Claudia, Cindy, Christy...these pop culture icons of the 1990s and early 2000s have served as my hair inspiration for as long as I can remember. Their polished, bouncy, expensive-looking curls graced my Pinterest boards and frankly, my hairstylist is probably a bit tired of me waxing lyrical about them.
My hair peaked in my teens (a fact that’s taken for granted when you’re 16). Back then, all I needed to do was leave it in a bun in order to create those bombshell curls as my hair had natural waves to begin with, along with thickness, volume and shine – all the things it’s now lacking, 15 years later, thanks to age along with cumulative environmental and heat damage. If you've ever wondered how drastically hair can change throughout a lifetime, mine went from tight, spring-like curls as a toddler to Ariel-esque waves to frizzy and straight whenever its brushed out.
Thus began my mission to create the supermodel-approved, glamorous waves I so longed for. I dabbled with all the hot tools. I read that straighteners also double up as a waver, which isn’t wrong, but it does make my fine strands feel ‘fried’ and creates a vibe that's more 'beachy' than 'Upper East Side'. Curling tongs were a no-go from the start. The results were great, but I found them unwieldy and can barely get through it without at least burning my fingers once (dextrous, I am not). Hot air stylers came close, but the lack of direct heat - while good for hair health - meant that the look barely lasted an hour or two tops. Not ideal.
It all felt like a lost cause until I bought myself a set of heated rollers from Babyliss (the one pictured has sadly been phased out,but the excellent Thermo-Ceramic Roller works a treat instead).
Inventor Solomon Harper created the first electrically heated hair rollers back in 1930 and while the design has since been tweaked and improved upon, rollers became a hit among hairstylists and everyday women alike for achieving polished, red carpet ready tumbling waves.
For me, it's the only heated hair tool that manages to create lasting, bouncy curls on my stubborn lengths. It’s completely foolproof. I prep my dry hair with a heat protector (Sam McKnight Save The Do provides great hold), pin the large and medium sized rollers in, and leave it while I get dressed, do my make-up, feed the cat….the longer it’s in, the better the results.
Once the rollers are out, I’ll spritz a wide toothed comb with Arkive The Mastery Liquid Hairspray and comb through before using a tiny amount of Arkive The Good Habit Hybrid Oil on the ends. To finish, I’ll use a light misting of Maria Nila Shimmer Spray to take down any frizz.
Now that it has the desired texture and volume, even basic updos appear elevated. Ponytails mimic the Barbie silhouette, low buns are fluffier and braids have extra oomph to them. While I usually use rollers on dry hair, if yours is freshly-washed, blow-drying it correctly beforehand will help achieve a full-bodied finish.
'I'm a big fan of flipping your head upside down to dry your hair,' says Babyliss ambassador and session stylist, Syd Hayes, who recommends Babyliss Hydro Fusion Hair Dryer. 'Doing this with a root volume spray or mousse will encourage a lift at the roots.'
Babyliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers
Hair By Sam McKnight Save The Do Heat Protection Style Starter
Maria Nila Style & Finish Shimmer Spray - £21
Sashaying into the office has never been so easy.
