10 Best Heatless Curlers, According to Stylists and Reviewers

Beck recommends this heatless curling kit by Mermade. Though it’s a full kit, beginners won’t feel overwhelmed by having too many pieces, since this only has three simple items: a curling rod, two scrunchies, and a claw clip. “Everything’s made with mulberry silk, which keeps your hair smooth and shiny, and minimizes hair damage caused by friction,” says Beck. The soft curling rod makes it a lot easier to sleep in than non-silk options. The kit comes in an adorable gift-ready box, making it a great self-care present for just about anyone.

• Pros: Made with 100% mulberry silk, lightweight and flexible rod, affordable
• Cons: Some reviewers say their curl doesn’t last long enough

Material: Mulberry silk / Included Pieces: Rod, two scrunchies, claw clip

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If Kitsch’s super cute set looks familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve seen someone trying it out on your TikTok For You page. Celebrity hair stylist Ashley Gomila is one of the many fans loving this heatless curling set, claiming it as a great alternative to regular hot styling tools. She recommends having hair combed and towel-dried before adding a curl-refining creme into your hair to get a more uniform curl. “I’m a big fan of the heatless method because there’s literally no damage or impact to the hair,” she says. “Adding a small amount of curl-defining creme gives hold, adds shine, and protects against humidity.” Specifically designed with a silk that’s supposed to reduce frizz, it’s great for anyone with more dry hair. If you have particularly long or thick hair, you’ll love that Kitsch even offers an extra large heatless curling set, too.

• Pros: Designed to reduce frizz, comes in extra large option
• Cons: Set doesn’t come with clips, which you’ll want to hold rod in

Material: Satin / Included Pieces: Rod, two scrunchies

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Consider yourself one of the chosen ones if you’ve never experienced going to bed with perfect hair, only to wake up to a frizz nest at the top of your head where your bouncy blowout used to be. If you plan on sleeping in your heatless curlers, celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean recommends choosing a product made with satin. This satin set also comes with two satin caps which Dean says will help keep hair smooth and frizz-free.

• Pros: Plush rods are comfy to sleep in, helps avoid frizz
• Cons: Those with fine hair will want to secure the rods with clips

Material: Satin / Included Pieces: Two rods, two caps

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Those with fine hair tend to complain that curling rods just don’t stay in. That’s why shopper Lily Wang appreciates Batoude’s rod, which features a thinner satin fabric coating over the flexible rubber rod. “I tried some of the more well-known brands, but honestly this super affordable one from Amazon worked the best for me,” she says. “I have really thin, fine hair that barely holds a curl, so I appreciated that this had thinner fabric that gripped my hair more easily.” Now that some of us are back to working in an office more often, she cuts down her get-ready time by sleeping in one of these rods. “It literally takes me fives minutes to put them in before I go to bed, and I get tons of compliments on my hair in the office.” It even includes a claw clip to keep your style extra secure overnight.

• Pros: Good for fine hair, affordable
• Cons: Not ideal for thicker hair

Material: Satin, rubber / Included Pieces: Rod, two scrunchies, claw clip

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Yes, these are called thermal rollers, but shopper Nikita Agarwal uses them without heat. “I have thick, coarse, curly hair, but sometimes I just want a more uniform curl on my front pieces,” she says. She uses it on a few of her face-framing pieces of hair, then works from home in them. “When it's time for me to go out with my friends or husband to dinner, I just take these out and I’m ready to go.” She does occasionally pair these with a blow dryer if she doesn’t have time to wear them for a few hours before taking them out, but she says there’s really no need. While Agarwal chooses to use these on just a few pieces of hair for volume and definition, you’ll probably want to purchase two or three sets if you plan on using these on your full head, since you’ll just get eight rollers in each kit. The rollers are even made with velcro, so they’ll grip onto your hair without your needing any clips to secure them in.

• Pros: No clips needed, good for more coarse hair
• Cons: Not comfortable to sleep in

Material: Velcro, rubber / Included Pieces: Eight rollers

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If you have super long hair, we don’t blame you for being nervous about trying out heatless curls. That said, you probably have the most to gain, too, because it can take forever to curl using a hot tool. Enter this velvet curling headband, which shopper Stevie Jones swears by. “My hair is long and thick, so it takes forever to dry, and my hair just stays wet in those silkier hair rods,” she says. “I feel like this fabric kinda soaks up some of the dampness from my hair, so it curls and dries my hair at the same time,” The velvety fabric also grips hair a bit better, so it’s a great option if you have more fine strands. As a bonus, it even comes with an empty spray bottle for water or your fave hair product.

• Pros: Good for long or thick hair, affordable
• Cons: Not ideal for frizzy hair

Material: Velour / Included Pieces: Headband, two hair ties, hair clip, spray bottle, claw clip

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Not everyone can sleep like a mummy, so you’ll want something extra flexible and plush if you toss and turn at night. Shopper Marycate Taran loves this set from Hryyds for that reason. She’s frequently traveling for her job as a travel journalist, so she loves using a heatless curler because she doesn’t have to worry about international outlets. “I’ll put these in my hair on an overnight flight, or the second I land somewhere so I can wake up or land with great hair,” she says. “I honestly suck at styling my hair and barely know how to use a curler, so this is great for me because it’s so low-maintenance and easy to use on the fly (literally).” Uniquely made with a blend of cotton and velvet, the cushiony rod cones paired can be paired with two clips and two scrunchies for a secure hold.

• Pros: Made with 100% cotton, comfy to sleep in
• Cons: Not ideal for reducing frizz

Material: Cotton, velvet / Included Pieces: Rod, two clips, two scrunchies

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The mermaid hair trend isn’t going anywhere, and while you can achieve that look with an actual waver, the clamp can lead to heat damage. That’s where AOA’s unique curlers come in. It's designed to give you that tousled, beachy look with more uniform waves, simply slide each strand of hair into one of the wavers with the help the hair hook. From there, you can blow dry your hair while they’re in (if you’re in a rush), or simply sleep in them. Each $2 set comes with six curlers, so be sure to purchase 12 to 20 sets depending on how much hair you have.

• Pros: Easy to use, versatile, helps to achieve more natural waves
• Cons: Not ideal for longer hair

Material: Rubber / Included Pieces: Six curlers, one hook