8 Best Hair Rollers and How to Use Them

These hair rollers make it look like you just went to the salon for a blowout — they're that good. With enough rollers to cover most of your head (yes, even if you have thick hair!) they're easy to use and leave you with glamorous, movie star coils. The curls from these rollers also last for days — no touch ups required.

How to use hot rollers: "To help hair adhere to the rollers, stick the ends of the hair onto the roller first." says Riley. From there, roll them up to where you want the curls to begin, and either use a clip or pin. Wait until the rollers are no longer hot (ten minutes or so) and carefully unroll. 

"Foam rollers help to curl hair while providing comfort," says Riley. "The foam is soft so that you can lay on them comfortably while you sleep." If you want foam rollers that are soft enough to sleep in, Riley recommends these rollers from Hot Tools, which come in two different sizes for customizable coils. "They are just as soft as you remember and just as affordable," says one online reviewer. 

How to use foam rollers: Let your hair air-dry a bit before rolling these in from the bottom so that you don't wake up with still-wet hair. If you're opting for foam rollers, Riley suggests using end wraps, which protect and smooth the ends of hair, since foam rollers can dry out the hair.

Velcro rollers are self-gripping, so you don't need pins or clips to keep them in place — the velcro holds onto hair and stays in place on your head. Don't be fooled — these rollers are not for big, bouncy curls as much as they are made for hair with tons of volume. Think of a flawless blowout that leaves your hair with movement and a soft bend. 

How to use velcro rollers: When hair is almost dry, roll these into your crown and hit your tresses with some heat from a blowdryer, and you'll have salon-worthy hair without having to worry about if you're holding your round brush the right way. 

An old-school classic, these hair rollers might look familiar. Steam rollers have stood the test of time — and for good reason. "The best part of these rollers is that they actually improve the quality of my hair," one reviewer notes. "Gently infusing steam lets my leave-in penetrate better and gives my hair awesome shine and bounce, something I thought not possible because my hair was damaged." Keep in mind they might take longer than some of the options since they heat individually, but the end result is 100 percent worth it. 

How to use steam rollers: Once the roller is heated from the steam, place these rollers into the ends of your hair and roll up, securing with the clip. Pop the next roller on the steam before you roll to save time.

"Flexi rods come in assorted sizes so styles can be easily customized depending on the look that you want," Riley explains. "Additionally, they are quite comfortable and very versatile for all texture types." Flexi rods are one of her favorite hair tools: "I’m currently obsessed with smaller flexi rods and old-school perm rods — primarily due to the versatility and accessibility."

How to use flexi rollers: Flexi rods "can be used wet or dry, and the flexible body of the rollers provides for stability without the use of clips and pins," says Riley. When you're finished rolling flexi rods up, just bend the sides to secure them in your hair. 

If your end goal is bouncy, voluminous curls in under 20 minutes, these are the rollers for you. Recommended by Riley and perfect to pop into your hair as you're getting ready, these rollers give you tons of lift. With four jumbo (1.75") and four large (1.5") rollers included, you can create different sized curls. If you have thick hair, these will only cover the top layers — but for lift and bounce, that's more than enough. 

Pro tip for hot rollers: "Always use a setting product," Riley advises. When using hot rollers, she recommends using something to moisturize the hair, like a leave-in conditioner. 

"Heat rollers are amazing for refreshing a style," Riley says. "The heat allows hair to reform without causing any type of heat damage. They’re also great for multi-tasking – throw them in for a quick touchup and let them set while getting dressed." These rollers are 1.5 inches in diameter "so the result is lots of volume and smooth, loose curls," says one reviewer. "The rollers heat up fast and are gentle enough on my hair to use every day."

Pro tip for hot rollers: "They’re great for multi-tasking," shares Riley. "Throw them in for a quick touchup and let them set while getting dressed."

For a full head of bouncy curls, you can't go wrong with these rollers. They come in three different sizes, so you can really control your waves. "These are definitely the easiest-to-use rollers I've ever owned," one reviewer raves. "They heat quickly, secure firmly without effort, and create a lovely curl. They're also designed in such a way that you can handle without burning yourself."

How to use hot rollers: When taking them out, in the back of the hair and work your way forward. This will reduce the risk of tangling hair and messing up your curls!