7 Best Hot Rollers

Nothing screams “carefree and sexy” better than soft, voluminous curls. But regardless of size—whether we’re talking about big waves or tight ringlets—curly hair has always been a huge hit in both the fashion and beauty scenes.

And why wouldn’t it? Although we love the look of smooth and sleek hair, curly locks have the upper hand when it chomes to visual interest. The fact that curling tools have been a constant in our beauty routines for so many years is a testament to this—from our moms’ old-school plastic rollers to our very own modern curling wands and hot rollers.

We created this buying guide to be your ultimate destination for shopping advice. If you’re on the market for a new set of hot rollers, we put together a few lists, tips, and tricks that will help you make the best purchasing decision possible.

Ready? Let’s go!

Hot rollers vs. Curling wands

If you’ve been observing the beauty community for a while, then you’ll know that the popularity of hot rollers took a hit when curling wands became a thing. However, modern hot rollers have gotten better and better, which might explain why they have gone back on-trend, as well.

So, why should you trade in your curling iron for a set of heated rollers? Here’s why:

• Lower risk of burning yourself – We’ve all probably experienced accidentally burning ourselves using our curling wands. Whether your hands, scalp, fingers, or arms have been the unwilling victim, curling irons can get very dangerous—especially if you’re not giving them your full attention. Fortunately for all of us, that’s never been a problem when it comes to hot rollers.
• Ease of use – Using a curling wand to work on the back of your hair can get very difficult. Meanwhile, hot rollers are a lot easier to use, especially once you’ve gotten the hang of it.
• Less risk of heat damage – Curling wands can get incredibly hot, which puts your hair strands at a higher risk of severe damage. Hot rollers, on the other hand, don’t get anywhere near the very high temperatures that irons and tongs use. In essence, using hot rollers would be much kinder to your precious ‘do.
• Uniform curls – Many curling wands are thinner at the tip and thicker near the base, which makes achieving evenly-sized curls quite difficult especially if you have long hair. With hot rollers, this is never really a problem.
• Burn marks on furniture? Never again – A lot of ladies have experienced accidentally placing their curling wands on top of their dressing tables, couches, or carpets. The result? Unsightly scorch marks that are no fun to look at at all! With heated rollers, you’ll never have to worry about these accidents ever again.
• Time saving – Styling your hair using a curling iron occupies both of your hands, and you really can’t do anything else as you wait for your curls to set. However, it’s a different story with heated rollers. Roll it, secure it, and you’re good to go. Plus, you can carry on and do your makeup or put on your clothes as you wait for the rollers to set. Awesome time saver? Definitely.

Dry Heat vs. Steam Hot Rollers

Modern hot rollers usually use one of two types of heating to achieve perfect waves and curls. What are these two heating methods, and how do they differ from each other? Let’s find out.

Dry Heat

Dry heat rollers directly use electricity as a source of heat. In this setup, electricity heats the metal core inside the rollers and warms the outer surface (which is usually ceramic). The heat that emanates from the inner lining of the rollers is responsible for curling the hair.

Dry heat steam rollers are great for those with curly or frizzy hair. Ceramic rollers tend to cause less frizz than foam ones, which makes it great if you struggle with that particular problem. Dry rollers are also faster to use.

What’s more, with electric heating, you’re bound to have more control over the exact temperature of the hot rollers. So if you have damage-prone hair and are highly particular about the temperature of all your heat styling tools, a set of hot rollers that use dry heat may be a good choice.

Wet/Steam

Wet hot rollers rely on steam as a heat source. Sets that use steam will usually have a heated reservoir that you have to fill with water. As the water heats up, it will produce hot steam that will be used to heat the actual rollers.

Because steam is involved, using this type of heat source may actually be good for the hair. The moisture that evaporates from the rollers will help moisturize your hair strands as they are being curled. This is why you’re bound to get shinier results from a steam-and-foam system. What’s more, steam rollers tend to produce longer-lasting curls.

