Published on: December 30, 2021
Written by Camila Avery / Fact-checked by David Rowan

Curling roller has been the one and only hair curling tool in the last century. Needless to say, it was widely used, the most popular and the least damaging method of curling hair to this date. It is we, who realized its advantages lately and now are trying to return to it so that we can still get to style our hair as our ancestors did, without causing damage.

Hot rollers are the latest version of vintage-style curling hair rollers that are way more modern and more efficient. These rollers get hot within a couple of minutes. It also makes the curls a lot faster and makes them last longer as well.

Besides, these don’t require using both hands for hours to style long hair and cause fatigue. So, the hot rollers of modern times have all the benefits of Victorian-era hair rollers, and some added advantages as well.

In this article, we have discussed different aspects of our long-lost curling rollers, the best way to use them, the most efficient hot rollers on the market, and a convenient buying guide. If you have not made up your mind upon getting one, I am sure you will after reading the full article.

Why are Hot Rollers the Best Option for Making Waves and Curls?

To be honest, this is the most traditional technique for making curly hairstyles. Hair rollers have been in style for over a century and it is the safest way to make curls. Over time, different curling tools and cosmetics have replaced the rollers from the market, but they returned with more advantages than ever before.

First of all, hair rollers are the least damaging to hair. There is less chance of heat-induced damage compared to curling irons and wands. Besides, you can use it without any styling products (like heat protection or conditioner ) on your hair, so it is also cost-effective.

Hot rollers are more convenient to use than curling brushes and tools. Just leave your hair with the roller and complete other chores by the time it cools down. Beautiful curls and bounce without holding the tools on hair for minutes and without any fatigue on hand.

One set of hair rollers lasts for years! If you don’t lose the rollers or the clips, the rollers usually last for years. Other curling tools do not last this long, and sometimes damage hair when they wear out.

Do Hot Rollers Really Work on Every Hair Type?

Yes, hot rollers can be used by every woman no matter their hair type. Let’s start with coarse hair. If your hair is coarse, then you need to detangle your hair and straighten it first. Then you can use the rollers in the hottest setting to get the desired look.

For thick and long hair, just detangle the hair and roll the hair carefully. You will need a little time to make waves or curls.

For damaged, thin or fine hair, use the rollers with the lowest heat. There are hot rollers in our list that come with adjustable heat settings. So that you can set the heat to your preferred settings and enjoy using hot rollers.

How to Choose Hot Rollers Online?

If you are totally new to this, you may find choosing hot rollers online a little stressful. Don’t worry, we are here to save your back.

First of all, you need to know if you prefer big waves or curls. The general rule is, for long and thick hair, the size of waves and curls should also be bigger. In this case, you can choose a pack that is organized with multiple seized rollers. The bigger ones are for use on the crown of your head and the smaller ones are for use on your front and sides.

Secondly, if you prefer loose ringlets, you should go for small-size rollers. In this case, you may need more than one box as one box usually contains 20 pieces of rollers.

Ladies, who prefer big waves and never style for curls can go for jumbo rollers. These are the perfect choice for making body waves.

Not all the rollers are good for travel or sensitive hair type. Consider your preference and shop accordingly. If you have sensitive hair, go for rollers that have heat adjustment options. And for travel, easy storage and dual voltage rollers are a must.

How to Use Hot Rollers?

The first step is, you have to use it before you dress up, put on makeup, or do your laundry or anything else that requires half an hour to complete. Detangle your hair and use a dry shampoo if your hair is not washed or feels sticky.

Then, use a heat protection spray on your hair. It is optional and hot rollers are not as damaging as flat irons or curling irons, so you can skip this step.

Now, section your hair by the number of rollers you have. Start by rolling the top layer of your hair. Simply put the roller on the end of the hair and wind the roller toward the roots. When done, use a J clip or butterfly clip to secure it on the scalp.

Repeat this process with all of your hair. Now you can finish off getting ready and leave the rollers on your hair for some time. To make waves, release your hair when the roller is still warm. The longer you leave the rollers on your hair, the more tight curls you are going to have.

Lastly, shake your hair well to relax the curls/waves you have created. Try not to use a brush, rather ‘pinch and pull’ the tip of your hair to get a more natural look. Now you can use a styling spray to make the hair shiny and make the curls last longer.

View Top 7 Hot Rollers for Long Hair, Below-

1. BaBylissPRO 20pc Titanium Roller Hairsetter

6 small (3/4″), 6 medium (1″), & 8 large (1-1/4″)
Velvety flocked rollers;
Sensor and indicator.

One box of BaByliss PRO BABNTCHV21 hot rollers is enough for a full head of curling hairstyle. Here, you will get different sizes of rollers in small, medium, and large sizes so that you can create different volumes of curls. This roller box comes with a sensor that indicates when the rollers are ready to use. Just put these in the box and leave it when they are getting hot and ready to use. For other models and other brands, you will need to do guesswork to determine when the rollers are ready.

Velvety flocks are good for ladies who like to use blow dryers on their curling rollers for extra long-lasting effects. The velvet material is safer for hair in this regard and retains heat better than metal. These rollers heat up using far-infrared technology, which is the safest among any other available options. This model is more pricey than others and easier to use as well. You will get color-indicated metal clips and butterfly clips, and use either of these as you prefer.

