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Craving curls in your natural locks? While steam hair rollers work for human hair extensions just as they would for natural hair, you have the advantage: Different hair types in extensions can hold a curl better or worse than natural sections, making it frustrating to get consistent curls. Steam rollers are perfect for natural hair since they use steam instead of heat to curl your hair -- say hello to shiny curls and goodbye to damage from hot tools.
Choosing your Steam Rollers
Take a tip from the man behind Gisele Bundchen's supermodel hair: Adir Abergel. He recommended Caruso steam rollers to More magazine for big, bouncy curls that might channel an old Hollywood starlet. They're available in five sizes from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches depending on the tightness of the curls you want, but you can try them all since the price is right: Each set costs $10 after the initial steam-setter price tag of about $40.
Sweet Spirals
If you have very fine tresses or a very short haircut, choose 1/2- or 3/4-inch steam rollers. You'll get fun and flirty spirals that are tight and bouncy. Try this look at home before you wear it out on the town, though. Going overboard could result in a poodle 'do, so you should experiment to find the right size and amount of rollers to use. Whatever you do, don't try to brush them out once they're set.
Medium Ringlets
A medium one-inch roller makes the most versatile-size curl that works with almost any hair length. For short cuts, use these to get Marilyn Monroe's retro curls. Those with longer hair have two options: create allover cascading curls by rolling them straight to the top or curl only the bottom half of your locks for an elegant and easy style. These can even create beachy waves; just curl random sections of hair and separate them with your fingers.
Glamorous Volume
For longer locks, try large 1 1/4- or 1 1/2-inch rollers for big loose curls like Jessica Simpson's signature hairstyle. You might be nervous to roll them all the way up in fear of too much volume, but keep in mind that the length of your hair will weigh them down. Large rollers give you soft, glamorous curls that almost look natural. Just be sure to finish off with a generous douse of hairspray so they don't fall.
