The Secret To Voluminous Curls At Home Is So Simple (2024)

Hair rollers offer a relatively easy way to get those beachy waves or springy spirals (no matter your curl type) without frying your hair with hot tools or splurging on salon blowouts.

"Hair rollers come in all sizes to give you anything from tight coils to laid-back waves—and they also pump up the volume, giving your hair some extra oomph and body without the harshness of heat tools," says Mayara Macedo, hairstylist at The Second Floor Salon in New York City. You can use rollers on your entire head for a glam, voluminous look or just pop a few rollers around your crown for face-framing waves.

Meet the experts: Mayara Macedo is a hairstylist at The Second Floor Salon in New York City. Natalie Edri is a celebrity hairstylist and co-owner of EN Edri Salon in Miami, Florida.

"With any type of hair rollers, you can really control the shape and style of the hair by the way you roll them, whether that be horizontally or vertically," says Natalie Edri, celebrity hairstylist and co-owner of EN Edri Salon in Miami, Florida.

Like most hair-styling tools and curly hair hacks using hair rollers come with a bit of a learning curve. But once you've got the hang of it, they can be a powerful tool to help you diversify your styling.

Here, pro hairstylists explain how to use three popular types of hair rollers for your best at-home 'do yet.

How to use velcro hair rollers

Velcro rollers are all about versatility. You can use them on your natural hair for added definition, and they're especially great at helping your hair set after a blowout. According to Edri, you can also use them under a dryer with wet hair for extra volume. "Velcro hair rollers give you the benefits of added volume and major root lifting," she adds.

Plus, Velcro rollers come in various sizes, so you can choose the size that best fits the type of curl you want to achieve, Macedo says.

Step 1: Prepare your hair

• Start with clean, dry hair.
• Apply a small amount of styling product, like mousse or setting spray, to help the curls hold better. Macedo recommends the Authentic Beauty Concept Mousse and Hairspray and we also love Better Not Younger Wake Up Call High Hold Thickening Hairspray for a long-lasting hold.

Step 2: Section your hair

• Using clips or hair ties, divide your hair into sections. Smaller sections will give you tighter curls, while larger sections will give you looser curls.

Step 3: Roll your hair

• Take a small section of hair and comb it through to remove any tangles.
• Place the Velcro roller at the end of the section of hair.
• Roll the hair up toward your scalp, keeping it tight as you go.
• Secure the roller in place by pressing down gently. The Velcro should grip onto the hair, holding it in place without the need for clips or pins, but if needed, secure it with a hair pin.
• Continue rolling sections of hair until all of your hair is in rollers. Make sure the rollers are evenly distributed throughout your hair for a uniform look.
  

Pro tip: "For added volume, roll the hair away from your face,"says Macedo.

Step 4: Set and wait

• Once all the rollers are in place, you can either let your hair air dry or use a blow dryer on a low heat setting to speed up the process.
• Allow the rollers to sit in your hair for at least 20 to 30 minutes.

Pro tip: "The longer you leave them in, the more defined your curls will be," Macedo says.

Step 5: Remove the rollers

• Gently unravel each roller from your hair, being careful not to disrupt the curls.
• Once all the rollers are out, use your fingers to separate and arrange the curls to your liking.

Pro tip: If your hair tends to fall flat easily, you can use hairspray to set the curls once they're in place, Macedo says.

How to use foam hair rollers

Foam hair rollers are easy to use and work pretty similarly to Velcro rollers. "Foam rollers can give you waves, not just curls, and you can achieve the 1920s look with a bigger roller," Edri says. They're great to use on freshly washed hair, so if you're up for a little planning ahead, try using foam rollers on towel-dried hair and leaving them in overnight—and you'll wake up with beautiful, natural-looking curls.

Step 1: Prepare your hair

• Start with clean, damp hair. Unlike velcro rollers, foam rollers work best on slightly damp hair as the dampness helps the curls set.
• Apply a styling product, like mousse or setting lotion, to help hold the curls. Macedo likes the Oribe Crème for Style to help hold the curls in place without weighing your hair down.

Step 2: Section your hair

• Using clips or hair ties, divide your hair into sections. Again, smaller sections will give you tighter curls, while larger sections will give you looser curls.

Step 3: Roll your hair

• Take a section of hair and comb it through to remove any tangles.
• Starting from the ends of your hair, wrap the hair around the foam roller, rolling it up toward your scalp.
• Once you reach your scalp, secure the roller in place with the included clip or by bending the ends of the roller together.
• Continue rolling sections of hair until all of your hair is in rollers. Make sure the rollers are evenly distributed throughout your hair for a uniform look.

Step 4: Set and wait

• Allow your hair to air dry or use a blow dryer on a low heat setting to speed up the drying process.

Pro tip: Let the rollers set in your hair for at least a few hours or overnight for best results. But if you're in a rush, Macedo recommends using a blow dryer on a low heat setting to speed up the drying process—just make sure your hair is completely dry before removing the rollers.

Step 5: Remove the rollers

• Carefully remove each roller from your hair, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
• Once all the rollers are out, use your fingers to separate and arrange the curls to your liking.

How to use hot rollers

As their name implies, hot rollers heat up. They work pretty similarly to a curling iron or wand, so you'll get more long-lasting results and a tighter curl. "Hot rollers are great for special occasions because they produce firm, shiny, and glamorous curls with lots of volume," Edri says.

Unlike Velcro rollers, hot rollers don't grip the hair, so you'll need to use hair clips to secure the hair.

Step 1: Prepare your hair

• Start with clean, dry hair. FYI: Hot rollers are most effective on dry hair as they help the curls set faster.
• Apply a heat protectant spray or serum to protect your hair from heat damage.

Step 2: Section your hair

• Using clips or hair ties, divide your hair into sections.

Step 3: Heat the rollers

• Plug in the hot roller set and wait for it to heat up according to the manufacturer's instructions. (Most roller sets will indicate when they're ready to use.)

Step 4: Roll your hair

• Take a section of hair and comb it through to remove any tangles.
• Starting from the ends of your hair, wrap the hair around the hot roller, rolling it up toward your scalp.
• Once you reach your scalp, secure the roller in place using the included clip or with a hairpin.
• Continue rolling sections of hair until all of your hair is in rollers. Make sure the rollers are evenly distributed throughout your hair for a uniform look.

Step 5: Set and wait

• Allow the rollers to cool completely in your hair, around 15 to 20 minutes. The cooling process helps set the curls in place and ensures they last longer.

Step 6: Remove the rollers

• Carefully remove each roller from your hair, starting from the bottom and working your way up.
• Once all the rollers are out, use your fingers to separate and arrange the curls to your liking.