The 7 Best Heatless Curlers for Travel of 2023

Heatless curlers are a traveler’s dream come true.

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Travel Leisure / Reese Herrington

Hot tools are great for creating long-lasting hair styles, but they’re notoriously bad for your strands. “The high temperatures strip away your hair's natural moisture, leaving it dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage,” said Adey Olaoluwa, a professional hairstylist. Luckily, there’s a simple solution if you want to create curly styles without stressing your hair: heatless curlers.

They’re especially great for on-the-go use. “Heatless curlers are the jetsetter's best friend,” added Olaoluwa. “They're compact, lightweight, and won't cause any trouble with airport security. Plus, no need to stress about finding power outlets in new places.” We’ve compiled this list of the best heatless curlers on the market to keep you traveling in style and ease.

Mermade Hair

The silk fabric is extra gentle on hair.

It’s not great for overnight, unless you sleep on your back.

Silk is known for being extra gentle on hair and skin (because it doesn’t pull moisture like cotton does), so if you’re looking to go the extra mile to protect your tresses, this 100 percent mulberry silk curling headband and scrunchie kit is the way to go. Wrap your lightly damp strands around the lightweight and soft rod, securing it at the top of your head with the included claw clip and at the ends of the rod with the included silk scrunchies. After your hair is dry, you’ll be left with smooth, silky, and frizz-free curls.

While back sleepers can conveniently wear the curling headband overnight, side sleepers might find it uncomfortable since it sits along either side of your head like French braids. We suggest wearing the headband for a few hours before you go out.

Price at time of publish: $33

The Details: Curling headband | 100 percent mulberry silk and cotton-filled rod | 11 x 5.5 x 2.25 inches

Amazon

They’re ideal for sleeping with, regardless of your preferred position.

They’re not ideal for very thick or very long hair.

There’s a reason soft foam rollers have stood the test of time: the budget-friendly spongy rod rollers are fairly simple to use and they get the job done. Best of all, they’re ideal for using before bed and sleeping on — the soft rollers are surprisingly comfortable. In the morning, you’ll be left with Instagram-ready bouncy curls or waves perfect for a day of exploring. This colorful kit includes 16 rollers in assorted sizes (eight medium and eight small). The rollers open and clamp shut, so you don’t need any pins or clips to keep them in place.

Price at time of publish: $7

The Details: Soft foam rollers | Foam | Includes medium and small rollers

Amazon

The variety of roller sizes lets you customize your look.

These can be difficult to insert yourself.

This 38-item kit has everything you need to create any kind of curl, large or small. It includes six large, six medium, six small, and six mini size self-grip rollers, along with 12 duckbill clips, one plastic sectioning comb, and a convenient cosmetics case to store everything in while you’re on the go. Depending on the size curler you use, it’ll yield a different curl or wave pattern, from loose, flowing waves to tight, bouncy coils.

Price at time of publish: $16

The Details: Velcro rollers | Includes rollers with 2.16-inch, 1.73-inch, 1.25-inch, and 0.59-inch diameters

Amazon

The spongy rollers are comfortable to sleep in.

These are best for medium and long hair lengths.

If you prefer to snooze in your rollers and let them sit overnight, consider this pillowy soft option, which won’t disrupt your sleep after a long travel day. The pinless spongey rollers, which come in a pack of 40, are wrapped into hair and tied together to stay put. How much hair you twist into each roller will determine the tightness of the curl you make. Pro tip: section your hair along your natural part and keep it intact while applying the curlers.

Price at time of publish: $16

The Details: Fabric foam rollers | Memory sponge and elastic

Amazon

They stay secure while you sleep.

There aren’t enough rollers to curl your whole head.

Bangs can be notoriously tricky to style, but these Velcro curlers allow you to get the perfect volume and roundness without using any heat. The included clips help keep them secure and in place, even while you sleep. Secure your bangs in the curlers when they’re mostly dry and keep them in until your hair is fully dry or overnight, then wake up ready to tackle a day of exploring. These are great for use on straight-across bangs, side bangs, or curtain bangs.

Price at time of publish: $7

The Details: Velcro rollers with clips | Resin, plastic | 1.18 x 2.48 inches

Ulta

They’re easy to use and comfortable to wear overnight.

They only create one size spiral curls.

For many people, the trickiest part of using heatless curlers is the actual rolling of the hair. Ribbon rollers, however, do all the work for you. Use the attached stick tool to pull a small strand of damp hair through the hollow rubber curler. Once you release the curler, it’ll spring up on its own into a tight spiral coil. Keep the curlers in place while your hair dries and after you remove them, you’ll be left with bouncy spiral curls with plenty of volume. Pro tip: add mousse for an even stronger hold that will last from breakfast to happy hour.

Price at time of publish: $25

The Details: Ribbon curlers | Rubber

Amazon

This curling headband is super easy to use.

Side sleepers will have a hard time using this product overnight.

Like silk, satin is extra gentle on hair since it doesn’t pull moisture away like many other fabrics can. This satin-lined curling headband promises frizz-free results without any crimps or breakage. The headband is relatively simple to use since you don’t need to place any curlers on the hard-to-reach back of your head. After you wrap your slightly damp hair around the curling rod, secure it in place with the included satin scrunchies. Once dry, your hair will be styled into loose, bouncy curls.

Price at time of publish: $16

The Details: Curling headband | Satin

“If you have thicker hair, foam rollers or flexi-rods will work wonders to hold those curls,” noted Olaoluwa. However, those with fine hair might have better luck with “twist-flex rods or fabric-covered curlers for lightweight volume,” she added.

Heatless curlers are great for overnight use, since you can comfortably sleep on a variety of types of heatless curlers. Keeping curlers in for a full eight hours while your hair dries will create the best results: “the longer you leave the curlers in, the better the outcome,” said Olaoluwa. Plus, you’ll have an easy look that lasts from dawn until dusk so you won’t have to fuss with your hair during a busy trip.

Olaoluwa likes curlers “made of soft and gentle materials like Velcro or foam” since “they won’t cause any friction or damage to your hair. If using a curling headband or fabric-wrapped rollers, look for ones lined with non-damaging and non-moisture-stripping materials such as silk and satin.”

“Leaving those curlers in for a few hours or even overnight yields the best results,” said Olaluwa. If you start with slightly damp hair as recommended, keep the curlers in as long as it takes for your strands to naturally air dry. Luckily, heatless curlers can be tossed into your bag and used again and again, making them an excellent travel companion.

For this story, Talia Ergas researched every type of heatless curler on the market and consulted a pro hairstylist, Adey Olaoluwa of The Frontal Queen, for her professional opinion. She also used her experience as a beauty editor to find the best picks in each category.

Related: The 12 Best Travel-sized Skincare Sets

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