1966 vs. 2026 Curl Routine Using Dippity-Do Girls with Curls

1966 vs. 2026 Curl Routine: I Tested Dippity-Do Both Ways

If your mom or grandma grew up with curly hair, she probably knows exactly what Dippity-Do is. And if she doesn't, ask her. Because this gel has been around since the 1960s and it is not a coincidence that it has lasted six decades while entire product lines have come and gone.

I got Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee inside Curls Monthly recently and I decided to do something a little different with it. Instead of just doing my regular routine, I went back and found the original Dippity-Do commercial from the 1960s and tried to recreate that exact roller set on my mannequin Irene. Then I also did a full 2026 curl routine on myself using the same product. Two completely different methods, same gel. Here is what happened. 👇

What Is Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee?

Dippity-Do launched in the 1960s and was genuinely the first widely popular hair gel. Like, this was not just a popular product. It was THE product. The one people actually knew by name. Generations of women used this for roller sets before YouTube tutorials existed, before there were 47 different curl creams to choose from, before any of this.

The Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee is their hero product and it is formulated for waves, curls, and coils. The second ingredient is PVP, which is a real holding ingredient. So when the bottle says "light hold," I want you to know that it is being a little modest. The hold on this is actually pretty solid, which I will get into. There is also aloe vera leaf juice in there for moisture and hydrolyzed wheat protein, which supports elasticity and helps curls actually hold their shape.

This year marks six decades of Dippity-Do. Their own words: "For six decades, Dippity-Do has shaped hair history, passed down through generations who knew that great hair isn't just about trends. It's about technique, confidence, and a little magic in a jar." I mean. Yes. That is exactly right.

The 1966 Roller Set Method (I Did This on My Mannequin Irene)

The original Dippity-Do commercial showed women doing roller sets, specifically large velcro-style rollers on sections of hair. I watched it, took notes, and then grabbed Irene, my mannequin, who has more of a soft Hair Finish™ which actually makes her the perfect candidate for this because soft hair tends to cooperate really well with roller sets.

Here is how the 1966 method actually worked:

1. Start with damp hair, not soaking wet. You want moisture but not dripping.
2. Section the hair. I worked from the front and sides inward toward the back.
3. Take a small amount of Dippity-Do Gelee and glide it onto each section.
4. Use a boar bristle brush to smooth that section completely. This is the step that matters most because any roughness left in the section will show up as frizz once the roller comes out.
5. Roll the section with tension the entire way through. Do not let go of that tension. The moment you lose it, the curl underneath starts to spring up and fight the roller.
6. Clip the roller in place and move to the next section.
7. Use smaller rollers near your face and ears, larger rollers in the back.
8. Let it fully set before removing.

The result on Irene was genuinely stunning. Those curls held. The Dippity-Do did not budge, did not slip, did not drip (just like the commercial actually promised). When I took the rollers out and used the boar bristle brush to loosen them, it was basically like scrunching out a gel cast. The curls brushed out into this beautiful, bouncy blowout-adjacent finish. Very Sabrina Carpenter. Very 1960s but somehow also very right now.

The biggest learning from the 1966 method: tension is everything. It is the technique, not just the product.

The 2026 Curl Routine Method (I Did This on Myself)

For my own hair, I used the Dippity-Do Gelee the way I would use any gel in a regular wash-day routine. My hair is on the medium-to-rough side of the Hair Finish™ spectrum, so I prepped accordingly.

Here is what I did:

1. Washed with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
2. Applied a leave-in conditioner on soaking wet hair before touching any gel. This step matters. The Gelee does not have a ton of heavy moisture in it by design, so you want to make sure your hair is prepped before you go in with it.
3. Sectioned my hair and applied the Gelee by raking it through and then scrunching.
4. Repeated section by section.
5. Scrunched with a microfiber towel.
6. Diffused until 100% dry.
7. Scrunched out the crunch with a little oil on my hands once completely dry.

The gel cast was real. I knew going in that PVP as the second ingredient was going to give me something to work with, and it did. Once I scrunched it out, the curls were defined, moisturized, full of volume, and basically frizz-free. One of my better wash days recently, honestly.

Now here is the thing about this product and Hair Finish™. Because there is not a ton of heavy moisture in the Gelee and not an overwhelming amount of protein either, it actually works across finishes. What will change your result is not the gel itself but what you use underneath it:

• Soft Hair Finish: Use a lightweight spray leave-in before the Gelee. The gel will give you definition without weighing your curls down.
• Medium Hair Finish: A creamy leave-in works perfectly here as your base before applying the Gelee section by section.
• Rough Hair Finish: Go in with a heavier curl cream on soaking wet hair first, then layer the Gelee over it for hold. The protein in the formula will support your elasticity and the hold will last.

