the other.
    • Lift the open clip clear along its placement path instead of pulling it through the lengths; count and put away every clip.

About 2–5 min hands-on for placing a few root clips, checking comfort and later removing them. Add full air-drying; preceding wash and styling steps are separate.

Practical editorial estimate, not measured. Clip count and placement changes drive active time; the clips' entire wear time is not hands-on work.

You’re done when…

All selected roots and inner layers are fully dry, every clip has been opened and lifted clear, and no clipped area feels pulled or pinched.