13 Best Hair Rollers That Will Give You All the ‘90s Vintage Blowout Glam
Achieve that supermodel look with options as little as $6.
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Not to be that person, but I was a hair roller stan before TikTok decided to make them cool again. But! News! Flash! Hair rollers are not a trend—heck, they're a classic beauty style that’s been used for decades. No, the trending look isn’t exactly like your grandma's tight pin curls and baby blue nightgown (though that can be done), nowadays people are opting for big bouncy curls of the quintessential '90s “It” girls. And if you want to achieve that vintage aesthetic, you're going to need one (or more!) of the best hair rollers on the market.
The ‘90s and early aughts were known for those bouncy, bigger-is-better curls that look polished but not overdone. I think it's safe to say the lewk has since then been revived by way of a few methods: If it's not a round brush and a hair dryer, it's a hair-dryer brush—yeah, we've gotten inventive in this modern-day—but I'm tellin' ya, don't sleep on the OG. When done correctly, the curls from hair rollers will hold great, last long, and look totally fab, and I've got quite the star-studded lineup of some of the top celebrity hairstylists to back me up on that.
So without further ado, let's dive into the look and the tool that defined arguably the best decade.
What type of hair rollers are best?
In short: There’s no one-size-fits-all roller and each type serves a slightly different purpose. You probably have seen quite a few throwback pics of supermodels getting glammed up with velcro rollers, but times have changed, and that means rollers have evolved too.
Velcro rollers, foam rollers, hot rollers, steam rollers, and so many more variations can be used to create the effortless and bouncy look you're going for—it just depends on the size of the roller and the process you use. The bigger the roller, the bouncier the hair, the smaller the roller, the more tight the curls will be, explains Sally Hershberger, celebrity stylist and founder of Sally Hershberger 24K.
What are the best products to use with hair rollers for bouncy curls?
If you're working from wet to dry hair, you should use a product for volume, whereas if you're starting with dry hair, you should use a light holding hairspray before setting, explains Eric Vaughn, stylist, owner of REV Hair, and Master Artistic Educator. "Most people need to have ultra moisture in the hair in order to get a hair roller style to stay," says Joseph Maine, celebrity stylist and Artistic Director of Color Wow Hair.
To ensure that your hair is moisturized, a blowout mousse, spray, or balm will do the trick. If you're working with curly hair, Maine recommends about 60 percent moisture in your hair before styling, versus if you have straighter hair, where you would only need about 20 percent moisture. "At the end of the day, curly and straight hair are the same, the curly hair just requires a few extra steps to finish the look," says Tippi Shorter, celebrity hairstylist, Mizani Global Artistic Director, and curl pro. Shorter recommends using a leave-in conditioner to hydrate hair prior to using rollers, and finishing off the look by running hair oil through the hair for those with all types of curls.
How do you use hair rollers?
Remember: Each hair roller is different, and each hair type will require unique steps. However, it's a good idea to keep these general tips in mind if you're looking to achieve a bouncy blowout at home:
- Start with a damp base to create even curls. — Sally Hershberger
- The way your hair dries is the way that it is going to flow. Place the rollers at the crown of the head and roll your hair under the curler, that way, you will get more volume and body. — Tippi Shorter
- Use a brush and rollers that are on the larger side in order to achieve a bouncy blowout. The smaller they are, the more curl they're going to leave in your hair. The larger they are, the more smoothing they're going to be. — Joseph Maine
- Use a diffuser attachment on a blow dryer to gently heat the rollers back up after every roller has been placed. This will ensure that they are set perfectly. — Eric Vaughn
K. So we're prepped and primed, now it's time to get to the fun part, and the reason y'all are here in the first place: The 13 best hair rollers to get that oh-so-desired bouncy '90s hair.
To add some ~ dimension ~ to hair with layers or framed front pieces, this set has 31 self-gripping rollers with five different sizes. It’s v helpful for when you want to create tighter curls in some sections and looser waves in others. Additionally, it comes with a carrying case to organize your rollers.
