It’s hard to know where to start in explaining my admiration for this huge, dildo-like curling tong from good old Babyliss.
I have for years refused to get one of these large-barrel curling tongs because I thought that it was silly when I could get a decent curl off my ghd straighteners and a bit of a flick off my Babyliss Big Hair and so wasn’t buying a barrel tong just profligacy of the highest order? This was despite me looking longingly at my hairdresser Nadia’s barrel tongs whenever I went in for a cut and shellac and knowing full well that they gave a superior curl to anything I had at home.
And then Babyliss read my mind and sent me one and I LURVE THEMMMM SOO MUUUUUCCCH. They are so, so superior to a pair of ghd straighteners in every way if want you want is a wave or a curl. A ghd curl gives you ringlets rather than curls and I want to look like an Italian shepherdess wandering down to the sea for a dip, not a King Charles Spaniel.
But these you can use on your hair at any time, in any condition; just for the sheer hell of it I occasionally use it on day-old hair without brushing it or anything to achieve that full-on, lazy, fallen-out-of-bed ambiance (usually because it is true). I obviously have quite worryingly long hair (I am getting it cut TODAY) and so like a big barrel, but I think a big barrel also looks good on short hair – Kat off Does My Bum Look 40 uses a big barrel and I think it looks ace.
This precise tong is not actually available everywhere – (Babyliss make hundreds of different types and it can be confusing) – I found it on FeelUnique, (which I believe is a perfectly reputable place to do one’s beauty shopping), and also on Amazon. Much cheaper on Amazon but I know some of you object to the in-house practices and might prefer to buy elsewhere, so I have given you options.
But obviously being the canny lot you are, you will be waiting for Black Friday to make ALL your upcoming purchases, yes? (Say “Yes, Esther”…)
Does this babyliss thing work on dead straight hair? Ive never used any type of hair machinery before… I have been using the technique beloved of 8 year old girls of plaiting my wet hair and sleeping in it overnight (eek)
It should do – if your hair takes a kink from an overnight plait it ought to take this. Apply John Frieda Dream Curls mousse before hand and it’ll be a dead cert x
BLACK FRIDAY IS NOT A THING
I’m afraid it is
Ordered! *Hopes* it works on my rubbish hair! Lol
A few months ago there was a blog here about the Babyliss Big hair. I am someone who has only ever used a basic hairdryer and clueless about these gadgets. Anyway I went into Boots and bought the one for shorter hair, thinking I was being a bit reckless, but hey it really does do the job. I use it every day and wouldn’t be without it. I just hope they continue to make them. Thanks Spikers for advice and reviews. The Volume Waves tong looks a doddle to use if you have the hair to go with it.
I wasn’t sure if I needed this as well as a big hair but just watched your thing and I do. I do. My hair was really long until earlier this year and I had a bigger than normal chop and sort of regret it because I can’t get these ends now and it’s just all sort of fluffy and pigeon street. I know you go somewhere fancy, but what do you ask them to do to your hair when you have it cut to keep it sort of the same? I always feel like I’m back to square one growing it back to where I like it and with too many layers.
The first time I went to see Nadia (who has been cutting my hair twice a year for 13 years, her and only her) she went “OMG who did this” like a builder looking at my hair. The answer was: Toni and Guy. Anyway she cut it into this shape and then decided that I should grow it really long – I just nodded and went “okay” and every time I go back she cuts it like this. I don’t really have a say in the whole thing
I need someone to take me in hand like that. A hairy godmother. I ask them about their weekend then thank them profusely and say that’s great, thanks, thanks, bye, thanks then when it gets to the point I like it but it’s getting in the way, I go back and start the sequence again.
Thank heavens someone else is negative about Toni & Guy, I was worried it was only me. I should have known the moment I walked in the door and ALL of the staff had shocking hair, I want a hairdresser to look at least semi-groomed. Went twice, then they cancelled my third one because someone had called in sick, and I didn’t bother to go back.
Ordered as instructed 🙂
Ordered on your recommendation, my first “hair tool” that’s not a blow dryer. Surprised they were so cheap, TBH. Fingers crossed!