Hot rollers, curling irons and crimpers are not what they used to be—now they're designed to create a myriad of temporary styles in every texture imaginable. Even if you already have curl, you can easily express your more sophisticated—or playful—side by reshaping what nature gave you with styling tools that are lighter, faster and more versatile than ever before. Best yet, these beauty tools make fine hair look thicker by adding volume, without risking a "permanent" look you'll have to live with, like it or not.

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Electric curlers of the past were real scorchers. Thankfully, times have changed. Today, thermostatically controlled electric rollers heat up in as short a time as 35 seconds, but they're gentler on your hair than past high-heat rollers.

Custom-designed hot rods break the traditional, cylindrical-shaped mold. Thanks to design improvements, you can select rollers in all sizes and shapes. For instance, Windmere's Oval Hairsetter creates sensational spirals via flat, oval-shaped rods; Conair's slim, flexible Hot Sticks are designed for curlier looks.

Yet another breakthrough in styling hair: Today's rollers aren't only for long hair. Modern hairsetters include rods small enough to curl just three inches of hair, or include special attachments for wrapping the shortest of layers. One system, Celeste Company's Caruso Deluxe Hairsetter, uses steam heat to lock in curl. Your hair is actually conditioned by the steam's moisture and the set holds even the most curl-resistant hair. As a bonus, the unit converts to a facial steamer.

For those who have no time to waste in the morning (who does?), the Vidal Sassoon SmartSetter can be programmed to turn on at the specific time you indicate. Also for women on the go, Conair Walking Sticks fit in your purse and heat up via a unique, throwaway, butane cartridge, eliminating the need for rechargers or European converters—so handy for a last-minute beauty boost before your rendezvous in a small Left Bank cafe.

The main thing to remember about hot rollers is to let them cool down before taking them out. The reason for this is that heat both imparts and removes curl. If your hair is still warm when you brush it, you'll subtract up to 30 percent of the curl you just added. Says Mitchell Barnes of Carter/Barnes Salon in Atlanta, "Women who get frayed ends from hot rollers think they burned their hair. If the ends look kinky, it's because they weren't placed smoothly on the roller, which is hard to do when hair is dry. For a healthy-looking set, dampen your fingers and apply a small amount of moisture to the ends before rolling."

If your ends tend to bend and kink, try setters with rollers that grip stray strands. Clairol's Curl-Technics has ribbed rollers that firmly grab ends. The wax-filled core