Ringlets in very fine, shoulder length, 4yo hair

[Devonicity]

I need to put my 4yo's hair in ringlets for a show.

Tried at the weekend, using damp hair, styling mousse and curling rags - but when I took it out in the morning no curls, just a slight wave.

The show is coming up, does anyone know how to make fine, baby-type hair go into ringlets? She's going to cry if she's the only one without them...

Have you tried it in dry hair? I have the sort of hair that if tied up when wet will stay wet and then any curl would brush straight out.

Much easier to do using a tong.

Yes, tong from dry. Then I think you will probably need to put hairspray on it to keep them in.

i used to do dd's in rags, but you have to twist the sections up first until they want to curl up in themselves, then roll that twist up in the rags

I have done it without rags, keep twisting until it does curl in on itself and then I'd secure it with those little towelling-ish scrunchielike mini bobbles

If you section it off into wee squares it looks quite cute like that for a day, but for lovely ringlets you get a better result with random sections

...when you release them don't brush, just finger through to let them out.

I don't own tongs and I'm reluctant to have them near a wriggly 4yo if there's any safer way.

I do have hair spray but there weren't any curls to spray or to brush out. Her hair is so fine and thin they just didn't seem to 'take' at all.

You could try using drinking straws to make smaller, tighter ringlets which might stay in. Google ringlets with straws for lots of links and videos. Hth

I always had to use permanent lotion to get ringlets to stay in for more than 20 mins! And have in rags overnight and right brought the next day until Minutes before went outage when we're released and fingered into place

Well, have tried again today with tons of styling mousse and wet hair, and a headscarf to keep the rags tight to her head. We shall see...