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Hair

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Velcro Rollers at Home

 

I saw the girls on TikTok using Velcro rollers, so I had to try them. With a little expert advice, I got the bouncy hair of my dreams.

Full, bouncy, voluminous hair is always going to be in. Blowout money, however, is not always in — your pockets, that is. We all know beauty maintenance can cost a coin, but there are ways around having to shell out a certain amount of cash every week just so your hair can look good. You can get the look at home with a little bit of hair spray and a set of Velcro rollers, which are making a comeback right now. 

Just check TikTok: The #velcrorollers hashtag has 38.4 million views as of this piece's publication. And if TikTok's into it, it's officially a thing — even if it's not necessarily a new thing. Plus, with the ongoing pandemic having sharpened our collective at-home beauty skills, it's easy to feel confident about recreating some of our favorite styles.

Did we mention rollers are also super convenient? ​"With the rise in hybrid work schedules and remote working, quick and easy grooming has become the common crave," says New York City–based hairstylist Cataanda James. "Whether you are rocking a 'shullet' (aka the combo of a shag and a mullet) or a long, layered cut, grandiose volume will take your at-home styling to the next level without the fuss of mastering the round brush blowout technique."

Personally, I've never used Velcro rollers before working on this piece. I've had a bob haircut for the past three years and just recently let my hair grow to mid-length. I'm ready to experiment: If the girls on TikTok can do it, so can I. But just so I didn't mess up entirely, I turned to a few experts for advice on how to use these classic styling tools.

First, the basics: What are Velcro rollers?

Velcro rollers are hollow plastic cylinders with a top layer of Velcro. If you look closely, you'll see the tiny hooks, like the ones you might find on the fastening strips of kids' shoes. The only difference is there's no fuzzy fabric side that it sticks to. These rollers are meant to be self-gripping, so technically you shouldn't need duckbill clips to hold each one in place. Still, if you feel you need the extra support, feel free to add them for security. 

Velcro rollers come in many sizes and are meant to give hair the appearance of more volume. "​​I would only use Velcro rollers as a way to maintain volume and body, not really to create curl," says Leigh Hardges, a hairstylist based in Chicago. "For tighter curls, you would need to use smaller rollers, although I really don't suggest this since pin curls would be a better fit for that."

If big, bouncy curls are what you're after, Velcro rollers may not be the best option. "Your hair will bounce, but the curls that you see at the initial roller release will convert into a curvaceous bevel near the ends after you toss and fingerstyle your hair," she says.

What are the benefits of using Velcro rollers?

Ryan Trygstad, a New York City–based hairstylist, echoes James and Hardges: Velco rollers are all about adding that bouncy body to your crown.  "[They're] also great for setting your hair and keeping it out of your face while you're applying your makeup." The rollers' self-gripping feature easily keeps your hair in place, and, as James notes, "provides a quick hair fluff to your style in little time."

Another notable benefit: "No heat," says Los Angeles–based hairstylist Michael Dueñas, who switches between hot tools and Velcro rollers when he's creating these kinds of looks. "You can brush your hair smooth when it is damp, apply your rollers, and let your hair air-dry," he says.​​ "This also locks in your style much longer than hot tools and a blow-dryer. As your hair dries, formed to the curler, your style will last hours, if not days longer."

And let's not forget affordability and convenience. Using Velcro rollers can give you the look of a professional blowout without the expensive price tag or salon visit. This Conair set I got from Amazon is $9. (I got two since I wanted more of the large-size rollers.) Hardges recommends her favorites: the Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers and Kitsch Ceramic Thermal Hair Rollers. You can also find Velcro rollers at most drug and beauty supply stores.

How to use Velcro rollers:

1. Prep your hair

Velcro rollers work on damp or dry hair; it's up to you which you want to start with. If you're short on time, using them with a blow-dryer can speed up the process (more on that in step three).

Start by detangling with a paddle brush. "If you roll your hair into a roller with a tangle, it will exacerbate the problem and create much larger tangles. This makes them look even more distressed once dry," says Dueñas.

Next, prep hair with product to make it easier to form a grip. Dueñas suggests using mousse, like Amika Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse, if you're working with damp hair, or brush Kevin Murphy Blow Dry Ever Lift through dry hair.

2. Get rolling

Using a comb, "make a four- to six-inch section at the crown of your head," says James. "Begin making a 1 to 1 ½-inch part at the front of that section (sized to fit the roller) and start winding hair in the roller forward, toward the forehead."

Make sure the roller is rolled to the root of the hair and secured, if needed, with a clip. As I mentioned, Velcro rollers are self-gripping, but my thick, straight hair could use a little extra hold, so a few well-placed bobby pins did the trick. Repeat the process with another roller right behind the first and repeat all around. "Work through your entire head in this manner, going section by section from the top down," says Hardges.

3. Hold it in place

To get your hair to mold to the rollers more easily, spritz each section with hair spray like R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray suggests Trygstad. I happened to have the Redken Triple Pure 32 Hairspray on hand, which kept the shape intact and didn't leave my hair feeling crunchy.

Here comes the optional step: blow-drying. You can let your hair air-dry while it's in the rollers or use a diffuser attachment (on damp or dry hair) to help speed up the process. "Blow the rollers with a hair-dryer on the high heat setting with low airflow," says James. "Make sure to point the air in the same direction the hair was set." Hit each roller for 5 to 10 seconds.

Now, wait it out. "The rollers should be left in for a minimum of 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes while you run around and drink coffee or do your makeup," says Trygstad.

4. Removing the rollers

Carefully slide the rollers out one by one, making sure to follow the same direction the hair was rolled. During this step "the most common problem is the hair becoming tangled on the roller," says Hardges. "You cannot just yank these rollers out."

Then, flip your hair forward, misting a little hair spray or dry shampoo at the roots, James suggests. "Flip your hair again and tousle from side to side as the product sets. This enhances root lift and keeps the strands naturally elevated to defy gravity," she says. "Run your wide-tooth styling comb (or you can carefully use your fingers) through your hair starting just beyond the roots and down the mid-lengths, stopping before reaching the ends."

Tips to keep in mind

When it comes to Velcro rollers and hair types, "mid-length to short hair works best," says Trygstad. "This is because the strength of hold that the Velcro roller creates is harder for longer and heavier lengths." Fine, straight, and minimally textured hair works well, too. 

It's a little more difficult, but not impossible, to use Velcro rollers on tightly curled or coiled hair. "They're notorious for getting caught in 3C to 4C hair, especially when it's damp," says James. "The Velcro quickly gets tangled and adheres to the hair because of its various curl patterns. Because the cuticle layer isn't smooth, it's not easy for the rollers to slide out after the set. This can create more frizz and tangles as well as extended drying times." James's tip: If you have super-textured hair, start by blowing it out, then follow with one pass of a flatiron to get rid of frizz before you start the process. 

The size of the Velcro rollers also play a huge role in what the style will look like. If your hair is chin-length or shorter, use small to medium-size rollers. If your hair is shoulder length or longer, use medium to large or jumbo-size.

Again, Velcro rollers are meant to boost volume, but if you're looking for a slightly curlier finish, "I recommend alternating roller sizes from small to jumbo," says James. "This not only creates longevity in your style but also gives variation, which will encourage a flowy, multitextured foundation to your finished look."

And don't worry if your Velcro rollers aren't placed perfectly. It honestly took me a few tries to get them right. I think that little imperfection can actually made the end result even more breezy and effortless.