6 of the Best Hot Rollers for Creating a Classic Pin-Up ‘Do
We don’t know about you, but we never seem to have enough time in the morning—especially when it comes to our hair. Between showering, feeding the kids or pets, doing our makeup and getting dressed, there’s not a whole lot left over to do a full curling sesh before we get down to business for work. Using a hot roller, or curlers, can be a great way to give yourself a polished ‘do on the fly. While the best hot rollers for you will depend on exactly what it is that you’re trying to achieve with your tresses, you should pay close attention to the size of the barrels that are included with your set, whether or not clips are included and how quickly it heats up—and we've done our research to find five sets that check all the boxes.
The Best Hot Rollers at a Glance
Top Pick: Remington Ionic Conditioning Hot Rollers
Most Customizable Hot Rollers: Infinitipro by Conair Ceramic Hot Rollers
Best Hot Rollers for Fine Hair : BaBylissPRO Roller Hairsetter
Best Hot Rollers for Long Hair: Conair Ceramic Hot Rollers
Easiest Hot Rollers to Use: John Frieda Body & Shine Smooth Waves Hot Rollers
Best Steam Rollers: Caruso C97953 Hot Rollers
RELATED: Newfangled Hot Rollers Are the Key to Retro-Glam Hair
1. Remington H5600H Ionic Conditioning Hot Rollers
Best Hot Rollers for Frizz
Pros:
20 ionic conditioning rollers with color-coded designs
Included J-clips
Cons:
Not dual-voltage for European standards
WHAT WE LIKE: Included in this set are 20 classic J-clips to hold the rollers in your hair—something that’s especially helpful for thinner strands. The rollers themselves, meanwhile, of which there are 20 in varying sizes (.75-inch, 1-inch and 1.25-inch), feature ionic conditioning to reportedly produce less frizz and more shine. Each roller is also equipped with cool-touch colored ends that won’t burn your fingers—or your scalp.
2. Infinitipro by Conair Ceramic Hot Roller Set
Most Customizable Hot Rollers
Pros:
12 temperature settings
20 rollers in 3 different sizes
Cons:
Bulky container with slower heat-up time
WHAT WE LIKE: The 12 different temperature settings on this machine ensure your strands won’t get too hot when curling, making it suitable for any tress type. It comes with clips for each of its 20 rollers that are uniquely designed to hold hair without leaving marks. The rollers themselves come in three sizes, including small (.75 inches), medium (1 inch) and large (1.25-inch). The system reportedly takes about two minutes to heat up, which is about average.
3. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Hot Rollers
Best Hot Rollers for Fine Hair
Pros:
Fast heat up time
Heats curls from within
Cons:
Pricey
WHAT WE LIKE: This Nano Titanium curler set consists of 12 butterfly clips and 12 color-coded metal pins and 12 velvety, flocked 1.5-inch jumbo rollers that use gentle far-infrared heat to heat hair from within—a method the company claims works faster while simultaneously cutting down on damage. Use this salon-quality option, which also reportedly has a faster heat-up time than others, for smooth, shiny bouncy curls or waves.
Best Hot Rollers for Long Hair
Pros:
Jumbo and super jumbo sizes
Super quick heat-up time
Cons:
The ceramic can be quite hot
WHAT WE LIKE: There are eight jumbo-size (1.5-inch) curlers and four super jumbo ones (1.75-inch), all of which will provide bouncy curls and a huge volume boost. They’re also color-coded to make identification simple. Customers say they have a speedy heat-up time and the entire system is lightweight enough to fit inside a luggage or travel pack if need be.
5. John Frieda Body & Shine Smooth Waves Hair Rollers
Easiest Hot Rollers to Use
Pros:
Modern clips
Variable temperature
Cons:
Takes awhile to heat up
WHAT WE LIKE: This 12-piece set includes three curler sizes (1-inch, 1.25-inch and 1.5-inch), along with modern plastic butterfly clips that will stay put better than the classic pin style. Each roller is flocked and has titanium ceramic for a frizz-free experience and takes about two minutes to heat up.
6. Caruso C97953 Hot Rollers
Best Steam Rollers
This curler set consists of 30 foam rollers in five different sizes which use gentle steam heat—a method the company claims will "reform chain bonds" find in your hair for healthy, shiny curls. Use this salon-quality option, which heats one roller at a time, for luxurious locks.
Pros
Includes storage bag
Uses gentle steam
Cons
Takes longer to heat
How to Use Hot Rollers
As with any heated product you use on your strands, you’re going to want to start with a good protectant to avoid any damage or breakage. From there, you can pull a section of hair from the middle of your head that’s about as wide as the roller, place the roller beneath or above it (about halfway up the shaft) and wrap your hair around it, being careful to keep the end flat against the barrel before rolling it up and clipping it into place. Rolling every piece of hair in the same direction will give you a more glamorous, tight curl, while alternating the direction will provide a more natural look. It is also recommended to wrap your curls away from your face to enhance and open it up. Repeat this process until all of your hair is accounted for, add some hair spray, and voila! Easy curls in half the time.
What Size Hot Rollers Should I Use?
The size of the hot roller depends on the size of your desired curls, as the smaller you go, the tighter the curl will be. For small, taut ringlets, you’ll want to opt for a roller diameter that's on the tinier side and divide your hair off into smaller sections. For large, bouncy curls, you would want to use a wider roller and a larger section of hair. For a more modern, voluminous feel, you should use rollers that are at least .5-inches wide.
Hot Rollers Versus Curling Iron
Hot rollers are better at creating flowy, loose curls with minimal effort, while a curling iron gives you more control when it comes to creating tight, defined curls (if you know how to use it, that is). The iron is also more likely to damage your hair due to the iron’s high heat. Our suggestion? Start with hot rollers before fine-tuning your look with a curling iron.
Do You Use Hot Rollers on Wet or Dry Hair?
You can use regular rollers with wet hair, but not hot rollers, which should typically be used on dry hair. Once they've cooled off, your curls should be set.
Hot Rollers for Short Hair
Believe it or not, hot rollers can be used on short hair, as long as you choose smaller rollers (such as a .5-inch or .75-inch size) to create voluminous curls.
Using Hair Spray and Curlers
Hairspray should only be used after curling in order to lock in the shape and texture of the curl. Using a heat protectant prior can help prevent your hair from becoming brittle and frizzy, but hairspray will make it dry out faster, due to the heat. As a result, hairspray is best used in moderation post-twirl to set your hairstyle.
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