This is exactly the kind of product I love breaking down through the Barbie Delle Method because the application approach changes completely depending on your hair, but the product itself is genuinely versatile.

Does Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Gelee Actually Work for Modern Curl Routines?

Yes, and I want to be specific about why. 💛

The PVP holding ingredient that makes this gel work has been in the formula for 60 years. It is the same ingredient that has been holding curls in place since your grandmother's roller set days. That ingredient did not need to be reinvented because it was already doing its job. What changed is how we use it.

In 1966, the goal was a smooth, uniform roller set that brushed out into a polished wave. In 2026, the goal is usually defined, clump-y, frizz-free curls that hold their shape after scrunching out a gel cast. Two totally different outcomes, same core ingredient, same bottle.

What I also love is that Dippity-Do designed the Gelee to work in multiple ways. They call it out themselves: Gelee plus diffusing for wash-and-go styles, Gelee plus rollers for a classic wet set, Gelee plus an edge brush for smooth, polished styles. That is not a marketing line. I actually tested two of those three methods and they both delivered.

How to Use Dippity-Do Gelee Based on Your Hair Finish™

I want to make this as practical as possible because the product is versatile but the routine still needs to match your hair. Here is my actual breakdown: 👇

Soft Hair Finish Use a lightweight spray leave-in first. Apply the Gelee by scrunching rather than raking for a more diffused, less structured definition. This finish tends to lose shape, so using a curl spray or light hairspray over the dry result can help lock it in. For roller sets, soft hair is honestly your best candidate. It cooperates beautifully and the results will look incredible.

Medium Hair Finish A creamy leave-in before the Gelee is your move. Rake and scrunch section by section, diffuse fully, and scrunch out the crunch with a drop of oil when completely dry. The Gelee will give you that defined, bouncy result without feeling heavy.

Rough Hair Finish Layer this over a curl cream, not just a leave-in. Your hair needs that moisture foundation before you go in with any holding product. The hydrolyzed wheat protein in the Gelee is actually working in your favor here since it supports elasticity, which is what rough hair typically needs more of. Scrunch generously and diffuse fully before touching it.

For all finishes: do not rush the dry time. The gel cast needs to be completely set before you scrunch it out, or you will disrupt the curl formation and end up with frizz.

[INTERNAL LINK: Learn more about the full Barbie Delle Method and which steps apply to your finish: Barbie Delle Method playlist]

Where to Get Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee

Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee is currently in the Curls Monthly product vault, which means subscribers can add it to their box. If you want to try it alongside other products curated specifically for your Hair Finish™, that is the easiest way to get your hands on it without committing to a full-size purchase you are not sure about yet.

You can also watch the full video where I tested both the 1966 roller set method and the 2026 curl routine side by side right here.

FAQ

Is Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Gelee good for curly hair?

Yes. The formula contains PVP for hold, aloe vera for moisture, and hydrolyzed wheat protein for elasticity. It works across soft, medium, and rough Hair Finish™ types. What changes is what you layer underneath it, not the gel itself.

How do you use Dippity-Do for a roller set?

Apply a small amount to each section of damp hair and smooth with a boar bristle brush before rolling. The key is maintaining tension the entire time you roll the section so the curl underneath does not spring up and fight the roller. Use smaller rollers near your face and larger ones in the back.

Can you use Dippity-Do Gelee for a wash-and-go routine?

Yes. Apply it over a leave-in conditioner or curl cream on soaking wet, sectioned hair. Rake through and scrunch per section, diffuse until 100% dry, then scrunch out the gel cast with a small amount of oil. The result is defined, frizz-free curls.

Is Dippity-Do a light hold or strong hold gel?

The bottle says light hold but the second ingredient is PVP, which is a legitimate holding ingredient. In practice it delivers a stronger result than "light hold" suggests, especially for curl routines. For roller sets, the hold is exactly what you need.

What is the difference between Dippity-Do for soft vs. rough hair?

For soft Hair Finish™, use a spray leave-in underneath and scrunch the Gelee in lightly. For rough Hair Finish™, layer it over a curl cream and use more product overall. The gel works for both finishes. The foundation you build before applying it is what changes.

 

Dippity-Do has been around for six decades because it actually works. Not because of marketing, not because of trends, because the formula delivers. I am not just saying that as someone who featured it in Curls Monthly. I am saying it as someone who now genuinely wants to do a roller set on myself. 💛

If this is the kind of curl education you want every single month paired with real products curated for your specific Hair Finish™, that is exactly what Curls Monthly is. Come join us here.