Beauty VOLOOM Rootie vs 1.5 Inch Classic: Which Crimper Wins Out
Narrow or wide, which VOLOOM size lifts your hair best? The Rootie 3/4 inch targets fine, thin, and short hair with precision. The 1.5 inch classic powers through thick, long hair. We compared plates, hair types, technique, and value to name a winner.
| Factor | VOLOOM Rootie 3/4 Inch Volumizing Hair I | Harmonize Beauty VOLOOM 1.5 Inch Hair Cr |
|---|---|---|
| Product | VOLOOM Rootie 3/4 Inch Volumizing Hair Iron | Harmonize Beauty VOLOOM 1.5 Inch Hair Crimper |
| Plate width | 3/4 inch | 1.5 inch |
| Best hair | Fine, thin, short | Thick, long |
| Technology | Patented checkerboard plates | Patented checkerboard plates |
| Heat range | 220 to 395 degrees | Adjustable heat |
| Auto shut-off | Yes | Yes |
| Use | Root precision work | Fast full-head volume |
| Our pick | Winner for fine hair | Winner for thick hair |
Our Verdict
For fine, thin, or short hair, the VOLOOM Rootie wins with its precise 3/4 inch plates. For thick, long hair that needs maximum lift, the 1.5 inch classic wins with its wider coverage. Match the tool to your hair density and you cannot go wrong.
Root Volumizing Technique: The Checkerboard Method
Nobody explains the VOLOOM technique properly, so here is the version. The patented checkerboard plates crimp the under-layers at the root; the top layer falls over the crimped section, hiding the texture while the lift shows. The method: lift a top section, clip it away, crimp the under-section at the roots for five to eight seconds, release, and let the top fall. The volume comes from the hidden crimped layer propping up the smooth top.
The placement rules: crimp only the under-layers, never the visible top layer; visible crimping is the 1980s look, not the goal. Focus on the crown and sides where flatness shows; the back needs less. The Rootie's 3/4-inch plates give precision for fine hair and short styles; the 1.5-inch covers more area per clamp for thick hair. One clamp per section is enough; re-clamping the same spot over-processes. The heat setting: fine hair at the low end of the range, thick hair higher; the 220 to 395 degree range covers both. Our 3-barrel crimper comparison covers the wave-crimper alternative.
Second-Day Volume: Preserving the Lift
No page covers preserving root volume overnight, so here is the routine. The crimped under-layer holds for days; what flattens is the top layer. Sleep with the hair in a loose top bun or pineapple; the elevation preserves the root lift. In the morning, shake out and finger-style; do not brush the roots flat. Dry shampoo at the roots on day two absorbs the oil that weighs the lift down.
The refresh rule: do not re-crimp daily. The checkerboard texture lasts three to four days; re-crimping daily over-processes the same under-sections. If the lift falls by day three, the day-one sections were too large or the heat too low; smaller sections and adequate heat buy more days. A silk or satin pillowcase reduces the overnight flattening significantly. The top layer can be smoothed with a flat iron on day two without touching the crimped under-layer; the lift survives the smoothing.
Fine Hair vs Thick Hair: The Density Playbook
The density question deserves its own playbook beyond the Rootie-vs-classic split. Fine hair: use the Rootie, low heat, small sections; fine hair volumizes easily and over-heats fast. The mistake with fine hair is too much heat and too many sections; less is more. Thin hair that is also fine needs the lightest touch; the goal is lift, not texture.
Thick hair: use the 1.5-inch, higher heat, and work in more sections; thick hair swallows volume and needs the wider plates plus adequate heat to hold. Long thick hair needs the under-layer crimped in two tiers, crown and mid-length, because a single crown crimp collapses under the weight. Short hair: the Rootie only; the 1.5-inch plates are too wide for short styles and the crimp shows. The universal rule: the crimped layer must stay hidden; if the checkerboard shows, the sections were too thin on top or the crimp went too high.
The Weekly Heat Schedule and Damage Honesty
No page gives a concrete weekly schedule for root tools, so here it is. Wash day: full volumizing routine on clean, dry hair. Day two and three: no heat; preserve with the overnight method. Day four: wash again or refresh the top layer only. The under-sections get heat once a week, which is the damage-control logic; the same hidden sections are not re-heated daily.
The damage honesty: crimping is heat styling, and the checkerboard plates concentrate heat at the roots. The prevention is the schedule above, heat protectant on the under-sections, and the correct temperature for your hair type. Signs of over-processing: the under-layer feels rough or breaks at the crimp points. If that happens, lower the heat and reduce frequency; the tool is effective enough that maximum heat is rarely needed. For the broader curling iron category, our curling irons hub covers the full range.
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