Hair rollers may feel a bit Frenchy from Grease, but they’re still among the best tools for creating salon-worthy hairstyles at home.
If you lack the time to spend hours curling your hair, consider investing in some of the best heated rollers to do it for you. The Good Housekeeping Institute recruited a team of enthusiastic testers to help us find the top sets for long-lasting, voluminous results that caused minimal damage. Our beauty editors have also selected their favourite sets, to give you a wider choice for every budget. These are our top picks but keep reading for the full reviews and everything you need to consider before shopping below.
How we test
We asked 50 women to put a range of heated rollers to the test. They rigorously reviewed them at home, before giving detailed feedback on the clarity of the instructions, how easy they were to use and how quickly they delivered the desired volume. They also considered the overall design and, most importantly, they told us if they were happy with the end result. You'll find their winners marked with the GHI Approved logo below.
We've also added our editors' picks to give you more choice and price points – they haven't been tested in the lab but come recommended by our beauty team.
Boutique Salon Ceramic Rollers
Score: 71/100
Our testers found these rollers joyfully simple to use — almost all said they didn’t need to look at the instructions before getting started. The results were equally pleasing – the rollers produced big curls that added volume to hair. This set heats up quickly — in approximately 60 to 90 seconds — and comes with 12 rollers.
Being picky, some testers with longer, thicker hair would have liked more rollers to cover their entire head.
Volumizing Hot Rollers
Score: 71/100
This set of eight rollers from T3 impressed us overall, with most testers finding them easy to use. Quick to heat up, many said they added volume and left a bouncy curl.
They gripped the hair well and proved simple to remove, without any snagging or tangling. The only downside is that the 'on' indicator isn’t that clear.
PROluxe Heated Rollers
Score: 70/100
This set has a mixture of 20 medium and large rollers, which testers felt was enough to cover even thicker hair. Heat-up time was quick during testing (90 seconds), while hair looked well-styled after use, leaving our panel happy.
Some testers were unsure when to use the rollers, as there was no indication light, and some commented about how hot they got — so be careful!
Editors' picks
Our shopping editors have picked out the hottest heated rollers on the market right now, to suit every need and budget.
Heated 25 mm Rollers
We've tested many of Nicky Clarke's hair tools, including hair straighteners, hairdryers, and hot brushes in the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, so these shouldn't disappoint.
The rollers are travel-friendly and will fit neatly into your bathroom cupboard. Handy tech alerts you when they're ready to use (the light turns from red to white) and they boast cool-tech ends. They also feature smoothing ionic technology, which is crucial to a non-frizzy finish.
32mm Volume Rollers, Pink, 3039U (Pack of 10)
If you’re after big, bouncy curls but can’t quite bring yourself to part with more pennies than you’d spend on a professional blow dry, don’t fret. This cheap and cheerful set (they’re literally hot pink) may not look as neat or fancy, and they don’t come with as many in the set as other options, but they do the same job.
If you don’t have loads of thick, long hair, then 10 should be plenty of rollers. Pair with a hard-working heat protect spray to keep your bouncy new curls healthy and robust.
Pro Heated Ceramic Roller Set
This set is not only super colourful, but it offers the most rollers and size varieties of all the options on our list.
With 30 rollers in total, it also contains smart colour-coded clips to make the whole experience easier, as well as multiple temperature settings and a handy travel case.
Thermo Ceramic Rollers
This Babyliss beauty come with 20 soft-touch ceramic rollers and is aimed at those with a long, full head of hair that they'd like to tame.
The rollers come in three different sizes, and the set also boasts ionic frizz control for smooth results. There's a three-year guarantee too, so you can buy with peace of mind.
What are heated rollers?
Heated rollers are a type of hair tool used to create bouncy curls and waves. Some look like traditional velcro rollers while others, known as 'pods', are smaller and made of rubber.
These heat-conducting pods and rollers are stored in a case that warms up when turned on. They often come in different sizes, depending on the type of curl you want to achieve. The smaller the size, the tighter the curl.
Do you use heated rollers on wet or dry hair?
Heated rollers are suitable for use on dry, or mostly dry, hair. Wet hair is more fragile and prone to damage.
Can heated rollers be used on all hair lengths and types?
Yes, but the results will differ. Heated rollers will add volume to short hair but may struggle to produce a defined curl.
Hair stylists recommend using heated rollers on straight or slightly straight hair to produce a smoother, kink-free finish. If you have curly hair, rollers can help loosen your curls for a softer style.
How do you use heated rollers?
Section your hair into small pieces, then, once your rollers have heated up, wrap each section around the barrels. Wind each barrel up towards the head and secure it in place. Most rollers come with clips, while pods pop inwards to stay put.
How long do I keep heated rollers in for?
How long to keep hot rollers in for depends on the look you want to achieve. Unfurl them after 10 minutes for loose waves or keep them in for up to 30 minutes for tighter corkscrew curls. If in doubt, check the brand’s instructions.
Do heated rollers damage your hair?
Like all heated styling tools, heated rollers can damage your hair if not used correctly. To keep your locks looking and feeling soft and healthy, use a heat protection spray first.
Are heated rollers better than hair straighteners?
Hot rollers reach high temperatures, but they generally use less heat than straighteners and tongs, making them kinder to your hair.
Fine hair in particular will thank you for reaching for the rollers instead of your curling iron. Rollers can also be more convenient, as you can put on your makeup or paint your nails while they work their magic.
That said, if you want instant results and you use your heat protectant with care, hair straighteners are a good choice.
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