Mom didn't need the rags for me. She just Combed my hair around her finger. Seems like it would stay that way for several days. My twin sister had straight hair and it wouldn't hold the curl for more than a couple hours. I did go thru a phase of hating the curl because going to beach would just make it frizzy. That was the era of the 3-cornered scarfs and they were my best friend. Now that I am older I say thank goodness for curly hair.