Samantha Holender
In my almost 30 years of life, I've never learned to properly curl my hair. I know, I know—embarrassing. But that's what happens when your grandma was a hairdresser and always did it for you. I can make a good wand work when I need it to, but I much prefer a done-by-someone-else blowout... or throwing some socks in my hair and falling fast asleep.
As it turns out, heatless curling is everything to me—and maybe should be to you, too. My type 2A hair falls flat almost immediately when met with heat, but a night spent wrapped around flexible rods gives it bouncy curls for days and days while incurring zero damage.
"Heatless curls are perfect when you’re giving your hair a break from heat styling or you’re in a growth phase and want to keep strands healthy and strong. Plus, it’s a time-saver because you set it and forget it while you sleep, glam, or run errands. No heat, no rush, and you get beautiful results," explains Danielle Priano, a celebrity hairstylist and SexyHair's Brand Ambassador.
Seriously: even if you have the best heat protectants on hand and find yourself armed with the best curling irons and straightening irons, there's something magical about releasing a roller and seeing a voluminous wave tumble down.
Heatless curlers are especially great options for those already dealing with damage. Kimberlee Blakley, Senior Director of Product Development and Trichologist at The Mane Choice, says, "Heatless curling is a great method for those with highly sensitized hair from hair color, highlights, and other chemical processes." She says the practice is also perfect if you're pressed for time; all you have to do is sleep in the curlers and pull them out in the morning.
Ahead, discover the best heatless curlers on the market and tips from the experts on how to make the most of your chosen method.
Best Heatless Curlers
- The Best Heatless Curler Overall: The Curly Tie
- The Best Heatless Curl Kit: Lily England Heatless Curlers
- The Best Heatless Curler Rollers: Trademark Beauty Velcro Rollers
- The Best Heatless Curlers for Volume: Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers
- The Best Heatless Curlers for Curl Maintenance: Kitsch Rosewood Satin Flexi Rods
Made from 100 percent mulberry silk, this will prevent frizz and keep your hair soft and moisturized. Beauty Editor Samantha Holender tried it and said, "I really wasn't sure what to expect with this heatless curls tool; I've been loyal to my curling iron for well over a decade. Alas, I haphazardly wrapped some hair around the silk and crawled into bed. I was surprisingly comfortable to wear (I was skeptical), and it didn't leave me with a headache. Come morning, I just pulled it out and was greeted by big, bouncy curls. It did a fairly good job of taming frizz, although I still threw some hair oil on my ends for good measure. It wasn't as flawless as some videos make heatless curls seem (I added a few curling iron waves in there), but overall, it sped up the styling process."
Material: Mulberry silk
Type: Rod
Accessories: Two scrunchies, jaw clip
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Made from premium material; comes with everything you need; creates voluminous curls; comfortable
What We Don't: May be marketed as more of a miracle product than it is
Fashion Editor Lauren Tappan loved experimenting with these High Tops from Drybar, but she admits that they involve a learning curve. "I’ve never tried self-grip rollers before, so I was excited to get my hands on this set from Drybar," she says. "I must admit, though, I wasn’t quite sure how well the rollers would work since my hair strands usually require a good amount of heat to take shape. I followed directions step by step— parting my hair, rolling each section from my ends to my roots, and allowing the rollers to sit for 15 minutes. I ran into a bit of trouble during the first step of the process because the rollers didn’t stay in place as intended, so I clipped them with pins. After unrolling my hair I noticed a slight increase in volume but I didn’t achieve the blowout look that I wanted. I think if I had curled my hair with an iron before rolling each section, I would’ve seen much better results. I’ll make sure to try that next time!"
Material: Self grip
Type: Rollers
Accessories: Six rollers
Who It's For: Post-blowout hair
What We Love: Add volume; self-gripping; kit includes several rollers of different sizes
What We Don't: If you have a lot of hair, you may need to buy more than one pack; may not stay up as well on thick hair, in which case you'd need clips
Blakley recommends flexible, or flexi, rods for creating tighter, more defined styles. She says that, depending on the size of the rods, they can create tight waves or curls from root to tip. This option from Kitsch is made from satin, and Fashion E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla tried it out.
