Babyliss Big Hair - Big Mess

[MsGee]

I bought a BBH based on all the posts on MN about how great they are. Tried it today and my hair was a great big mess. Like a freaking scarecrow. I have no doubt that it was user error. So where did I go wrong?

It wasnt smooth, it was dry at the ends not the roots and all the hair ended up going in different directions. I wish I'd have taped me using it. I was hopeless - but i thought they were foolproof...

Any tips appreciated.

(also - thanks for previous post. I posted a year ago for style advice and got great advice - introduction to phase eight changed my wardrobe. I didn't post thanks because shortly after my shopping trip found out I was pg, but pg not successful so style was out for a while - but I did appreciate the advice. Just in case anyone remembers me as the ignorant poster who didn't say thank you nicely!)

i'm no expert, but have a search on you tube, there are some good clips on there of how to use the bbh which might help.

I usually avoid the Big Hair threads as I think they're shoite.

Using mine made me realise I'm actually quite good at drying my own hair - I can give it a bit of volume and a decent style that stays looking ok until the next wash three or four days later.

With the Babyliss, it kind of puffs out but then drops and looks totally flat and lank within half an hour. Plus it snags viciously.

Maybe the people who like it are the ones who normally wash and go because they struggle to dry their own hair?
< meant in a caring way, natch >

It took me a while to get the hang of it but I love it now. I only use it though after I've blow dried my hair 80% dry otherwise it would take me ages. Keep practising and see if it gets better.

I only use it on dry hair as a styler, never on wet/damp hair

If you have very long hair you may need to section it to avoid tangling.
It doesn't really add volume if that's what you're after ..althoughsaying thatI have just bought the smaller barrel version and it actually does give volume to shorter styles , I have a chin length layered bob.

I found heated rollers -yeah very retro I know -give much more control.
The babyliss set is about £28
You can do flicks, turn ups or loose or tight curls
I have shoulder length curly hair
I dont like the GHD straightened look and the heated rollers have given me a load of new options.

this was the video I watched - definitely makes a difference with my hair (fine, but lots and lot of it), but I freely admit to not being very good at drying it!

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/apr/02/beauty-big-hair

Thanks for brilliant advice! Will try partially drying first and watch links.

I am exactly the sort of person who cannot blow dry their hair. I just can't and it's so boring - i just tie it back and hope it dries on its own before the bedtime (not long hair, just thin and lots of it). I suspect I had the rollers going the wrong way for a bit (although for a minute I had an amazing flick going on!).

Really appreciate the advice. It's been a shitty old year ad I'm going to the gym, losing the flab but the hair is still very much a disgrace. I shall persevere!

Hiya
I cannot blow dry my hair for love or money. I am completely hopeless. I have lots and lots of thick long very curly haur which I have blow dried once a week into waves. Halfway through the week I use BBH on dry hair (which has gone frizzy and flat). I section the hair into THIN sections (otherwise hair gets tangled) and I roll it only half way up the section (not all the wat to the roots) while pulling the section away from my head. I do it the opposite way from the videos (ie I place BBH on top of the hair section and not underneath) and this way I get outward flicks. Frizz is eliminated. I backcomb it a bit and I look as if I had a blow dry, I love it.
There are tons of you tube videos on it, but everyone says use it on dry or almost dry hair and make sure the hair sections are very tbin.
Good luck, let us know how you get on
x

now i can dry my own hair with a large barrel brush and a hairdryer - but i just find the big hair makes the whole process so much easier. it ends up smoother and the back is definitely better styled when i use the BBH. You need to clip it up and dry in sections starting from the nape of the neck - i do mine in several layers. i find the most easily controlled setting is the slow one. keep practising.

Right .. Had round two this morning. One section of my fair is lovely

The rest is not. One side sort of curls alongside my face rather than under (if that makes sense). The rest is just a mess.

However the one nice section has given me hope that it's a matter of practice.

My hair not my fair.

I love mine as I can now do the back of my hair properly rather than just the sides. I use it when my hair is towel dry.

Well I finally caved once I heard there was a smaller barrel and bought one yesterday. I was actually expecting to hate it like so many other wonder gadgets...but I love it. I have always struggled to blow dry my hair as it hurts your arms! I just roughly dried my hair with the dryer and then put on a small amount of mousse and finished off with the big hair. It did end ip a tad Dallas initially but once I combed through and ran the straighteneres lightly through the sides to make them less bouffy I really like the result, bouncy hair that looks styled, took very little time and feels great. I hate the overstraigened look which leaves my hair flat and lifeless, this allows me the best of both worlds. Thank you MNers. I have very fine hair in a chin length bob if that helps.

yes to sectioning, this is crucial

I use on dry hair, sometimes squirt with a bit of heat protector to seal it. it takes forever if hair has the slightest bit of moisture in it

I love it

Watching with interest. I'm rubbish at drying my hair, and have held off thus far because I suspect I'd be a bit rubbish at the BBH too.
Sorry to hear about your shite year, OP .

There is a video on Youtube which shows you what to do.

Doesn't work for me though. Anyone interested in a Babyliss Big Hair - used about half a dozen times!!!!

MIne gave me the worst split needs EVER ( I do realise I say this on every BBH thread!) and I have never had them before

I am good with a round brush and a drier though like shotgun I think if you are cack handed then BBH is a Godsend, otherwise don't bother!

I'm not cackhanded and had nice, well-blow-dried hair before BBH! Now I have awesome hair that takes ten minutes to do and I can sleep on it for two nights before needing to wash and BBH it again. I think we just need to accept that it works for some and not for others...

In the interests of full disclosure, I have found a split end Valium, but I haven't had my hair cut for 10 weeks (going tomorrow!)

Just realised that sounded totally arrogant

I am just bitter because it ruined my hair

I do love my BBH (shoulder length layered). I don't really use a straightener at all now and my hair is in really good condition. I use argan oil or a squirt of protection spray. You MUST section though otherwise it can be a bit of a dog' dinner.

I have had split ends before so if I discovered them now it would be no great surprise. Like you say we may have to accept for some people it might just not work. But I am so cackhanded and that was the easiest thing ever. I am going around swishing and checking myself in the mirror and but still looks fab. And it did give me BIG Dallas hair until I calmed it down.

Obviously I meant 'cack handed' as an affectionate term in case anyone gets offended