
As a beauty editor, I've tried many hairstyling tools during my career. From my trusty $43 hairstyling wand that I can't live without through to the blow-the-budget Dyson Airwrap and other all-singing, all-dancing hair multi-stylers that have been doing the rounds of late. Velcro rollers come in many sizes and are meant to give hair the appearance of more volume.
Adding the Foam Rollers
Create small sections in your hair and add a moisturizing treatment like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Leave-in Conditioner. Then grab your section of hair by the root (be careful not to apply too much tension), place the styling hook around it, and pull your hair through the curl former. If your spiral curlers don’t take shape immediately, pull them straight and then let go until they coil. Gather a one-inch section of hair and place the roller at the end.
Step #5: Take out your twists
If you're finding your hair is falling flat within moments after taking the rollers out, you might be using too large of a size. "The smaller the roller, the tighter the curl will become, whereas the larger the roller, the straighter the hair will be, but you will achieve more volume," says Merrick-Thirlway. If you're in doubt, choose a smaller hair roller than you think you need. "You can always comb out too much volume, but you can't add it in after," he says. Then, flip your hair forward, misting a little hair spray or dry shampoo at the roots, James suggests.
How To Use Hair Rollers

Just follow the tips and tricks we’ve gone over in this article, and your hair will come out amazing each time. So for a three-inch roller, you want to separate a three-inch section of hair. Spritz your hair with a lightweight, heat-safe setting or holding spray to encourage definition. Before using hot rollers, you should shampoo and condition your hair. Freshly washed hair looks and feels better and is less likely to become damaged by the heat.
If you're looking to learn how to use hair rollers to curl your hair at home, you're in the right place. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about using hair rollers according to professional stylists. Super tight, defined curls require more time, whereas I was able to achieve a more relaxed, looser feel within a couple of hours. "As there is no heat involved, the longer the better really, which is why people sleep in them overnight," Paul says.

Ways to Use Hair Rollers for the Perfect Curls
While we can’t confirm when generic hair rollers first appeared in the beauty world, we do know that hot rollers emerged on the scene in 1930 thanks to Solomon Harper. He is credited with inventing a better version in 1953 as well. The size and shape of your curl will be determined by the size of the foam hair roller you choose so this is not a step to skip or overlook. If you want more instantaneous results, hot hair rollers are the perfect option for you.
Extra Tip: Style Your Curls
I happened to have the Redken Triple Pure 32 Hairspray on hand, which kept the shape intact and didn't leave my hair feeling crunchy. "If you roll your hair into a roller with a tangle, it will exacerbate the problem and create much larger tangles. This makes them look even more distressed once dry," says Dueñas. You can combat frizz and add a polished look by applying a small amount of oil or serum to your curls, ensuring they look smooth and radiant.
Of course, you can throw those rollers on and get productive with something else while waiting. Also, if your hair roller allows it, you can sleep in with it and wake up having a fantastic hair day. Then, clip the rest of your hair away, leaving one section to work with at a time. This makes the process more organized, especially since flexi rolls are chunky and can be messy to handle. As a dynamic husband and wife duo behind Curl Centric, our passion for curly hair has fueled a transformative journey. If you’re satisfied with the curl, you can continue moving forward.
She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. When your hair is about 90% dry, you want to take a round hairbrush and blow-dry one section at a time before placing the roller into the hair. Next, prep hair with product to make it easier to form a grip. Dueñas suggests using mousse, like Amika Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse, if you're working with damp hair, or brush Kevin Murphy Blow Dry Ever Lift through dry hair.
Give your hair a good shake to help loosen and separate the curls. After you remove the roller, pin the hair in the same cylindrical shape with a hair clip. Move on to the next roller, and repeat the steps until you’ve removed them all. We’ll also give you a few pointers on how to get a flawless hair roller set every time, so make sure you scroll down to the end. "Once complete, let rollers sit for 20 to 25 mins and then remove the hot curlers gently, allowing ringlets to drop," says McKnight.
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"Start by blow-drying the hair with a medium round brush, such as the Neville 1403, to take out the rest of the moisture," says Merrick-Thirlway. A round brush manipulates the hair to add that soft bend and bounce to your lengths. Twirl the brush through your hair as you blow-dry and repeat this a couple of times.
Plus, with such a big variety of options, you can easily choose whatever size curls you’d like. Velcro rollers are ideal if you prefer setting your hair when it’s wet or damp, or like the idea of using a blow dryer to create lift, volume, or to set curls. While the process of setting your hair on velcro rollers is the same as with hot rollers or steam rollers, the difference is in what you do after you’ve finished putting up your hair. "I would say that hot rollers will give you more of a “set” look with big and bouncy curls, whereas an iron can be used for a loose wave or tighter curl and everything in between," explains Aguirre.
If you want overnight curls opt for foam hair rollers as velcro curlers are bulky and hard, and uncomfortable to lean on. After a few hours, remove your velcro rollers, tousle your strands, and spritz your hair with hairspray to add the final touches of shine and hold to your voluminous curls. If you want same day curls, put your curlers in during your morning routine and allow them to set throughout the day. If you need to speed it up, you can blow dry your flexi rollers to set your curls quickly. If you want overnight curls, put your rollers in at night and sleep on them.
However, whereas you get a range of roller sizes with hot rollers, unless you buy a set of curling irons or wands, you’re limited to one barrel width. "Rollers are a great option whether you're trying to get beach waves or more defined coils," says Anthony Dickey, hairstylist and founder of the Hair Rules salon and brand. To give your curls time to form, you can choose one of two methods to complete your foam roller curls. If you’re getting ready for a night out, put your curlers in during your morning routine and allow them to set throughout the day. When you take them out before you go out at night you’ll have gorgeous curls! If you want your hair to be curled for a day of work, put your rollers in at night and sleep on them.