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Dreaming of big, bouncy curls? As much as we love hot air brushes and curling irons, they don’t quite cut it when it comes to red carpet-ready volume. Instead, celebrity stylist and R+Co co-founder, Garren, says velcro rollers are the way to go. “Velcro rollers will give you volume and fullness, and a looser look than the curl you’ll get with a curling iron,” he explains. “A curling iron flattens the cuticle, so you get the curl, but no bounce or volume.”
The beauty of velcro rollers is that they’re quite simple to use. “Velcro rollers are made so that the hair can stick to the roller itself without relying on a clip,” says celebrity hairstylist and SexyHair ambassador, Danielle Priano. “You roll the hair around the roller until you reach the base and it should stick in the hair by itself.”
Meet the expert
- Garren is a celebrity hairstylist and a co-founder of R+Co. Danielle Priano is a celebrity hairstylist and a SexyHair ambassador. Leo Izquierdo is a hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care.
When the roller is removed, soft, beautiful, bouncy curls await. In other words, if you don’t have a set of velcro rollers in your hairstyling arsenal, it’s time to make room. But first, keep reading to learn why these old-school, no-fuss rollers are so worthwhile and how to use velcro rollers for the best results.
Types of Velcro Rollers
Velcro rollers come in two forms. “There are plain, plastic rollers that have velcro all around it—these are the traditional velcro rollers,” Garren says. “Another type is a roller made of aluminum or metal, covered in velcro. The metal heats up from the inside—they don’t get really hot, but they do get warm, and they hold onto the hair.”
While both types of rollers create impressive body, the heated rollers tend to create longer-lasting curls, as they set the style with heat.
The Benefits of Velcro Rollers
Velcro Rollers:
- Add volumeCreate loose-yet-shapely body and bounceNo heat damageNo crease
Velcro rollers are the perfect hair tool for body and bounce that looks a bit more lived-in. “Velcro rollers won’t give you curly hair, just hair with a lot of body,” Garren says. “[They’re] perfect for the Bardot look, or Kate Moss, or the Versace look the girls had in the ‘90s. If you want looseness and volume, go with velcro rollers.”
In addition to the jaw-dropping volume they offer, velcro rollers are beloved for their crease-free design, Priano says. They’re also much more gentle to strands overall. “Velcro rollers allow you to style your hair without heat, which minimizes the risk of damage, breakage, or split ends,” Izquierdo adds.
The Downside
One thing to keep in mind when working with velcro rollers: Roll (and unroll) with care. “The only potential downside [of velcro rollers] is that sometimes if you’re not careful rolling or when taking out the hair, the hair can get caught on the velcro and pull on the hair,” Priano admits. “But it can be avoided by using caution while rolling and unrolling.”
How to Use Velcro Rollers Step-by-Step
1. Choose your rollers
In addition to choosing which type of velcro rollers you want to use, Garren says to be mindful of size and your intended end look. “The bigger the roller, the smoother the finish,” he points out. “If you want ‘60s, full hair that’s very sexy, use a large roller, 2.5” in diameter; if you want a soft wave in the front, use a 1.5” roller on each side of the part—that will give you that fluffy Farrah Fawcett hair.”
2. Start with damp hair
In order for your voluminous style to last, you’ll want to start with damp hair.
3. Pick your part and start rolling
“When your hair is 85 percent dry, and the roots are all fluffy and the ends are damp, start rolling in the velcro rollers from the ends to the scalp,” Garren says.
For a side part, section and roll in rollers on the sides, and from the crown back, all rolled under.” For this look, Garren says to use two rollers on the deeper side of the part and one on the other. “For a center part, section your hair, and place rollers on the top and at each side of the part, going down,” Garren counters. “Do one above the ear on both sides as well.”
As you roll, be sure to apply a bit of tension as you go for a strong hold—this is especially important if your hair has any curl or wave to it, as tension will allow you to stretch the hair to straight, resetting the texture as it dries around the roller.
Prefer edgy, brushed-back volume and bounce? Garren says to “place one roller in the front, and two on each side, going under for hair that’s going back off of your face. This set is the most versatile—you can do it off to the side, or part in the middle.”
No matter which parting you choose, Izquierdo says to section your hair with care. “Larger sections create looser curls, while smaller sections give tighter curls,” he points out.
4. Set your style.
After you’ve rolled everything into place, it’s time to lightly heat-activate the style. “Once your velcro rollers are in, take a blow dryer with a diffuser on it, and diffuse all the rollers to dry them,” Garren says. “Or, you can walk around the house for a while until your hair dries.”
5. Remove the rollers.
Once your hair is dry, gently unroll each section of hair. “Avoid tugging to prevent tangles,” Izquierdo says. After all of the rollers are removed, shake out your mane and lock it in place with hairspray in the strength of your choosing.
“Spray a light texture/volume spray on each set roller for added hold and volume when you take the rollers out," Priano shares.
Other Ways to Use Velcro Rollers
Like most hair tools, there are various ways velcro rollers can be used. If you don’t have the patience for damp strands to dry, Priano suggests using the rollers as a volume-boosting set for just-blown strands. “My go-to use for velcro rollers is after blow drying the hair with a round brush,” she shares. “While the hair is still hot from the dryer, separate the section you just dried. With a velcro roller the same size as the brush you used, start at the base of the hair, and use the roller almost as a brush to make the hair super neat and smooth going all the way to the tip. Then begin to roll the roller back down to the base of the hair and allow the whole hair to cool like this.” It's also the method that's most effective for those with more texture in their hair, as blow-drying efficiently gets your strands straighter.