“I found this hair wrap a little tricky to use. For reference, I have layered hair that falls just past my shoulders. I used this curler from Kitsch on day three hair to add some volume back into my style. I misted my hair to make it damp (although the brand notes that you can use it on dry hair) and got to work wrapping my layers around the squishy, foamy roller," she explains. "Because my hair is layered towards the bottom, I found it hard to wrap my hair along the full length of the tube without it falling out or uncoiling itself. Also, the roller requires you to use a claw clip to hold it in place while you wrap, which I didn’t have. My husband held it in place while I wrapped it, but It still felt pretty loose around the crown of my head after I was done wrapping. It shaped my hair, and I think I would use it again to maintain a pre-curled style. So for that, it really received top marks. The technique will take some getting used to before I sleep in it again, though.”
Material: Satin
Type: Rod
Accessories: Six rods
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Kit comes with six rods; Satin fabric doesn't cause frizz; Great for tight styles
What We Don't: Requires use of additional tools (like scrunchies or clips) to keep the rods in place; Satin is not as premium as silk for haircare
Also Recommended
If you like to mix up your style often, consider a set of heatless curlers with varying sizes. This option from Conair, for example, includes both one-inch rods and 3/8-inch rods, so you can craft both loose curls and tight coils. Blakley says "bendy curling rods" like these, which are made from plastic, are "similar to flexi rods but typically longer and more versatile for creating various curl sizes."
Material: Plastic
Type: Rod
Accessories: 18 rods
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Can create different curl types; comes with 18 individual rods; affordable
What We Don't: Requires use of additional tools (like scrunchies or clips) to keep the rods in place
My mom used to pin these cute, affordable little foam rollers on me when I was little, before my natural curls developed, and they never failed to produce bouncy, defined ringlets. They also stay in place all day and all night long. Blakley loves the foam roller method as well, explaining that they are "soft and comfortable to sleep in and ideal for creating loose, voluminous curls."
Material: Foam sponge
Type: Roller
Accessories: 18 pack
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Expert-approved; editor-approved; comfortable; stay in place; don't require additional tools (like pins)
What We Don't: Small, so they may not be able to hold long, thick hair as well
Silk is far better for your hair than satin, cotton, and other fabrics. The smooth material prevents frizz and dryness, and can be removed from hair with ease. This heatless curler set from Silke London comes not only with a silk heatless curler, but also with two silk scrunchies and a fashionable clip that you can use with the rest of the kit or on its own once your hair is styled.
Material: Silk
Type: Rod
Accessories: Two silk hair ties, hair clip, cosmetic case
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Made from premium material; kit comes with everything you need
What We Don't: More expensive than competitors
Heatless headband curlers are comfortable for overnight wear, particularly if you sleep on your back. Blakley says fabric options like this velour one "create natural, beachy waves" by the morning. This particular kit comes with the curler itself, a clip, and two scrunchies.
Material: Velour
Type: Headband
Accessories: Headband, two scrunchies, hair clip, two hair ties
Who It's For: All hair types—especially extra long hair
What We Love: Kit comes with everything you need; soft; comfortable
What We Don't: Not as suitable for creating tight curls
If you have extra long hair, seek out an extra long curling ribbon like this one. Tie it around your head like a headband—no clips, pins, or scrunchies needed—and you have everything you need to create bouncy curls. It's also made from ultra-soft, warm velour and comes in a whopping 17 colors.
Material: Velour
Type: Headband
Accessories: Headband, two hair ties, hair clip
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Looks stylish; Great for all hair lengths; Doesn't require additional accessories to use, but comes with clips and scrunchies just in case
What We Don't: Made from bamboo viscose, cotton, and polyester, which is more abrasive than silk or satin
This curling headband was made to be worn out and about. It comes in several colors, including this subtle black option. Tie it around itself or use pins and scrunchies to keep it in place. Reviewers found it soft and comfortable for overnight wear, and multiple noted that they didn't need to set curls with a styler or spray. Because it's made from satin, it slides off easily, doesn't get tangled, and won't induce breakage.
