My mother used to do my hair that way. We called them "long curls" I have slept many of nights with those pink sponge "rollers" in my long blond hair. Today you can do it with a small curling iron, but it takes forever to do and doesn't stay in as long. Just pull the sections out to the side and wrap the curler and let dry. Mom used to comb them around her finger like a spring.
Have fun, sounds like you will.....