October 18, 2024, 2:10 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
More and more hairstyling fans are turning to curlers to conjure up beautiful curls and casual beach waves. What sounds old-fashioned has long since been given an update. But what can the new generation of curlers do, and how are they used? Carmen Dörfler explains.
Does the following situation sound familiar? You want to top off your styling for the evening with an elegant yet casual hairstyle. “Curls would be great,” you think to yourself. Motivated, you prepare heat protection, a comb, and a brush, and reach for the straightener or curling iron. The first curls look good, but with every strand of hair you work on, the look becomes less and less casual and elegant. Attempts to salvage something with hairspray or other products end in chaos, and you reach for a hair tie in frustration or even jump in the shower again to fix the unsuccessful hairstyle under running water.
What can help here is curlers. If you are now thinking of old-fashioned granny hairstyles under a hairnet, we can reassure you because curlers are currently the must-have in the beauty industry. From classic adhesive curlers to heatable curlers and silk curlers – there is the right tool for every hair concern. But which curlers conjure up which waves, and how does it actually work?
Overview
Which curlers are the right ones?
As a rule of thumb, the larger the curlers, the softer the waves. Large rollers, for example, are also suitable for simply conjuring up more volume and bounce in the hair. Smaller curlers can also be used to create smaller curls or even corkscrew curls. There are different versions of these. For beginners – or those who want to make things easy for themselves – Velcro or adhesive curlers are best suited.
Thanks to their Velcro surface, these ensure a secure hold, even without being pinned in place with a hair clip. The classic rollers are used in damp hair. To do this, gently squeeze your hair with a towel after washing or simply dampen it briefly for a tempting styling in between. Then, comb through carefully. Use a wide paddle brush or hairbrushes that are specially designed for damp or wet hair to prevent individual hairs from breaking off.
How to use curlers with Velcro
To begin styling, prepare a tail comb and create a part in your hair. Now, divide the rest of your hair into equally sized sections, tackling each one sequentially. For simplicity, begin with the strands on either side of your face. Attach the Velcro or adhesive rollers at the ends of your hair and roll them upwards. Once you reach the roots, the rollers should stay in place on their own. If needed, secure the rollers with hair clips.
Many curler sets already include hair clips. Otherwise, make sure that they have a wide contact surface so as not to leave any unsightly kinks in the hair. Proceed in this way until all the separated strands have been wound up. Then wait and see. This is where the disadvantage of the curler procedure comes into play: to get long-lasting, beautiful curls, you need to take your time until your hair is completely dry, which can take several hours. Alternatively, you can also use a hairdryer. However, it’s best to use the hairdryer on the cool setting. Since most Velcro curlers are plastic, they could melt if exposed to hot air for an extended period.
Then, slowly unroll the hair and detangle it with your fingers. For a natural look, you can comb through the curls with a wide hairbrush. However, be careful not to comb the created look out again straight away. For beach waves, use a little salt spray and work it into the lengths and ends. Your perfect curls are now ready to dazzle!
Heatable curlers as a quick alternative
Heatable curlers offer an alternative for those looking to bypass the lengthy drying time. They usually come in an electric box that is plugged into the socket and heats up the curlers. The surface is often made of ceramic or a thermally conductive material. This means they don’t grip as tightly as Velcro curlers, but they promise longer-lasting curls that are ready more quickly. Here, too, the application is simple: the curlers should heat up in a few minutes so that the separated sections of hair can be curled. Begin at the roots and then fasten the rollers with clips. After the rollers and hair cool down, remove the rollers and style your waves to perfection.
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Silk rollers promise curls without heat
Silk curlers may take longer, but they gently transform your hair into soft waves without using heat. What sets this version apart is that instead of individual rollers, it features a lined band with a silk or velvet cover that’s worn like a headband and secured with a large clip. Next, divide your slightly damp hair into two sections and wrap them around the bands. The tighter you wrap, the more intense and smaller the curls will be. Fasten the ends with hair elastics to keep them in place. Ideally, these elastics should also be covered to prevent leaving any kinks in your hair.
Unlike heatable curlers, this method also requires a bit of patience. As with the Velcro curlers, you also have to wait until the hair has dried. Many TikTokers and Instagrammers recommend using them overnight. Ideally, you’ll wake up the next morning to an (almost) complete hairstyle. Then, simply remove the band, fluff up the curls, and style as desired. This method is likely the simplest, contributing to its popularity, among other reasons.
What you ultimately choose is of course up to you and depends on the time available and whether you want to treat your hair with or without heat. One thing’s for sure: with such a wide variety of curlers available, you’re bound to find the perfect match for your needs!