Heatless curls and heatless curlers have been on the rise the last year but I bet you remember sleeping in those hard foam rollers when you were younger. I know I did just to get no sleep and have Sherly Temple curls, just for them to either turn into an afro or fall straight after a few hours.
**Update from August 2024
My method of how I do heatless curls have changed a bit since I originally posted this blog post. I now do the “Unicorn” Method which I will leave a tutorial video below. But essentially, all these tips work for this method but instead of having 2 sides (like 2 braids) you have just one second down the middle. And I am using the Kitsch Curling Rod in the tutorial below.
Fast forward a few decades and we have more comfortable options, tips to make them last longer, and ways to avoid sleeping in them at all.
There are so many different types of heatless curlers on the market; rods, individual curlers, wired rods, scrunchies, people using socks, and bathrobes. I have tried a lot of these and have a lot of thoughts and tips.
If you are looking for how to keep your hair healthy and prevent split ends, check out this blog post.
Here is how to use heatless curlers and make your heatless curls last.
Freshly Washed Hair
With freshly washed hair, this ensures you don’t have product build-up that might weigh your hair down.
You also want to have freshly wet hair. Heat and water can manipulate the hair strand. However, you don’t want to use a heatless hair curler on wet hair, just recently wet hair.
You want to put in your heatless curler no more than 2 hours after your hair has dried.
After 2 hours your hair doesn’t have as much moisture and you need moisture in your hair for your heatless curls to hold.
If it’s been longer than 2 hours add some water with a misting bottle.
Don’t Overload with Product
Too much hair product will weigh your hair down causing your curls to fall faster.
I only add leave-in conditioner while my hair is wet before I do my heatless curls.
Leave-in conditioner is to be used on wet hair, not dry hair.
Don’t Add Oil When you take out the Heatless Curlers
Going back to not adding too much product, you don’t need to add oil.
This will just weigh your hair down and you only really need to add oil when you use heat. The heat pulls out moisture and you need to replace it with oil.
Brush Hair While it’s Drying
While your hair is air drying, brush it periodically to keep it dry straight to have better curls.
Smaller Sections and Wrap Tight
If you have hard-to-curl hair or hard to keep curled hair, take smaller sections when wrapping up in the curler.
You also want to wrap it as tight as you can around the curler and pull it tight to your head to help it lay against your head.
Don’t Brush Them Out
When you take out the heatless curler, don’t brush your hair out. Either break them up with your fingers or better, use a wide tooth comb.
Add Hold Product
Remember, we want as little product in our hair, but a light hold hair spray can help them stay.
I use a texture spray as I feel like it helps hold the curls and isn’t as crunchy and hard as hairspray.
Keep it in as Long as Possible
Keep the curler in as long as possible.
If you are doing it during the day, keep it in at least 4 hours for really hair to curl hair.
I just sleep with mine overnight, so 7-8 hours, and mine last 3-4 days.
Best Heatless Curlers
I have tried a few different heatless curlers so I’m going to rank the ones I have tried.
I will be ranking them based on, how easy it is to use, the curl result, and how comfortable it is to sleep in.
Honestly, it’s not the product that works or doesn’t, it’s the technique you use.
Amazon Satin Heatless Curl Ribbon
This is only $9 from Amazon and is silky to help with frizz. It’s not the most comfortable to sleep in, but it’s easy to use and I love that you can snap it when your sleep. You won’t have to tie it back if you are a back sleeper you just snap it up.
If you wrap all your hair away from your face, you will get more of a blowout look. This is the only technique I have tried with it and it was okay. I want curls, not a blowout look. If that is your vibe, you will like this.
Kitsch Satin Curling Rod
This product comes with the rod, scrunchies, and clip so everything you need. However, I don’t think this is comfortable to sleep in at all. It has a wire in it to help you bend if you need to wrap it around or bend/tie it behind your head.
The satin helps reduce frizz and you can use it multiple ways because of the wire to get different looks.
Eternal Muse
This company is a smaller brand but I love that they have multiple different sizes of curlers depending on the look you want or the length of your hair.
They say it’s the comfiest heatless curler on the market, but I didn’t find it that comfortable. Or at least more comfortable than the Kitsch one.
They have great tips for different ways to use it and different looks on their socials. Their product is very high quality but more pricey than the others. They also have a special comb to break up the curls without brushing them out causing them to fall.
Amazon Velour Curling Headband
I just got gifted this one from my secret Valentine from work and this is my favorite one at the moment!
The only thing I don’t like is that its not satin so I feel like my curls turn a little frizzy. However, this is the most comfortable for me to sleep in. I’m a side/stomach sleeper so I tie the ends at the base of my neck.
Heatless Curls FAQ’s
How long do heatless curls last for?
Depending on the prep before and how much product you add to your hair, they can last until you wash your hair.
They fall the most in the first few hours and more in the back the longer you go without washing or recurling your hair.
What should I put on my hair before my heatless curls?
All you need is leave in conditioner when your hair is still wet, wait no more than 2 hours after your hair is wet, and don’t add a lot of product when you take them out.
How do you keep heatless curls without hairspray?
You can add hairspray, but try not to add too much through out the week.
I use texture spray instead of hairspray personally.
How many hours do heatless curls take?
If your hair is hard to curl, leave the heatless curler in at least 4 hours. Or overnight if you don’t mind sleeping in it.
Should my hair be wet or dry for heatless curls?
You hair should be freshly washed (or recently damp) but still dry. Put your heatless curler in no more than 2 hours after you hair has dried. This will give you the best, long lasting heatless curls because the hair will still have moisture to help munipulate the hair structure.
Which heatless curler is best?
I have my list of ones I have tried but honestly, it’s about the technique not necessarily the curler itself.
Find one that you like, whether you need one you can sleep in (I recommend this one).
You want different size options for different curl looks, this is the only brand I’ve see offer different sizes.
If you need one that is affordable, this is a universal great option.
Want to sleep in a satin one and you are a back sleeper, so you don’t want a big tie at the back of your head, try this one.
