These Hair Rollers Are So Good, They Unlocked My Inner '90s Supermodel Alter Ego

As a beauty editor who's tried hundreds of hair tools, I'm particularly fussy, and I have high expectations when I test and review them. Whether it's a hot brush, a hairdryer, or a hair straightener, more often than not, these hair tools don't come cheap, so I only recommend the very best of the best.

While I have found some of my holy grail curling wands and hair multi-stylers, one hair tool that I'm yet to become fully enamoured with is hot rollers. You see, Velcro rollers are cheap and cheerful, but usually leave my hair a bit frizzy—and all the bounce that I spent an hour creating? It's gone after half an hour. Other heated rollers, on the other hand, often have too-small rollers in the set, which leave my hair looking like a poodly prom queen rather than the effortless '90s supermodel bounce I'm seeking.

So, when I came across T3's Volumizing Hot Rollers (£140) recently, I had high hopes. The rollers in this set are much larger than others I've tried, and I hoped it would deliver that '90s-inspired look I'm after. Scroll ahead for my review and honest thoughts, as well as those before and after pictures.

T3 Hair Rollers Review

What's Included

Inside the kit are eight rollers (four extra-large rollers, four large rollers). What I like is that these rollers are a lot larger than most hot roller sets, which are great if you have hair that's shoulder-length or longer and you want to create luxurious volume rather than tight ringlets.

The rollers fit onto the heating base, which is surprisingly small and compact, and also comes in a black vanity case to keep your rollers stored safely and neatly.

Also in the set are these brilliant clips, which fit snugly around the rollers and mean you can go about your day with the rollers in without having to worry about them falling out. You get eight, so there's plenty to secure your rollers into place.

How to Use the T3 Hair Rollers

Once the rollers have heated up (you'll see a small circle at the top of each roller turn grey when they're hot enough—mine were hot enough in less than 10 minutes), you can hold on to either end as you wrap your dry hair around it. While the insulated rims are cool to the touch, you can feel the heat while twisting them up into place, so be careful. And remember to use a heat protector beforehand!

I have to be honest, I'm incredibly cackhanded when it comes to putting rollers in my hair (I'm sure there will be hairstylists clutching their pearls at how I've placed them here and will tell me how to use hair rollers properly). However, I decided to alternate rolling each section of hair under and over each roller. Rolling the roller under the hair gives more root lift and volume, whereas rolling under will give you less volume at the roots and more bounce through the lengths instead, so it comes down to personal preference.

I used the larger rollers towards the front of my hair, where I have some face-framing layers, and the smaller rollers towards the back, where my hair is longer and heavier and needs a tighter curl in order to last. The clips are so handy for keeping the rollers secured in place (trust me, they won't budge), and I really appreciate the velvety textured barrel of each roller. It gripped my hair so easily and, unlike Velcro rollers, didn't tug at my hair and cause frizz when I came to remove them.

I let the rollers sit for about 10-15 minutes, and once they were cool, I removed them one by one. And honestly? I was seriously impressed with the results.

Before

After

The Verdict

I'm seriously impressed with these hair rollers. In the space of about 25 minutes, they took my hair from flat and lifeless to bouncy and voluminous. The rollers heated up quickly, and while they were a little hot as I was rolling them into my hair (particularly if they were sitting near my face), they were so easy to roll and secure into place thanks to the clips. They also left my hair glossy and frizz-free as I removed them.

The only thing I will say is that if you have hair that's as long as mine, or you have very thick hair, then you're likely going to need to buy more rollers, which T3 does sell separately. You can buy them in packs of two (in four different sizes), which is great for customising your kit, but could end up expensive. The eight rollers in my kit covered about two-thirds of my hair, so I'd benefit from having another four of the extra-large rollers in my kit personally.

As for the result, I fell in love with the bounce and volume. The larger sizes of these barrels gave my hair that '90s Cindy Crawford look that I've been trying to replicate with rollers for years. It gave my hair so much volume and bounce that not only did it last throughout the whole day, but it still delivered on bounciness the following day after sleeping with my hair in a loose bun. If you have hair that struggles to hold onto a style, I'd highly recommend you keep the hair rollers in until they are fully cool (or preferably longer, up to an hour) to really lock in the style.

While they are on the expensive side (especially if you'll be needing to buy additional rollers), I do really recommend these hot rollers if you're after that effortless volume that lasts.

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