Who doesn’t know to use curling or flat irons to get amazing curls or waves.
But we also know there’s a downside to all that glam.
Heat damage.
Which is why some turn to uncommon tools to get their curls heatless.
Sure braids overnight is not so unusual. But using things like socks, straws even the belt from your robe? Whoa. Belt from your robe? Thought that might get your attention.
We’ve explored six or seven not exactly typical ways to get heat free curls. Brilliant maybe but not ordinary.
Some are retro.
Some a little crazy.
Some you’ve likely even heard of.
All do a great job if you know how to do them. Here’s what in store for you.
Quick Section Navigation
- Sock Curls: All You Need to Know to Get Intoxicating Hair
- At Last! Velcro Rollers Made Easy
- Get Amazing Curls With Flexi Rods Heatlessly
- Straw Curls Tutorial | How to Go From Straight To Curly Without Heat
- Busy Girl’s Guide to Bath Robe Belt Curls
- Headband Curls Are Overnight Easy With This DIY Guide
- Are Sock Bun Curls Heatless Curling Nirvana or What?
- Effortless Styling Without Heat
Sock Curls: All You Need to Know to Get Intoxicating Hair
Uncommon Tool: Socks
What To Expect: Natural looking curls that last even on straight somewhat curl resistant hair.
Degree of Difficulty: Super easy.
Fast or Not? Fast. As in five minutes fast.
What You Need To Know: What have you heard about getting loose, no heat sock curls overnight?
That they’re easy? Work with short hair? Help you avoid heat damage?
All true.
Apply a little Sock Curls 101 after your shower and literally in minutes you’re on your way to bouncy curls or gorgeous waves for long or medium hair while you sleep.
Two quick videos show you exactly how step by step.
Our article on heatless sock curls even reveals a clever hack for doing this with short hair!
At Last! Velcro Rollers Made Easy
Uncommon Tool: Velcro rollers
What To Expect: Voluminous bombshell hair.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Fast or Not? Fast.
What You Need To Know: Okay so this is more a retro styling technique more so than an uncommon one. I get that.
Although every day some are discovering the benefits Velcro rollers offer for the first time.
Maybe that’s because old school Velcro hair rollers are an easy way to get Victoria Secret like voluminous, bouncy tresses. Not to mention these handy and inexpensive self grippers are a simple and easy way to add lift to your roots fast.
They’re also good for billowy, no heat curls for short, shoulder length or long hair.
Remember these are best used on dry strands and only after prepping with hair spray.
If today’s a throwback Thursday but you’re short on the needed know how this step by step DIY Velcro roller tutorial showing how to use these self gripping curlers is just what you need to help you volumize while avoiding tangles.
Get Amazing Curls With Flexi Rods Heatlessly
Uncommon Tool: Flexi rods
What To Expect: Big natural looking “bombshell” curls.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Fast or Not? Maybe 10 minutes total curl and then uncurl time the next morning. Not as fast as other methods found here. But no nearly as long as straw curls either.
What You Need To Know: If you’re sick of putting heat on your thick hair cause all you have to show for it is disappointing curls listen up. Flexi rods on damp hair are a way to go for amazing curls.
Little more than a wire covered with foam but oh the curls they can help you create! Different sizes let you do tighter or looser curls.
Oh and did I mention they are dollar store cheap and that always helps too!
Tip: Styling products applied before wrapping is a smart move. Like a bit of argan oil to boost the shine while keeping your hair super soft. Or maybe some leave in conditioner or volumizing mousse to take the curls to the next level.
So if you’re looking for an easy and fast way to get curls that last for ages and look as gorgeous as those you get with hot rollers check out our article for more details.
Straw Curls Tutorial | How to Go From Straight To Curly Without Heat
Uncommon Tool: Plastic drinking straws
What To Expect: Uniform looking ringlets that are super tightly coiled and very springy. Think 3C or 4A coiliness. Surprising spirals like this aren’t bad for hair that’s straight without much if any hint of wave much less curl.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy. It’s a “Have straws will curl” kind of thing where if you can wrap hair around a curling iron you can wrap it around a straw.
Fast or Not? Not! Decidedly not. How long it takes depends on how thick your hair is. But since you may be at this for a while pack a lunch.
