Since the invention of the hair curling iron, hair rollers may appear to be a thing of the past. Although that may be true, tons of people actually still use hair rollers to roll their hair. Many of these products can be found on company websites. You can also find hair rollers on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Walmart, to name a few.
What Are Hair Rollers?
A hair roller is a small, medium, or large tube that is rolled into a person’s hair. This is done to produce a curl in the hair as the end result. This is best for people who have straight hair. According to the hair world, a person who has straight hair is said to have the texture of 1 type of hair. This hair type has an absent or non-existent hair curl pattern. Hair rollers can also be used on other types of hair, but they may need additional manipulations.
How To Use Hair Rollers
Hair rollers can also be used to straighten or elongate those types of hair. You would initially place the rollers on your coily or curly hair to stretch the length.
After the rollers are removed, you can wrap, flat iron, or blow dry your hair. Using the rollers is an easier method of drying your hair and not the final styling method, although it can be worn that way. Hair rollers come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors. There are several different types of rollers, and these include:
Types Of Hair Rollers
Cold Wave Rods
Cold Wave or Perm rods are rods that give you tight ringlets or spiral curls. They are made out of hard plastic some with small ridges others without. They are available in many different sizes and suit even the shortest of strands. They have a rubber band with a small plastic “button” that expands across the plastic rod securing them in place. These are one of my favorite types of hair rollers. They give you definite curls and achieving the perfect style is almost guaranteed. I would suggest that you use end papers on the ends of your hair strand when rolling to perfect your style.
Curl Formers
Curl formers are hair rollers that give you a corkscrew type of curl. They are simple and easy to use, making them great for beginners. Curl formers are made from a mesh-like fabric that is stretched flat when placing them in your hair. They use a hook-and-pull method to adhere the roller to your hair. Similar to a crochet wand or tool, the wand is placed inside the opening of the curl former. Slide it through, grab the hair, and pull the wand out.
BOOM, the rollers are set in place with minimum effort. When using this type of roller adding a styling product to your curl set would be ideal. I’m pretty sure you can use these on dry hair but the curl won’t be as great. A leaving conditioner or defining cream would be best for a BOMB set of curls.
Flexi Rods
Flexi rods are rod shepherd foam rollers that create ringlets or spiral curls. They can be small medium or large depending on the size of the foam rod being used. This is a very popular styling tool used by those who have natural hair. It is easier for them to wrap their natural hair around. They bend to create shapes that allow the rods to stay neatly in place. They are used to add definition to kinky and curly textured hair.
Foam Sponge Rollers
Foam rollers are the hair rollers that you see in all old-school movies. They generate way back before most of our times. These rollers are best for overnight hairstyles because they make sleeping with them in your hair more comfortable. They also give your hair a fluffier texture as the final result. I will say that using these rollers may be challenging to get the perfect end result.
Hot Rollers
Hot rollers are rollers that heat up using a heated base. They are heated instantly but some make take a few moments to heat up. The heated part of the roller is what is used to curl your hair. This process is similar to using a curling iron but a lot safer for use. These are best for use when you want to set your hair instantly. I would suggest using these on dry hair to avoid any damage to the rollers and avoid long wait times.
Magnetic Rollers
Magnetic rollers are round types of various shapes that are made out of plastic. These rolls are perfect for roller sets at home but are very popular at most hair salons. They are best for perfect hair wraps and quickly drying your hair. They are rolled into the hair at varying degrees to produce a wide range of curls. They need to be secured with clips or hairpins on both sides. This by far may be one of the most challenging rollers for those in the beginner stages because the pins create obstacles while in the rolling process.
Satin Pillow Rollers
Satin pillow rollers are another simple and easy-to-use hair roller. They provide you with salon-worthy curls all without using a heated styling tool. They are also comfortable enough for you to sleep in and great for those overnight roller sets. These rollers are gentle on your hair and made out of soft satin fabric. The satin surrounding the roller protects your hair from snags and frizziness to prevent hair breakage. Similar to wearing a hair bonnet or sleeping on a silky smooth pillow. These rollers create a crimp-free style with an ultra-soft bouncy finish.
Spoolies
Spoolies are small plastic rollers that are shaped like a pinwheel. You simply wind your hair around the base of the roller and place the covering over the wrapped hair. After unwinding these rollers you will have pin curl-type curls as the end result. They are great for beginners and kids because they are simple and easy to use. These rollers produce the best curl results when paired with a setting lotion or a hair mousse. You can also stay them with hair spray before applying the cover for a longer-lasting and more secure curly style.
Velcro Rollers
Velcro Rollers are used to create voluminous loose curls. They work best for those who have thinning hair. Using this type of roller will give you soft curls as well as added lift and volume. This can give off the illusion of having a thicker head of hair and more body. The velcro on the roller should grab the hair and hold the roller in place. While they may be good for creating beautiful hairstyles they can sometimes snag your hair strands and cause minor damage.
The longevity of the curls depends on how long the set is left in initially. The products used to support the style are of great importance, along with the size of the rollers and the roller placement. The porosity of your hair and the weather are also huge factors. A Velcro set will probably last a full day but will need to be set again overnight.