Material: Satin
Type: Headband
Accessories: Headband, two scrunchies
Who It's For: All hair types
What We Love: Made from non-abrasive satin; Stylish; Easy to use
What We Don't: Satin is not as premium of a material as silk
What to Look For
- Comfort
If you intend to sleep in your heatless curlers, Korab says to prioritize comfort. For this, she recommends foam rollers, which are lightweight and easy to sleep in. You can also opt for headbands that wrap hair around the sides of the head, making it possible to sleep comfortably on your back.
- Material
When shopping for heatless curlers, you should keep in mind the types of curls you're trying to create. For example, Korab says that flexi rods "are versatile and can be bent and twisted into different sizes and curl forms for a customized look." Meanwhile, velcro rollers and foam rollers come in different circumferences, resulting in different curl patterns (smaller rollers create tighter curls, whereas large rollers are best for loose, beachy waves).
- Hair Type
As our editors demonstrated, heatless curlers don't necessarily work on every hair type or haircut. If, like Julia, you have a layered cut, you may find it difficult to wrap all your hair in the device. Meanwhile, if your hair is thick like Lauren's, it may be more challenging for your hair to hold the style, so it may be best to keep the curlers in longer or opt for a curling iron instead. Finally, if your hair is prone to breakage, consider a silk option that won't damage hair while it's in place.
How to Use Heatless Curlers
Heatless curlers may seem complicated to the uninitiated, but Korab says they're easier than they look. She recommends applying a styling product throughout damp hair. Then, she says, "Use a comb to divide your hair into sections, depending on the size and number of curlers you have. Smaller sections will result in tighter curls, while larger sections will create looser curls." Blakley advises against rushing through this step, admitting, "sectioning is key."
Next, wrap your hair around the curler(s), starting at the ends and ending at the scalp. Secure the curler(s) in place with scrunchies or pins if necessary. Both stylists recommend letting the style set for six to eight hours (or overnight) for best results. Once finished, keep your curls looking fresh by applying a hairspray or lightweight gel.
How We Tested
Beauty Writer Sophia Vilensky found the best heatless curlers on the market based on customer reviews, Marie Claire editor recommendations, expert recommendations, and her own testing. After receiving samples of numerous kits, she spent weeks saying "who needs a good night of sleep anyway" and slept in various levels of discomfort in favor of waking up with bouncy curls. She evaluated each product based on ease of use, price, material, and how gorgeous they made her hair look, obviously.
Why Trust Marie Claire?
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
Meet the Experts
New York-based hairstylist Danielle Priano flawlessly executes effortless, timeless and feminine glamour for an impressive roster of celebrity, commercial, and editorial clientele.
There is a magical quality to her endlessly inspiring energy and incredible talent. Coupled with her tenacity, Danielle has established herself as one of the leading hairstyling and spokesperson powerhouses in the industry. When a door opens for Danielle, she is sure to be invited back, again and again.
Danielle’s vast body of work especially translates to her mastery styling multi-disciplinary celebrities. Jennifer Lopez, Lindsay Lohan, Addison Rae, Hailey Bieber, Cara Delevingne and more—these talents parallel her commitment to cross all aspirational genres and career lanes in the media landscape.
Sabrina Porsche, originally from San Jose, CA, has over 22 years of experience as a hairstylist. Today, Sabrina's client list includes some of the most recognizable names in entertainment, including Beyoncé, JLo, Eva Longoria, Khloe Kardashian, Shay Mitchell, and Joan Collins. Sabrina's love for creativity and innovation shines through in every style she creates.
Jennifer Korab is a hairstylist specializing in color and and extensions. She owns the Renaissance Salon and Revival Barber Shop, both of which are located in New Jersey. She also serves as a haircare educator for Pureology.
Kimberlee Blakley is the Senior Director of Product Development and Trichologists at haircare brand The Mane Choice. She is certified in both trichology and cosmetology. Currently, she's based in New York City.
