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Quick Verdict
Three curls per side, five minutes, and a soft wave I can sleep on. The BabylissPRO nano titanium curling iron with the 1.5 inch barrel holds the curl on my fine hair where my bigger barrel always let it drop.
Buy if you:
- have fine hair that won’t hold a curl from a fat barrel
- want a soft daytime wave, not tight ringlets
- are growing your hair longer and need the extra barrel length
- are busy and want the whole head done in about 5 minutes
Skip if you:
- brush curls out the second they cool, the curl needs a minute to set or it falls flat
- want bouncy, springy ringlets instead of a relaxed wave
- already own a 1 inch barrel and like a tighter curl
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How Nano Titanium Plates Changed My Daily Routine
I curled my hair in five minutes and it lasted all day. That’s the whole story, but let me back up. For years I blow-dried my hair straight and called it done, because every curling iron I tried either took 20 minutes or dropped the curl off my fine hair before lunch. This one changed that math: three sections a side, maybe five minutes, and the wave is still there when I get home. You can check the current price on the curling iron here if you want to follow along.
I’m Lisa, turning 60 this year, and I have fine hair. Not loads and loads of it like my daughters got. So a curling iron that actually holds matters to me more than it might for someone with thick hair.
What The Barrel And Settings Actually Are
The nano titanium barrel is 1.5 inches and runs 2 inches longer than a traditional curling barrel. That extended length is the part I didn’t expect to care about, but since I’ve been growing my hair out it grabs more of a section in one pass. The nano titanium itself is lightweight, which my wrist notices after curling the whole head.
It runs 5 digital temperature settings up to 430 degrees, so it covers fine hair like mine and thicker hair too. It’s dual voltage for travel, and there’s a cool tip at the end for finger placement so you don’t burn yourself holding it.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Barrel size | 1.5 in nano titanium |
| Barrel length | 2 in longer than traditional barrels |
| Heat settings | 5 digital settings up to 430Β°F |
| Voltage | Dual voltage, worldwide use |
| Tip | Cool tip for finger placement |
Three Curls A Side, Then Switch
I start on blow-dried, straight hair and clip up the top so I can reach the layer underneath. Then I take a wet brush through it, even though my hair’s dry, because I like how it smooths the section before I wrap it. I do three curls on one side, then switch, then go back and do the top layer all the way around.
Curl, hold about five seconds, let it go. The whole head is done before my coffee gets cold. The one thing I always tell people: don’t brush the curls out right away. You want the curl to hold and cool so that when you do brush through it, the wave still stays in your hair. I learned that the hard way, brushing too soon flattens everything.
The reason I’m using this barrel instead of my bigger one is simple. The bigger barrel doesn’t hold the curl on my fine hair. This 1.5 inch size is the right size for me, the curl actually stays put.
Don’t Forget The Back, My Mom Was Right
The back of your hair is where this routine trips you up. I grab a mirror at the end and check, because I always remember my mom asking, “You haven’t looked at the back of your hair, have you?” I’m not always good about the back, so I make a point of it now.
Here’s the friction though. With fine hair like mine, if I rush and brush the curls out before they’ve cooled, they drop fast. The hold depends on that patience step, not just the iron. So the “5 minute” part is real for the curling, but you do need to leave the curls alone for a minute or two afterward. If you’re someone who wants to finish and run, that wait might bug you. It doesn’t bother me because I’m doing the back in the mirror anyway during that time.
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BabylissPRO Nano Titanium Curling Iron
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Who This Curling Iron Is Really For
This is specifically for women with fine hair who are growing it longer past 50 and need a curl that doesn’t fall out by noon. If you have the volume and density my daughters have, almost any barrel works for you. If you don’t, if a big, heavy barrel just slides through your hair and leaves nothing behind, this 1.5 inch size is the one that actually grabs and holds. The extended nano titanium barrel makes longer hair easier to wrap in fewer sections.
If you’ve got thick hair, the 430 degree top setting and the extra barrel length will still work for you. But the reason I reach for this one is the hold on fine hair, which is the thing my old bigger barrel couldn’t give me.
This Barrel Versus My Bigger One
The 1.5 inch nano titanium beats the bigger barrel I own for one reason: hold. My bigger barrel makes a looser curl that drops out of my fine hair by midday. This one keeps the soft wave all day, and I can even sleep on it and just touch it up a little the next morning. The trade-off is that if you actually want a big, loose curl, the wider barrel gives you that shape. For me, the tighter-holding 1.5 inch wins because a curl that falls out isn’t worth the five minutes.
My Tips Before You Curl
Use a brush you trust to smooth each section first, I use a wet brush even on dry hair. Curl in small groups, three a side, then top, then check the back in a mirror. Let the curls cool before you brush them through, this is the step everyone skips and then wonders why the curl fell out.
When you brush through at the end, go light. If you want more volume, just poof it up with your hands. I tend to leave a couple pieces less curled because I don’t like to feel too curled. It just feels nice and pretty, and it lasts the whole day.
Pros
- The 1.5 inch barrel holds the curl on fine hair where a bigger barrel drops it
- Whole head done in about 5 minutes
- Soft wave lasts all day and survives a night’s sleep with a quick touch-up
- Extended barrel grabs more hair per pass, handy for longer hair
- Lightweight nano titanium and a cool tip so you don’t burn your fingers
Cons
- You have to let curls cool before brushing or they fall flat, so it’s not truly grab-and-go
- Makes a soft wave, not tight bouncy ringlets
- If you prefer a big loose curl, the wider barrel shape suits you better
Frequently Asked Questions
What does nano titanium do in a curling iron?
Nano titanium is a lightweight barrel coating that heats evenly and conducts heat fast, which is why this iron reaches up to 430 degrees and holds the curl. The lightweight feel also matters when you’re curling the whole head, my wrist notices the difference by the last section.
What temperature should fine hair use on this iron?
Fine hair should sit at the lower end of the 5 digital settings, well below the 430 degree max. The high settings are there for thick hair. I keep mine lower and the curl still holds all day.
Can I use this curling iron when traveling abroad?
Yes, it’s dual voltage for worldwide use. You’ll just need a plug adapter for the outlet shape in whatever country you’re in, but the voltage itself is handled.
How long do the curls actually last?
All day, and I can even sleep on them. I usually just touch up a piece or two the next morning rather than re-curl the whole head. The key is letting the curls cool fully before brushing.
Is the 1.5 inch barrel too big for short hair?
It’s better suited to shoulder-length and longer hair. The barrel runs 2 inches longer than traditional ones, so very short hair won’t have much to wrap. For a soft wave on medium to long hair, it’s the right size.
Do I need a heat protectant with it?
Yes, any time you’re using heat up to 430 degrees a heat protectant is smart, especially on fine hair. I use a styling elixir before I curl. It’s not included with the iron, so add one to your routine separately.
Why does my curl fall out right after I make it?
Almost always because you brushed it out before it cooled. Leave the curl alone for a minute or two so it sets, then brush through gently. This is the single biggest reason fine hair won’t hold a curl.
What brush works best for brushing the curls out?
I use a wet brush even on dry hair because it glides through without tearing the curl apart. Brush lightly at the end, and if you want more body, just poof the hair up with your hands instead of brushing harder.
Get it now
BabylissPRO Nano Titanium Curling Iron
Get the best price on Amazon βThis post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
ποΈ Shop everything in this video
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ποΈ Babeless Curling Iron 1.5 inch β check price on Amazon β
ποΈ Wet Brush β check price on Amazon β
