Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
90's Hair Throwback Tutorial with Clairol Lock 'n Roll Hot Rollers
In a mission to find a hot roller that actually didn’t dry my hair out, my brain took me on a nostalgic adventure to my old heated stylers or silicone hot rollers, the Lock ‘n Roll. I bought them and the results were salon-worthy. Discover how to use Clairol Lock ’n Roll vintage curlers to achieve voluminous, bouncy hair. This step-by-step guide brings retro styling tools into the modern day for effortless curls and timeless volume.
My vintage Lock ‘n Roll Stylers
Where to Buy
While I didn’t have my set of Lock ‘n Roll from the 90’s anymore, I knew I could probably find some online, and I did. After watching several sets on eBay, I settled on a set that still had the box and the seller had great feedback. When buying on eBay, we always make sure to look at reviews, just like we do on Amazon, Walmart and more retailers. You can shop my Amazon Shop here for some of my favorite rollers, or see my list below.
These gave me BIG 90’s inspired curls
Similar NEW Silicone Hair Rollers:
Magic Hair Rollers (Amazon, $9, these do not heat up, but can be used on damp hair and slept in overnight for similar curls)
Heatless Curling Pods (Amazon, $10, do not heat up but similar to the Magic Hair Rollers)
Conair Silicone Hot Rollers Hot Sticks (Amazon, $37, these heat up and are in stick form)
Spoolies Original Heatles Soft Twist Hair Curler (Walmart, $35, do not heat up)
The curlers, on their heating platform, without the clear case
Ewww….Used Curlers?
The Lock ‘n Roll are silicone, so no, even used, they aren’t gross! If you buy some vintage rollers like these, you can wash them if you are concerned with cleanliness. I cannot find another hot roller on the market exactly like the Clairol Lock ‘n Roll, but I do have other rollers and tutorials on my site that can give you similar results.
These are still very effective!
My Curler Tutorials:
How to Use Sponge Rollers for Big Hair (This one has been really popular and my video tutorial to go with the article has been popular on YouTube….see it below or via my channel @carolynjbraden)
Putting the Vintage Lock ‘n Roll Curler to the Test
I received my roller set from eBay and they were exactly as I remembered. Aqua Blue and coral, each color representing a different size. While the box said it would take them 10 minutes to heat up, this set took a little longer at about 20 minutes. I remembered this also being the time it took in the 90’s. They were never fully hot enough for me until the 20-minute mark.
The panel they heat up on has a red dot that turns brown when ready, and my vintage set did that still. Yes, I was the girl that stayed in her room a lot, sitting at her vanity, testing hair tools and makeup, just like I do now!
Smaller sections of hair work best
How-To Use Clairol Lock ‘n Roll Heated Stylers (as called by the box)
I tested my set two times before writing this tutorial. The first time I rolled my freshly shampooed (I love Viori shampoos and you can get them here for 10% off or use my code CAROLYNBRADEN at Viori.com) and dried (I love my WavyTalk hair dryer, get on Amazon, $60) hair in the stylers.
I sprayed my hair with heat protect spray, and sectioned out some of my front layers around my forehead. I wrapped a small section around a coral roller (the smaller one), starting with the end of my hair. I rolled my hair into the curler until it was close to my head. Smaller sections of hair work best as the curlers can’t hold A LOT of hair.
Rolling the Lock ‘n Roll stylers in my hair
Next I flipped the open end of the curler down toward my head, which locks it in place. The silicone makes them very flexible and since they are soft, I suppose you could omit the heat and use them on damp hair, allowing them to fully dry before taking them out. You could even sleep in them.
I used all the curlers in my hair
I used all the curlers in my long hair, using the 4 smaller ones around my face, and the aqua larger rollers on the rest of my hair. I let them fully cool in my hair (depending on the thickness of your hair will determine how long they will take to cool), then I popped them back open and took them out one at a time. Fun tip: Putting them in your hair before you do your makeup is a great time saver!
Gently taking the curlers out, rolling them out of my hair
My Results
Just like they did for me in the 1990’s, these retro hair rollers gave me effortless volume, soft waves, and timeless style. I sprayed hairspray on my curls, then used a brush and my fingers to loosen them up a bit. I currently live in SW Florida and when I did this tutorial, it was very humid outside, however, my curls stayed all day! They loosened up as the day went on, of course, but overall, I am very happy to say that they are still a great curler that are easy to use!
The results remind me of vintage Cindy Crawford photos I remember in my fashion mags
The second time I tested them, I put them in second day hair (meaning hair I washed the day before and I usually only shampoo my hair every three days), using dry shampoo at my roots to absorb oil. They still curled my second day hair just like on freshly washed hair, however, the curls stayed even longer! I think the “grip” that second day hair has truly helped. You can achieve second day hair on the first day by spraying your hair with a bit of dry shampoo or a dry texture spray prior to rolling.
Adding hairspray to lock in the style
I have used many hot rollers over the years and every single one seems to dry my hair out. For some reason, the silicone makeup of the Clairol Lock ‘n Roll seems better for my hair as my hair did not dry out with these. Your results will be based on your hair type/texture, and whether you have long or shorter hair, they should be effective. I have wavy, color treated, long hair, so my results were larger curls, but someone with shorter or less hair than me, may have smaller curls.
The curls are soft and shiny
Bottom Line
Whether you love vintage glam or modern beauty hacks, these Lock ‘n Roll heated stylers or curlers deliver gorgeous results. My inner teenage girl that still lives inside my soul was happy to see me happy, still playing with my hair and having fun with curlers like these! If you see a set at a thrift store or on eBay, scoop them up and you’ll have lots of hair fun too!
If you loved this article, then we know you’ll love this one too: What I Think of My Beachwaver Multi Barrel Curling Wand
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.