2. INFINITIPROt Ceramic Flocked Rollers for All Hair Type

12 temperature settings for all hair types;
Small (3/4-inch), medium (1-inch), and large (1 ¼-inch) rollers and 20 plastic clips;

One thing I have to confess is that ceramic hair tools drive the shiniest result on any hair type. Thanks to these ceramic flocked hair rollers from Conair. These rollers come with an ion generator that is evident to make any curl or wave on your hair shiny and bouncy, without causing any damage. There are 20 pieces of rollers of different sizes so that one pack becomes enough for your hairstyle.

This full set requires only a couple of minutes to get hot and sizzling. If your hair is weak, fine, thin, or damaged, don’t worry about causing further damage. Because you can conveniently choose from the 12 temperature settings. You will get a bouncy and shiny curl without the fear of heat-induced harm to your hair.

3. Remington Wax Core HairSetter for Lasting Curls on Long Hair

Thermal wax core for long-lasting curls;
Roller size: (¾ inch, 1inch, and 1¼ inch);
Color-coded J clips.

To make curls on long hair using hot rollers, it is better to choose one that stays hot for longer. Otherwise, the curl you will make will disappear within hours. This Remington Hair Setter has a thermal wax core. The wax inside the rollers keeps it hot for longer than other types of rollers. This way, the rollers retain heat better and make your curl last longer.

This amazing pack of rollers is a wise choice if you are used to J clips. Because not everyone is a big fan of J clips and there is no butterfly of crocodile clips included in the package. I recommend using J clips exclusively with hot rollers as the curls become more flawless, without any hint of dents or creases from plastic clips. This box is quite cheap and has velvety flocks.

4. Conair PRO Dog Jumbo Rollers for Big Waves on Long Hair

Eight 2-Inch Jumbo Rollers;
Fast heat up;

Jumbo rollers are a must-have for ladies who struggle to style their long hair. A few jumbo rollers here and there on your hair will make every day a ‘good hair day’ by creating lustrous and cascading waves on your hair. Considering these facts, ConairPro Dog organized this box of hot rollers with 8 rollers that should suffice to make body waves on long hair of any type.

This entire set only takes two minutes to heat up completely. So, within minutes, you can complete rolling up all your hair and move on to dressing up with makeup. By the time you are done, your hair will be ready to rock and roll throughout the day.

This set is expensive compared to its competitors but who doesn’t want to pay for the quality? The rollers surely will last longer and retain heat much better.

5. Conair Dual Voltage Jumbo Hot Rollers

5 pieces jumbo, 1.5″ rollers, and super clips;
Travel-friendly dual voltage design.

Girls, who use hot rollers every day, chose to use a curling iron on their travels. They are often left with no other choice as most hot rollers come with only one-volt compatibility. Well, the problem is now solved. Do you love to travel and style hair as you go? Then this one set of hot rollers is enough no matter which corner of the earth you visit. It is dual voltage, so no need to carry an adapter to prep your hot rollers in-home or in hotels.

You will have five jumbo rollers of 1.5 inches in size. For making a big bounce at the roots or body wave to the length of your hair, this is a perfect size. If you leave the rollers longer on your hair, you will get sexy beach waves all around! These fast heating rollers will eliminate your downtime in getting ready.

6. RemingtonTravel-Friendly Hair Rollers, 1-1 ¼ Inch

Easy storage & travel friendly;
Dual voltage;
10 Rollers in 2 Size: 5 Large (1¼ inch), 5 Medium (1inch).

The pouch where the rollers are organized is so small that it fits on your palm. The best thing about these rollers is, they are specially made travel-friendly. The pouch is flexible and takes up small space to store all the rollers including the j clips. It also takes almost no room in your travel bag or handbag.

With the given size of rollers, you can create any wave or curl to your hair, no matter how long or short it is. It is a dual-voltage design and is lightweight too. The only problem is, it takes ten minutes to get fully ready to be used. This is a good thing that, for fine or thin hair, you can use the rollers earlier when these are not ‘too hot for your hair.

7. Conair Xtreme Instant Jumbo And Super Jumbo Heat Rollers for Long and Thick Hair

Eight jumbo 1 1/2-inch rollers and four 1 3/4-inch super jumbo hot rollers;
85-second heat up.

These rollers are extremely hot. That is why I only recommend this for thick and long hair. The thicker your hair, the more heat it takes to style. Needless to say, it also takes longer to keep the hairstyle intact. These rollers from Conair have an aluminum core. This is the reason behind the perfect heat retention of these jumbo and super jumbo rollers. If you need a bounce, leave these on hair for 15 minutes, but for curls, leave the rollers until they cool down.

You will get super clips instead of J clips to keep your rollers in place. Most women are uncomfortable with J clips and end up purchasing butterfly clips separately. For them, this set is more convenient.

Conclusion

Life often gets difficult for us, but hairstyling shouldn’t be. Why choose harmful and damaging hair styling tools when you can treat your hair better by using a safe and sound way? Hair setters or hot rollers have been ladies’ best friends for a long time and now it is time to prove that it deserves it too.

Get any style in no time and zero damage using heated rollers. These are cheap, easy to use, and fast. These are so safe that you can use them on kids too! Make your life a little easier by picking the easiest choices. Make hair styling easier by picking the best hot rollers for your hair.

Best Hot Rollers for Long Hair – How to Choose It