BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine vs Curling Iron

I put the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine and BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron (1 Inch) to the test on my fine hair and here are the results. Hint: one of them actually worked and my hair held a curl for more than two days!

BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine

Price: $100

Product Features

• 4 timer settings: Off, 8s, 10s, 12s
• 3 curl directions: right, left, alternate
• 3 temperature settings: 375°F, 410°F, 450°F
• Best suited for Fine to Normal hair type
• Results: tighter curls
• Takes approximately 15-20 minutes to curl all hair

I have never seen a heating tool that sucks in hair to curl. So, I really didn’t know what to expect from the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine. I was really nervous when I first used it, but I cannot stress enough how easy it was to use once I got the hang of it.

The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine has three tabs for settings: timer (how long hair will stay in the machine), curl direction and temperature setting. My settings for fine hair: 8 seconds, alternating curls, and 410°F.

How to use a curl machine

The main thing to remember is to ensure the curling chamber (the part that sucks in the hair) is facing towards you when curling hair. Work from the bottom hair layers to the top, taking hair in sections of 1/2-1 inches. With the Curl Machine you don’t have much control on how and where to place the hair like a standard curling iron, so I recommend placing the machine about 4 inches from the tips to get a nice curl. If you take a section of hair that is too wide, thick or long, then the machine can tug and pull at hair and it won’t curl properly. Once the curl machine takes in the hair, it will be beep slowly for the time it is set to and when it’s done it will rapidly beep.

Tips to make the curls actually last:

• Don’t touch the curls right away — wait about 10-20 minutes after you’re done.
• Apply a product such as hairspray, mousse, or hair powder (my go to the Big Sexy Hair Powder Play) and gently scrunch curls with hands to work the product into hair
• Use fingers or wide tooth comb to gently brush out curls, so they will look more effortless and natural

My thoughts: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine

I want to point out that the Curl Machine creates tighter curls, which look more “styled” as opposed to the effortless beachy wave look. That being said, even though the curls using the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine aren’t exactly like I want them to be, the lasting power is what makes me a true fan. The curls last for at least two days and by the third day look like natural waves. Even if I don’t use any product, the curls last and loosen to waves by the second day and stay that way until I wash my hair.

The BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Professional Curl Machine is more expensive than the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron (1 inch), but it makes sense why: the entire curling process is automated. I travel with my Curl Machine for weddings and events; I can style my hair easily and save myself the stress of having to get it professionally done.

Side-by-side comparison of hair after it is styled with both tools

BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron (1 inch)

Price: $60

Product Features

• On/Off button
• Has a clamp
• Metal base
• Temperature dial range: 50°F – 450°F with light indicator
• Best suited for Normal to Thick hair type
• Results: loose beach waves
• Takes about 20-25 minutes to curl all hair

After reading reviews online and watching YouTube tutorials on how to use a curling iron (if you haven’t guessed already, yes, this is my first time using a curling iron!), I decided to try the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron (1 inch). There is a slight learning curve, but it’s not rocket science and I got the hang of curling my hair pretty quickly. I will say this right off the bat: after using an automatic curl machine for so many years, I think using a curling iron a little bit cumbersome.

In terms of settings, the BaBylissPo Nano Titanium Curling Iron is much simpler: there’s a temperature dial, so all I have to do is select a temperature and wait for the indicator light to turn green. For my fine hair, I set it to 350 – 400F, which might be too hot and not advisable for fine hair, but you’ll see why below.

How to use a curling iron for a beginner

There are so many different techniques and tricks for curling hair. Here’s what worked for a total beginner like me: first practice using the curling iron when it’s off. Hold the curling iron parallel to your hair, so that the clamp and iron are facing upwards. Each section of hair should be about 1/2 to 1 inch wide. Wrap hair around the curling iron facing away from the face — this will make the curls look more voluminous and natural.

Get comfortable with the clamp feature because there is a right and wrong direction for the clamp. If it’s facing the wrong way, then your hair at the end will get awkward kinks. The hair should release from the clamp once you’re done curling very smoothly. Work from the bottom layer to the top layer of hair and do not touch the curls for at least 20 minutes until after you’re done.

My thoughts: BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron

I have to admit the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron (1 inch) styles hair beautifully. Comparing the kind of waves I achieved with both tools — the Curling Iron wins. My hair looked so good when it was freshly styled, but here’s the problem: the curls didn’t last at all.

I tried curling my hair using a few different hacks (adding dry shampoo for extra texture and using hair spray after for hold), which are supposed to help the curls last longer, but nothing worked. After about 2 hours my hair fell flat and if I wanted waves to last all day, then I had to basically restyle my whole hair all over again.

I went one step further and tried curling my hair at a higher temperature to see if that was a factor and it wasn’t. While we’re on the topic of heat, I also found that the Curling Iron only really worked at much higher temperatures than the Curl Machine. As I mentioned before, after using an automatic curler, the BaBylissPro Nano Titanium Curling Iron required more effort, concentration and time. It might be a great tool, but it’s not for me or my fine hair.

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