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Original poster

Babyliss Big Hair - tips please

29 replies

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 08/05/2015 21:01

Am I doing it wrong?

Just tried my new toy out for the first time and all it's done is make my hair stick out like an Afro. A smooth Afro, mind, but still not the look I was after...

Any tips for getting the fabulous hair that everyone raves about on here please?

OP posts:

Awks · 08/05/2015 21:17

What do you mean a smooth afro? It's supposed to make your hair big and swishy.

Do you only use it when your hair's nearly dry as that's the trick.

Original poster

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 09/05/2015 00:54

It made it just sticky out big

Maybe my hair was too wet - I need to experiment! I didn't really get what it meant using it when my hair was 80% dry, having never thought about my hair in drying percentages before

OP posts:

ALittleFaith · 09/05/2015 08:40

I rough dry mine with a hairdryer so it's still damp but not far off dry. I clip it and dry in sections. I use a fine-toothed comb to comb the section through after its dried with the BBH which results in it being dried with volume but not too puffy!

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 09/05/2015 08:42

Sell it. That's my tip. I used mine for a month and given up now.

Newquay · 09/05/2015 08:47

Hmm I've asked for one as a birthday gift - does anyone adore theirs?

applecatchers36 · 09/05/2015 08:58

It is pretty good yes, doesn't give me an Afro, just smooth, salon looking, increased volume hair. Agree best to use when hair has been dried off a little with normal hair dryer first.

homebythesea · 09/05/2015 09:09

First make sure your hair is very nearly dry
Second do it in small sections
Third when you have finished "rolling" the hair under, change the direction of the brush do you give it a couple if turns in the opposite direction- thus will flatten and smooth the hair thus avoiding the sticky out thing

ALittleFaith · 09/05/2015 09:26

Newquay I really do adore mine. I use it very time I wash my hair! It gives a much better finish than me wielding a round brush. I also use my straighteners much less and my hair is in better condition for it.

burnishedsilver · 09/05/2015 09:48

I've had mine for years and I love it.

I've recently had my hair cut a lot shorter. It's now a bob and the bbh isn't as good. Its making my hair too big and helmet like. I think the barrel is too big and I need the smaller one.

Is it possible that your hair is too short for the bbh that you're using?

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 09/05/2015 10:25

I was joking a bit really. Im sure I haven't really got into it properly TBH.

My hair is 3 or so inches longer than shoulder length. Its wavey when dried naturally. Its also very thick.

I googled how to use it and up came a MN video. I followed that, but it takes more time than I would like TBH to use mine.

SirChenjin · 09/05/2015 10:32

I'm onto my 3rd one (4th is waiting in the box for when the 3rd gives up) - have been using the BBH for years and love, love, love it.

I have thick, frizzy, wavy, shoulder length hair so after washing I stick some serum and some mousse through (mousse was a MN tip), then blast it with the hair dryer until it's almost dry. For some reason, it works best on hair that's dried in that way rather than air dried.

Section off almost dry hair, and run it through - let it roll under your hair section, then sort of pull it along the length and then back again. It's smooths and straightens, but don't make it stick out. Best thing ever.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 09/05/2015 11:18

It works on some hair and not on others.

If you are already good at using a round brush and a hair drier you are going to be disappointed.

Make sure your hair is dry or nearly dry before using it and finish the curl off with a shot of cool air to hold it.

I was underwhelmed by it tbh, it smoothed my hair nicely for about 5 mins but the oomph only lasted for about half an hour . I get on much better with a round brush and Parlux.

I also think unless you get the BBBH on sale it is vastly over priced for what it is.

Plateofcrumbs · 09/05/2015 11:47

I love mine but I'm completely cack handed and using a round brush + hair dryer is completely beyond my level of dexterity.

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 09/05/2015 11:58

I bought a round brush and was terrible at it. I was hoping with the big hair it would be different, but unfortunately not

PuppyMonkey · 09/05/2015 12:01

You need to look up the video guides on YouTube - they show you how to do it.

Small sections at a time. It's not a quick fix thing by any means.

Had mine years. I use mine only occasionally now. I have a neat bob and I found it would work initially but after a few hours it went a bit frizzy.

What it is good for is tidying my hair up if I've slept on it funny or something. I use it on my dry hair and it makes the bob all smooth and turned under again.

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 09/05/2015 15:18

I wanted something that was a quick thing to do. BBH is not.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 09/05/2015 15:27

Yes, if I use mine at all it's for a quick tidy up in between washes.

MrsLannister · 09/05/2015 15:58

I was so hoping mine would give me the sort of flicky-undered (not technical term) layers I have been after but i think I should have bout the smaller barrelled one. I have the newer large 50mm one, so if anyone wants to swap........

CointreauVersial · 09/05/2015 17:52

My hot tip for the BBH is to use it on the lower (slower) setting.

I find the high setting just spins too fast, and I get into a frizzy mess.

Also, as others have said, blast it with a hair dryer first to get it mostly dry.

TheFutureMrsB · 09/05/2015 19:27

I have the smaller barrel one if you want to swap Mrs?

Phsteven · 09/05/2015 21:47

I love mine. Agree that it takes time to do, but find its worth it because my hair then looks ok for two or even three days. To 'refresh' it I brush it with a paddle brush, at which point it looks a bit wild and wooly, but then settles back into smooth loose curls. I never used to brush my (thick, wavy, prone to frizzy ness) hair until I read an article by India knight. It was about mason Pearson hairbrushes - which I'm yet to invest in- but prompted me to have a go at brushing it for the first time in about twenty years! I digress, but the point is that it takes time to do the BBH thing initially, but can mean manageable hair for much longer than normal.

Greengardenpixie · 09/05/2015 21:58

I section mine with clips and dry a bit off at a time. Put it on the slow rotation until you get the hang of it :)

CarpeJugulum · 09/05/2015 22:04

I do small sections and then straighten it to reduce some of the volume.

Original poster

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 09/05/2015 22:18

Hmm, I wonder if the barrel is too big for my shoulder length hair...?

Thanks for the thoughts - I am more positive about it the day after, when a quick brush through left my hair in a more presentable state than is usual the day after a wash. Think a bit of practice is needed - I have never got the hang of the brush and hair dryer trick

OP posts:

Mrchubster · 10/05/2015 09:42

Sorry to hijack but can anyone recommend a round brush for long thick hair?

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