Your grandma knows this trick.
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If you’re on the hunt for big, bouncy hair à la Farrah Fawcett, investing in one of the best hot roller sets is a tried-and-true method. Not to mention, they’re also a great option for anyone experiencing hair breakage or dry strands, since rollers cause way less heat damage than traditional curling irons. They might seem retro, but these days more and more people are realizing just how big of an impact hot rollers can have. Since the full ’90s blowout is a hair trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, it’s time you get familiar with this tool. But don’t just take our word for it–celebrity hairstylist David Lopez, who has A-list clients like Ashley Graham—is a huge fan of hot rollers, and is ready to spill on everything you need to know to do it right.
Whether you have fine, thick, curly, or stick-straight hair, you can use hot rollers to achieve more bounce and volume. It all comes down to the barrel size and amount of curlers you use. For thick strands, you may need extra barrels to catch all your hair. Remember, the smaller the barrel size, the tighter the curls. Here, find the eight best hot rollers—tested by our editors or top-reviewed and approved on sites like Sephora and Ulta—that you need to get instant volume.
With 20 rollers in a set, even folks with thick hair will be able to cover a full head in these easy-to-use rollers. They come in small, medium, and large-sized barrels so you can vary the sizes of your curls and look more natural.
Barrel sizes: .75", 1", 1.25"
An Amazon reviewer says: “These work great. I have so much volume. Would def recommend this item.”
With 20 rollers, this set is perfect for anyone with a ton of hair who wants bouncy curls. You can be sure that you won’t miss a spot with a set this big.
Barrel sizes: .75", 1", 1.25"
An Amazon reviewer says: “I really searched for the right hot rollers for a while and thought I’d give these a try. I love that they are sponge and very comfortable to wrap.”
If you’re looking for a voluminous, slightly wavy look, go for jumbo rollers. The barrel is 1.5” thick, so it’ll yield a ton of body in a flash.
An Ulta reviewer says: “I was so excited to find these, I absolutely love them. I plug them in the minute I get up so they’ll be nice and hot, roll my hair, leave them in finishing up my morning until I’m ready to leave then take them out. I run my fingers through my hair and they give me the perfect beach waves I was looking for!”
It only takes five minutes to see results from this hot roller set. Because lower heat is distributed evenly over a longer period of time, you’re really locking in a style, so it will last for days.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I think these hot rollers are great! They’re way less damaging than a flat iron, and I think once I learn how to use them properly, they’ll give great volume and that blowout look that is super in right now.”
Lopez is a fan of these rollers because “the velvet flocking doesn’t tug or pull on the hair and also seals in incredible shine.”
A Sephora reviewers say: “Do not hesitate to buy these rollers, I had salon-quality results within 30 minutes. I tested the rollers on long, thick hair that hasn’t been washed for a week, and my hair looked SO good that I did not even want to wash my hair!”
If you’re looking to try out hot rollers but don’t know what size and aren’t totally committed to the lifestyle, grab this compact variety pack. In this set you get eight medium (3/4 inch), six large (1 inch), and six jumbo (1 1/4 inch) rollers that won’t take up too much space in your bathroom.
Barrel sizes: .75", 1", 1.25"
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve been using this for months and it’s reliable! I love how it curls the hair of my daughter!”
This unique system uses steam to heat rollers individually. Wait for a roller to steam up, take it to a section of hair, clip it, and repeat all over your head. It’s quick and, most importantly, damage-free.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve used Caruso Curlers for over 15 years and they’re great. There are 4 roller sizes, which is great for tight or loose curls. The steam heat adds shine and makes the hair soft. Best of all it takes no longer than 15-20 to set the curls. Great product!”
For mega bounce, this kit comes with five two-inch rollers and clips to make the entire process super easy. The result? Runway-esque waves that offer more volume than you’ve ever seen.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I can honestly say that this is the holy grail of jumbo hot rollers.”
David Lopez is celebrity hairstylist, beauty educator, and beauty influencer.
If you are looking for a low-damage way to style your hair, hot rollers are the solution. “You can’t leave hot rollers in long enough to damage your hair. In terms of heat damage, it’s fool-proof,” Lopez says. “It takes an average of 12 minutes to cool down, although I have seen results after five minutes. For style longevity, leave in the hair for about 15 minutes to get the style retention you’re looking for.”
Rough-drying your hair to start is key, Lopez suggests. “I like to use the T3 Cura Luxe on low speed and high heat while rough-drying in order to keep the elasticity of the hair,” he says. “Once dry, prep the hair with a medium styling mousse. The heat from the rollers will activate this mousse and give the look a stronger memory. Finally, before I wrap each section around the hot rollers, I spray with hairspray and brush through.” His go-to duo includes Kenra’s Medium Hold Mousse and IGK’s Intern Flexible hairspray.
Great news: almost everyone can benefit from hot rollers. “Yes! Although for curly and natural hair types, you want to smooth hair first and then use the hot rollers,” Lopez insists. “The hot rollers won’t straighten or completely smooth out naturally curly hair.”
“Sometimes, I wrap the hair around the rollers like I would an iron because it can give you more of a loose wave look,” Lopez says. “If you have long hair, pick up a one-inch roller and wrap a section around the roller like a curling iron and clip it vertically. Once cool, release the roller and you will achieve a long, loose curl.”
Hot rollers are a great choice if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add curl and volume to your hair. While curling irons can require a little more skill, you do get more versatility with a curling iron. As for which one is better, it all depends on your personal preference! “With hot rollers, I have greater control over style longevity and bounce of the hair. It’s also extremely gentle on the hair, so it’s great if you’re worried about hair damage: color-treated hair, over-processed hair, etc.,” says Lopez. “Although they are extremely gentle, you still get a big result!”
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items.
Tatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.
As ELLE’s beauty editor, Margaux wants to try it all and do it all…and she does. She's not afraid to chop, slather, dye, swipe, inject, and more—and if it's worth your time and money, she’ll rave about it here.
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