I have never had success with hot rollers, for whatever reason. It always feels like the only part of my hair that takes any curl is the end. And they just don't give me lasting curls. Wet setting usually is my go-to. But I also really like sleep. Once upon a time, getting ready involved a curling iron that took a thousand years to wrap every strand just for sub-par results and damaged hair.
The trick to curling your hair effectively is for your hair to dry and/or cool in the shape you want. And for ALL of it to do that, not just the tip (which is why they suggest using a curling iron from the root). This how the Caruso is so effective. The steam makes your hair do both, given enough time to set. That's why curling your hair with curling irons falls flat so quickly.
When I use the Caruso, I will set my hair with the rollers (I find it extremely beneficial to set the clip over the steamer for a few seconds to get the hair that is not making direct contact with the roller nice and warm) and then wrap it with a head scarf and let it sit while I do my makeup. On average, it's about an hour, but I wait until the very last minute to remove them.
Some tips!
-purchase additional rollers if you're hoping to use the same size roller on your whole head
-don't leave the roller or cap over the steam for too long. If condensation builds enough to drip, your hair will get wet and never dry. This system is not meant to dry your hair.
-if you try to roll too much hair, the cap won't fit, if it's not enough hair, the roller will slip right off, but sometimes the cap for whatever reason, just won't get a tight grip no matter what you do. In this case, try flipping the cap over. I've come to recognize which caps aren't a snug fit and I roll them onto the top of my head, so they have less gravity to fight. This is also why I wrap them up with a silk scarf
Some cons
-as someone mentioned these are super annoying to travel with. I mean, it's easier than traveling with hot rollers for sure, but between the hard plastic cap and the large steamer, it takes up space in luggage for sure.
-like I mentioned above some of caps are loose-fitting. I don't know if that's because the heat and steam stretch them out over time or what, but the cap plays a huge role in getting a propper curl, so it's worth trying to make it work.
All in all, I LOVE this system. My hair is about shoulder length now, but I usually keep it shorter. At it's shortest, the petit was my jam, but I currently use the small, sometimes the medium. I have no idea how you would get a tight curl with long hair, I'd imagine you need a lot of rollers. But it's perfect for my hair. It's my go-to when a wet set just isn't an option. It's faster and healthier than hot curling irons and has better results than hot rollers.