Different Hot Roller Materials

Foam

Foam is usually the material of choice for steam rollers. They generally do less damage to hair than other materials. They’re also safe to use on damp hair. Plus, since foam is a soft and cushiony material, going to bed with foam rollers is no big deal.

Ceramic

Ceramic and ceramic-infused materials frequently make an appearance in various heat styling tools, such as curling wands, flat irons, and hair straightening brushes. Unsurprisingly, this material is widely used in the world of hot rollers, as well.

Ceramic is popular because it heats up evenly. This helps you avoid hot spots from appearing which will affect both your hair’s look and health. Note that ceramic rollers are usually used in sets that operate with dry heat.

What’s more, ceramic and ceramic-infused materials help control frizz by releasing negative ions. Negative ions, when hot, help close the hair cuticle and make hair more manageable. Some ceramic rollers also come coated with tourmaline, which further increases the number of negative ions emitted by the rollers.

Wax-filled

Wax-filled rollers are made for heavy-duty curling needs. Heat is retained way better due to the wax, which makes this specific type ideal for those with stubborn, hard-to-curl hair strands.

Obviously, wax-filled rollers will require more time to set compared to ceramic, ceramic-infused, and foam rollers—but this is just an inevitable trade-off if you want more durable curls.

Consider your hair type and desired style

The main factors you have to consider when determining the best type of rollers for you are your hair type and desired style.

If you have naturally curly or thick hair, traditional hot rollers that are made of ceramic would be your best bet. They are excellent at creating voluminous waves and adding body to the hair, but they won’t add frizz to your hair as much as foam rollers tend to do.

If you have stick-straight or super silky hair, steam and foam rollers may be the right choice. This approach works well with hair types that don’t hold curls easily. Also, the steam and foam combo can be used to achieve a wider variety of curl shapes and sizes.

But if you’re confident that steam and foam rollers are no match for your hair, we recommend wax-filled rollers. Again, this type of roller holds heat really well, which makes it the best choice for hair that just won’t yield to other curling methods.

Other Factors to Consider as You Shop

Heat level

Obviously, the fundamental principle behind hot rollers is the use of heat to style and reshape the hair. That said, it’s important to know how much heat is actually produced by a model. Too much heat can cause burning and damage, and that’s something you should definitely avoid.

Fortunately, most hot rollers these days are burn-proof. That is, you can safely touch and use them without burning your fingers. That makes modern hot rollers ideal even for damage-prone strands.

Number of temperature settings

Hot rollers that can operate within a variety of temperatures offer added versatility. If you like to play around with your hairstyle, going for a product that has multiple temperature settings would be a smart move.

What’s more, a set of hot rollers with just one heat setting will usually be very hot so they can accommodate even the coarsest and thickest hair types. But if you lie on the other side of the spectrum and are dealing with super fine hair, this one heat setting may be far too harsh for your hair strands.

Roller sizes and variety

Hot rollers usually come in a set of multiple rollers, and they may be all the same size or in various sizes. If you prefer having a consistent set of curls, getting a set that has uniformly-sized rollers will obviously be better. On the other hand, having a variety of roller sizes will give allow you to be more versatile and flexible in your hairstyles.

As far as sizing goes, we recommend all you long-haired gals to go for large rollers. They are more efficient than smaller ones, and they provide big, sexy curls. If you have short hair, large rollers might be difficult to use and manipulate, so smaller rollers are your best friend.

Size and portability

Do you want a set of hot rollers that you can easily take with you whenever you’re traveling? If so, make sure to check out the dimensions of the product you’re eyeing. Most hot rollers these days come with a case or stand, which makes them easy to carry around from one room to another.

Individual roller weight

It’s one thing to consider how heavy an entire set of hot rollers is. Looking into the weight of the rollers themselves is another matter. There’s nothing worse than carrying a whole bunch of heavy rollers on your head, especially if you’re the type who likes to leave them on for long periods.