What it sounds like is Jheri curl you are looking for.
Michael J did that during his Thriller
phase before he became a white woman
ush:. I don't know what a "wet curl" is, sorry.
Taken from Wikipedia:
History:
The
Jheri curl (often incorrectly spelled
Jerry curl and/or
Jeri Curl) is a
hairstyle that was common and popular in the
African American community in the late
1970s and throughout the
80s. Invented by and named for
Jheri Redding, the Jheri Curl gave the wearer a glossy, loosely curled look. It was touted as a "
wash and wear" style that was easier to care for than the other popular chemical treatment of the day, the
relaxer.
Application of Curl
A jheri curl was a two-part application that consisted of a softener (often called a "rearranging cream") to loosen the hair and a solution to set the curls. The rearranging cream used pungent chemicals, causing the naturally tight curls to loosen and hang. The loose hair was then set on perm rods and a chemical solution was then added to the hair to permanently curl it.
Decline of the Jheri Curl
Besides the fact that it eventually went out of style, the jheri curl's decline in popularity probably occurred because of the damage it caused to the wearer's hair. Perming the hair was time and labor-intensive and expensive to upkeep. The harsh mix of chemicals required for the process caused the wearer's natural hair to become extremely brittle and dry.
Maintenance
To maintain the look of the jheri curl, users were required to apply juicy activator and heavy moisturizers daily and to sleep with a plastic cap on their heads to keep the hairstyle from drying out. These products were relatively expensive (a typical bottle of activator was small, retailed anywhere from $3 to $6, and was quickly depleted.) The activator in particular had the undesirable side effect of being very greasy; this would often stain clothing and anything that came into contact with it.
Washing the hair cleansed it of the styling products but also exposed the damage done to the hair by the chemical process. Also, as the hair grew out, the wearer would be forced to return to the hair salon for a touch-up, further adding to the overall expense. The hairstyle went out of fashion by the early
1990s and was replaced in part with the
high top fade haircut.
Juicy Factor Plastic caps were also necessary during sleep to prevent soiling of sheets, pillow cases and faces. If plastic cap is not worn you will be juicy in the a.m. Plastic caps are to be worn inside only. Direct contact with sunlight is deadly to your activator.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong?? Anyone ever get a great successful wet curly look (if you originally have straightish wavy hair to start with). If you can, can I please have the steps and products you use?? (and a photo if I'm lucky!!) TIA gals! 
