By now, you’ve likely seen your favorite beauty influencers donning halos in their #GRWM videos. No, not the real kind, but the best heatless curlers—flexible rods that you wrap around your hair for hours at a time in pursuit of flawless, bouncy curls.
Why would anyone do this when there are all kinds of great, quick-working blow dryers, straighteners (yep, you read that right), and, of course, curling irons and wands? The prospect of healthier strands from heat-free styling is certainly alluring. Heatless curls are also designed to be comfortable, easy to use, and versatile enough for a variety of hair types, whether you’re rocking a short-hair lob, have waist-length strands, natural hair, or super-fine hair that can barely hold a curl (until now, that is).
To help you find the best heatless curlers—the ones that are easy to use, and more importantly, actually work—we tried ‘em out. We put some of the most best-selling, top-rated heatless curlers to the test, many of which were recommended by hairstylists. Some testers had short, fine hair; others had long, thick hair; some had such straight hair they were doubtful they’d wake up with ringlets. So one thing’s for sure: We know these models work for a variety of hair types, delivering those coveted curls—zero heat required.
And—pssst!—we have it on good authority that these beauty buys make an excellent gift for the teenage girl in your life and a popular present for women as well (think new moms with no time for anything).
The best heatless curlers, at a glance
- Best Overall Heatless Curler: RobeCurls Satin Heatless Hair Curler Set, $28
- Best Gift Set: Silke London Heatless Curler, $56
- Best Trending Heatless Curler: Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set, $16
- Best Heatless Curler for Thick Hair: Kitsch Thermal Rollers, $14
- Best Heatless Curler for Fine Hair: Batoude Heatless Curling Rod With Claw Clip, $10
- Best Heatless Curler for Short Hair: Heatless Hair Curling Ribbon, $35
Your heatless curler questions, answered
- Do heatless curlers actually work?
- Is it better to use heatless curlers on wet or dry hair?
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Best Overall Heatless Curler: RobeCurls Satin Heatless Hair Curler Set
Courtesy of brand
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RobeCurls Satin Heatless Hair Curler Set
Original photo courtesy of Brigitt Earley, Glamour contributor
At first glance, most rod-style heatless curlers look pretty identical, but there are some important distinctions that separate the best of the best from the rest of the pack. Look closely at the RobeCurls rod, and you’ll notice that it’s equipped with a patented integrated wire that provides more control and precision when styling. Once your hair is all wrapped up, twist the whole thing to tighten and secure it better than most others allow. Our editors love that the rod also has little tabs at the end that fold up, so you can secure both ends to one another, providing more freedom to multitask while wearing the styling tool.
“This heatless curler is definitely very high quality, which makes it easier to work with, but one of the things I loved the most was how thorough the brand’s tutorials are,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “You can even sign up for a free help session with someone from the brand. Since the technique isn’t easy to master (no matter what heatless curler you’re using), this is huge. It makes the whole thing so much more approachable for newbies.”
Material: Satin charmeuse / Included Pieces: Rod, two satin scrunchies
- What we love: Patented design makes styling easier and more secure, brand offers very thorough tutorials and live help
- What could improve: Doesn’t come with a clip
Save on the best heatless curlers with these Amazon promo codes and Urban Outfitters promo codes.
Best Trending Heatless Curler: Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set
Courtesy of brand
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Best Trending: Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set
Original photo courtesy of Chantal Waldholz, Glamour senior global director of audience development
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.
Our tester liked this option, because it was lighter than some of the other ones she tried. “This was one of the least intrusive options,” says Earley. “I barely felt it on my head, and it was comfortable to sleep in, even though I tend to sleep on my side.” The only downside? “It doesn't come with a claw clip, so make sure you have one, or add one to your cart when you purchase the rod and scrunchie set.”
Material: Satin / Included Pieces: Rod, two scrunchies
- What we love: Designed to reduce frizz, comes in extra large option
- What could improve: Set doesn’t come with clips, which you’ll want to hold rod in
Save on the best heatless curlers with these Amazon promo codes and Ulta promo codes.
