BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo Roller Hairsetter

Sunday, February 12, 2012

I've wanted hot rollers for a while. I used to do roller sets all time when I was still at cosmetology school- the old fashioned way. You know, hair rolled up in jumbo rollers and sitting under a loud hooded dryer while reading a magazine. Does that remind you of old grandma hair? Honestly, I loved how they made my hair super shiny with lots of volume and movement. Sexy, not old-ladyish.

Since I have neither the space for a giant hooded dryer in my home nor the time it takes to set my hair, it made much more sense to get a roller set.
Last month, Morgan, being the epitome of Perfect Boyfriend Material, ordered me the BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo Roller Hairsetter as a Chinese New Year present (hey, I don't do very many traditional Chinese things... but New Year is mandatory) since he couldn't find red envelopes.
I couldn't wait to try them out.

This set comes with 12 jumbo rollers that are 1'1/2" in diameter. The rollers are flocked with soft velvet to hold onto your hair. The hairsetter also comes with 12 roller pins and 12 roller clips. The BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo rollers cost about $45-60 for a set, depending on where you buy it. Morgan ordered mine off of Amazon.

First, I need to mention that I was NOT looking to create well defined curls, which is why I wanted jumbo sized rollers. I already knew that I can't get great curls from rollers (my hair does not hold curls well, I need a very hot marcelle style curling iron, a tremendous amount of hair product and lots of prayers in order to get a head full of curls), what I wanted was body and big loose waves.

After a few practice runs, I could easily do my hair in the morning in about 20 minutes (not including heating up time). I would get up and the first thing I would do was to turn on the setter so that it could heat up. There is a dot on one of the rollers that indicates when the rollers are hot, but I find that the dot would turn white before they were well and truly hot. During the seven minutes that it takes to heat up, I brush my teeth, wash my face, etc.
I use a heat protectant specifically designed for hot rollers that also provides a bit of hold (Kenra Platinum Hot Spray) and spritz it throughout my hair. Then it takes about 5-10 minutes to section out and roll up my hair. I like to use the clips instead of the pins, they're just easier to use (especially in the back of the head, where it is both hard to see and reach).
Then I apply my makeup while the rollers are in my hair (10min). I then go over my head with a blow dryer on cool. This step is super important because though the heat creates the curl shape, the cooling of the hair is what sets it.
All in all, I love my new rollers. If I had to name a flaw, it would be that the rollers do lose heat very quickly, so sometimes I put a hot air bonnet on top or wrap a towel around my head while the rollers are in. Oh, and that the heat indicating dot is a liar.

I'll try to have a tutorial up soon, because it is much easier to explain hot rollers with pictures!
Here's a sneak peak (using my sister's head):