If you're looking for the crème de la crème of the best hot hair rollers, this here is your bb. Not only do the T3 hot rollers have a dual temperature setting, but they also promise a quick heat up and an even heat transfer. Hershberger recommends hot rollers for when you're short on time. "Though these rollers do have heat, I do recommend beginning with damp hair," she says. Be sure to use a heat protector before using hot rollers to ensure your hair stays healthy.
If you want to channel your inner backstage supermodel, these Drybar velcro rollers are perfect for achieving that bouncy blowout look. "These are my favorite to use as they are super fast! You can heat up the hair with either a blow dryer or hot tool and set with different size rollers to create more curl or more volume," says Vaughn. You also won't have to worry about these rollers falling out of your hair, considering they're made with a self-grip surface.
As mentioned earlier, "in order to do a bouncy blowout, you want to use a brush and rollers that are on the larger side," says Maine. These Conair Xtreme Big hair rollers are jumbo enough to create that perfect bouncy and smooth hairdo. In only 85 seconds, the curlers will heat up and be ready to go!
The foam variation is one of the best hair rollers on the market due to its easy-to-use design. "Once hair is almost dry, roll the foam from the bottom of the hair towards the scalp and secure. Either dry with a blow dryer or head to bed! In the morning, you should be left with gorgeous ringlets with lots of volume. These are my favorite because you can set it and forget it,” says Hershberger.
It is important to note that if you have drier hair, you should avoid classic foam rollers because they tend to suck up your hair's moisture, explains Shorter. However, the Satin Sponge Hair Rollers by WillaBond are a great product made to combat that very problem. So if you have dry hair and want to try a foam roller, these are a great option to give it a go.
The Kitsch Ceramic Thermal Hair Rollers are some of the best hair rollers on the market essentially because they're a classic. In fact, Shorter says these are the very rollers she uses on her celebrity clients. At only $14, you can have the hair of the ~stars~. The set comes with two two-and-a-quarter rollers, four two-inch rollers, and two one-and-a-half-inch rollers. Due to the large sizes of the hair rollers, you'll achieve the bouncy blowout of your dreams.
If you have short hair and have always struggled to find the perfect roller set that will give you bouncy curls but work with your length, your search stops here. The Conair Instant Heat Travel Hot Rollers are the best on the market for short hair. The set comes with five one-and-a-half-inch rollers that are the perfect size and come with the ideal amount to glam up your short hair.
If you have thick hair, you know the struggle of trying to style it. But this time, thick hair has met its match with the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Roller Hairsetter. Considering there are 20 hair rollers included in the set, you'll have no problem pinning up each and every strand.
Sure, you can sleep in foam rollers, but if you're looking for a reallyyy comfy hair roller that will ensure a big bouncy blowout, look no further than the Annie Satin Pillow Rollers. I mean, it has 'pillow' in its name, how could it not be comfortable? Not only will these rollers give you an awesome hairdo, but they will also protect your hair from breakage and split ends. The large size will give you those bouncy curls in the morning, so you can literally say, "I woke up like this."
"Retro hair is back in—think Farrah Fawcett, curtain bangs and volume," Hershberger says. That being said, we at Cosmo understand how important it is not to neglect any bit of the hair. These Hair Fringe Rollers are specially designed to make sure your bangs get that extra little bit of TLC they deserve.
According to Vaughn, steam rollers are "very similar to hot rollers, but use a different heat source." Vaughn also notes that steam rollers typically tend to be a gentler source for the hair. Due to moisture provided by the steam, these rollers are a great option for those with drier hair. The Caruso steam rollers are as old school as it gets and, IMO, are undoubtedly the best steam rollers on the market.
If you have fine hair, chances are you've struggled with styling it in the past. Sometimes, it can be hard to find products and tools that won't weigh down your hair. These hot curlers by Remington use both ionic and ceramic features to keep that pretty hair of yours shiny and bouncy without weighing the strands down.
Daisy Maldonado is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to deeper looks at beauty culture and the internet’s most talked-about pop culture moments. She’s especially interested in the intersection of style and digital culture, and loves exploring what the trends we follow say about us. When she’s not writing, she’s probably four pages deep on The RealReal searching for vintage designer pieces or planning her next trip abroad (she lived in Paris for a year and hasn’t stopped talking about it since). Her work has appeared in Vogue, Bustle, Allure, and many more.
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