I have the same problem although what I do is take my hair by sections. So I would start at the bottom layer and put all my other hair in a high pony tail and then curl hold it for 10 seconds and hairspray it while it on the curlling iron.And repeat that for each layer. Just an idea ,that what I do and it works perfect.
You can piggy back the rollers. Start half way down the strand of hair and roll the curler to the scalp then get another curler and start at the end of the hair and roll it to the first curler. If you have any picks you can slide a pick thru both curlers to hold them in place.
Go to the salon & ask them to do it ;; duh"