Hot Rollers Are My Lazy Girl Hack to a Perfect Blowout

It beats a round brush every time.

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In 2026, hot rollers aren’t just a nostalgic throwback of ’90s supermodels—they’re a beauty essential for anyone who wants a fresh blowout without the price of a salon visit or the skills that accompany a round brush and blow dryer. Today’s best hot rollers marry major volume with modern features like ionic technology, dual voltage for travel, and ceramic materials that make styling easier than ever. At a time when air-dried hair is the It-girl default, hot rollers stand out as that rare styler that gives you back your morning and still delivers va-va-voom hair.

“Hot rollers give you a lot of volume, a lift at the root, and bounce,” hairstylist Jennifer Matos of Rita Hazan explains—and she’s right. The magic is in their set-and-forget ease. I roll, I wait, I answer emails or apply a bit of makeup, and a few minutes later, my hair has magically done without a single cramped hand in sight. They’re especially great on second-day hair, too, when I want a refresh without starting from scratch.

Since their reign in the 1960s, hot rollers have come a long way. There’s now a set engineered for every hair type, length, and lifestyle—from fine hair that’s as thin as it is fragile to thick hair that usually eats a curl. And today, I swear by them for the lift and bounce that outperforms most irons.

Below, I’ve broken down the top hot roller sets of 2026. Each delivers something different—from all-around performance to travel-friendly convenience—plus my honest, editor-tested take on what’s actually worth space on your bathroom counter.

The Best Hot Rollers

What Kind of Hot Roller Should I Use?

When looking for a hot roller, there are a few deciding factors: a) What look do you want to achieve? b) What’s your hair type? And c) How long is your hair?

“The smaller the roller, the more of a bounce you’ll get,” explains Matos. “The larger the roller, the less bounce you’ll get. It will be more of a looser curl.” With that in mind, hair rollers with smaller diameters are typically preferred for fine hair types, as tighter curls last longer. When it comes to length, just make sure to manage expectations. Those with short hair will likely get lift and volume, whereas those with longer hair can expect full-blown curls.

How Many Hot Rollers Do I Need?

At a minimum, you’re going to need at least five hot rollers. “If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up, you can do a half head of rollers, which would be three on top and two on the sides,” explains Matos.

A full head is going to require about eight to 10 rollers, depending on the length and texture of your hair, though obviously someone with thick, long hair is going to need more hot rollers than someone with a fine bob.

How Do I Use a Hot Roller?

While the whole kit and caboodle may look intense, rest assured that using hot rollers is actually pretty easy:

  1. After giving your rollers a good 10 minutes to heat up, spray your heat protectant and section your hair. “Section in a mohawk section, from mid-eyebrows to the crown of your head. Ideally, there are three rollers there,” advises Matos.
  2. Then, you’ll want to section your hair on the sides (two rollers per side is perfect). “For the back, grab whatever hair is left and do it in sections. The number of sections depends on the hair texture, but usually three to four sections are plenty.” (Pro tip: Always roll away from the face.)
  3. Then let the rollers sit for as long as the instructions suggest, roll ‘em out, and finish off your look with hairspray.

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.

How We Tested

Marie Claire is an authority on hair, having written countless stories about must-have hair products and treatments, such as the best blow-dry brushes and '90s hair inspiration, among others. The products on this list have all been tried and tested by one of our editors or hand-picked by beauty writers after testing the product over a few weeks.

While the best hot roller set for you will vary based on personal preference, you truly can't go wrong with one of the items on this list.

Meet the Expert

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Jennifer Matos

If you ask Jennifer what she thinks is the key to satisfying her clients, she’ll say “listening”. Jennifer earned her title as a stylist with Rita Hazan after years of extensive training. Her unequivocal talent is matched with the knowledge of her profession, courtesy demeanor, and sweet personality that is loved by all.

Samantha Holender
Samantha Holender
Senior Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.

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