Hot rollers for voluminous, bouncy curls

I know what you’re thinking… Hot rollers? Really?

Before we dig in, please check those preconceived hair notions at the door. You might think hot rollers are from your grandmother’s era, but they have also produced some of the most sought after manes in the modern world!

Take hair goddess Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. Reports suggest she uses them and they’re my secret weapon for camera-ready hair too. After trying all kinds of styles, products and methods over the years while anchoring and reporting, I can finally say my good hair days outweigh the bad. Hot rollers can do the same for you!

My hair has a bit of a natural wave to it and is super thick. If it’s misting out or is a hot summer day, it gets wild and frizzy in a hurry. Put that on HDTV and… instant nightmare. No one wants breaking news from Cousin Itt, right?

Hot rollers smooth your tresses while providing controlled volume.

There’s no doubt hot rollers can take some getting used to but—I promise—they are worth it. This is the set I use; it’s inexpensive and ideal for those with long hair. I truly believe getting camera-ready doesn’t need to be pricey. My video tutorial above will walk you through the process. You can find more detailed instructions below.

—-Getting Started—-

• Make sure your hair is 100 percent dry. (This is so important! If there is any moisture, your curls won’t last.)
• Polish the ends with a heat protecting spray. (Moroccanoil Perfect Defense from Sephora is my favorite.)
• If your hair struggles to hold a curl, spritz on a mouse or curl enhancing spray.

Hot Rollers | Heat Protecting Spray | Full Form Volume Mousse | Tresemme Hair Spray

—-Using the Rollers—-

• Begin with a small section of hair in the center of your head, placing the first large roller horizontally.
• Roll the curler—starting at the ends of your hair—toward your scalp, then secure with a pin or clip. (I prefer using pins to the clips, so I don’t get any lumps or bumps in my hair.)
• Grab a section of hair behind the first roller. Roll on another large curler (again horizontally) and secure.
• Move to the sides of your head next. You will be using the small rollers and securing them vertically. Start at the front by your face and move to the back. Make sure you are rolling the hair away from your face, so your curls fall in a flattering direction.
• When all of the rollers are secure, spritz liberally with hairspray. Let set for at least 10 minutes, I prefer 15. You can use this time to do your makeup or grab a cup of coffee.

—-The Finishing Touches—-

• Unroll your curls gently, trying to keep their shape intact.
• Spray each piece with hairspray.
• Now you will lock in your style, using a curling wand to touch up the ends and make it last. I use this wand on the second highest heat setting, curling away from my face. Hold each section for 6-8 seconds, making sure to pay extra attention to the areas framing your face. If you haven’t tried a curling wand yet, I highly recommend them. They make it much easier to achieve natural looking curls.
• Once you have touched up your ends, let the curls cool for a minute and mist lightly with hairspray.
• Softly brush your curls out and reshape with your fingers. This will provide a more natural finish.
• If you have short or medium length hair, you may want to try this roller set. It has a wider variety of roller sizes and may be more appropriate for your hair type. If your hair is even longer than mine, check these out. The 12 rollers are extra long and can give you those perfect beachy waves.

—-The Products—-

Questions about the process or products? Leave a comment below and I’ll happily walk you through it.

—Lindsay