What You Need To Know: The big thing to know is to get the straws as close to your scalp as possible. This will insure the entire strand is curled – from the roots to the ends. It will also work to minimize flatness in the crown area.
But I can’t stress this point enough. If you want to avoid hair that is visibly straight at the root and then suddenly all kinds of crazy curly make sure it’s all curled up.
Oh and if you want tight curls wrap tightly and keep the wraps close together on the straw.
No worries. The tricks you need to know are shared in great detail.
So if you’re the least bit curious why not check out straw curls guide?
Busy Girl’s Guide to Bath Robe Belt Curls
Uncommon Tool: Bath Robe Belt
What To Expect: Cute, nicely defined somewhat loose curls but not too loose.
Degree of Difficulty: Super duper easy!
Fast or Not? Very fast.
What You Need To Know: These mind blowing curls should remind you of what you get with a curling iron – only heatless.
Simply wrap your hair around the belt, or anything longish like say a long scarf, and sleep on it.
Wake up, take the belt out, do a little rake and shake with your fingers and you’re all set.
How damp your hair is matters. More water helps tighter curls to form. Less water results in more waviness.
Most of all don’t let the simplicity of the idea deter you.
So if you’ve been waiting for a new way to get no heat curls, ditch the hot tools, whip out your robe belt and give this a try. For help definitely check out our take on robe belt heatless curls!
Headband Curls Are Overnight Easy With This DIY Guide
Uncommon Tool: Headband
What To Expect: Soft curls or carefree, boho waves.
Degree of Difficulty: Easy. If you can twist your hair and then wrap around any headband you’re good.
Fast or Not? Fast to put it. For some a bit slower to take out.
What You Need To Know: What’s your excuse for not rocking ridiculously easy headband curls?
There are 11 lame ones commonly given that can totally sabotage your efforts. Learn what you need to kick each to curb.
Beyond that, hair spraying the wrapped hair can help set the curls. Scrunching in texturizer paste can style them.
Now knowing how to take the headband out is the key to success with this hack. It’s better to patiently remove it than to have to cut it out of your hair out of frustration.
Still this is the almost perfect approach for those tired of dry, heat damaged tresses. If that’s you check out how to get heatless curls with a headband now!
Are Sock Bun Curls Heatless Curling Nirvana or What?
Uncommon Tool: Sock Bun
What To Expect: Lush, loose curls that will garner all sorts of compliments.
Degree of Difficulty: Super easy. If you can do a high ponytail you can do sock bun curls.
Fast or Not? Fast. As in five minutes fast.
What You Need To Know: For those in search of how to get big curls without heat sock bun curls are the answer.
It’s a great way to get no heat curls overnight.
Just imagine the hairstyles you can wake up to!
Master this and mornings will never be the same!
With the right tips and ideas you’ll know how to make this happen. Three hand-picked video tutorials tell all.
Bonus: You can wear the bun during the day and unleash the curls for a night out.
Also the volume can be amped up by simply dividing your ponytail into more sections and using more than one sock bun. Some with thick hair go crazy and use three or four!
The size of the sock matters. Kids socks create effortless curls that are more tightly coiled.
Who knew socks could give you a style that looks like it took hours but really only takes five minutes? Which is why you don’t want to miss the four sock bun curling videos we included in our look at this must know styling technique.
Effortless Styling Without Heat
This is more of a survey or overview of some no heat styles. Not all are curly.
Uncommon Tool: Various
What To Expect: You can create every type of curl from the all coiled up to loose wavy textures without using any hot styling tool.
Degree of Difficulty: Most are very easy. None require the skill it takes to curl hair with a flat iron.
Fast or Not? Some are five minute fast. Others not so much. Other still will require a time commitment to get the look.
What You Need To Know:
Again this look at how to style hair without heat is more of a general overview of some techniques to use for heat free styling. Covering hacks we all need to know for straightening, curling and easy volumizing.
There is a video showing how to do so called paper towel curls. Plus you’ll also find another video that offers inspo and help for 10 different heatless hairstyles from braids to buns.
These more to it that just which uncommon tool to use. Which is why we wrote the overview of some methods for styling hair without heat.
Can’t get enough of extremely useful hacks like these? If you’re always looking for another idea for styling, coloring or caring for your hair then please follow out popular pins Pinterest board. It’s where we stash our best ideas.
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