Women have the uncanny ability to go through rather uncomfortable experiences for beauty’s sake.
We pluck our eyebrows, wax unwanted hair and even sleep in rollers for that perfect head of curls.
But unlike our moms that had to use uncomfortable spiked rollers, we now have many different options to choose from when it comes to overnight hair curlers.
In my quest to find the best sleep in curlers, I looked at some very informative and sometimes hilarious videos of different products.
Some look like the traditional rollers but they’re super soft.
Some look like an octopus made its nest in your hair.
And one may remind you of the Pied Piper of Hamelin with its flute-like structure.
Does that sound intriguing? Let’s have a look at the best hair rollers to sleep in and what makes each one of them stand out from the rest.
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Things to look out for when buying a sleep in roller set
🌀 Gently does it
The roller must not damage your hair.
Look for a soft, yet durable product that will do the job well but be gentle on your hair.
💠 Comfort is key
Not only do they have to curl your hair but most imperative, they have to be comfortable.
Like Raj (from The Big Bang Theory) quoted Tyra Banks in saying that the most important item in your makeup bag is a ‘good night’s sleep’, comfort while wearing the curlers really is key.
Lack of sleep could cause puffy eyes and irritability. So what does it help if you have the perfect set of mane but you feel and look like a grouchy raccoon?
🔆 Ease of use
The product must be easy to use and be quick to apply seeing that you will be curling your hair before you go to bed and none of us have time to waste.
👉 Is it strong enough?
Make sure the product that you choose is made of durable material and has a warranty.
No sense in buying something only to find out that it breaks easily.
9 Comfortable Overnight Hair Curlers To Sleep In
1. Curlformers Classic Styling Kit
If you have medium length hair and you want to corkscrew spiral your curls, then the Curlformers kit is for you.
The manufacturer has made it really easy to distinguish between the rollers that curl your hair clockwise and counter-clockwise by using two different colors, pink and orange.
The Curlformer is made from a woven plastic and does not contain latex which is good news to those who are allergic to latex. They have also made sure that it conforms to the EU REACH and US Regulations on plastics and heavy metals.
The kit contains 40 spiral curlers, 2 styling hooks and a satin bag to keep all your goodies in. The styling hooks make it easy, as you get the hang of it, to get the curlers in your hair.
Here, Lainey shows you how to use them in her informative and funny video:
2. Octocurl No Heat Curlers
The Octocurl allows you all kinds of looks.
You can use it to get soft loose curls, full open curls, bouncy spirals, hair bends (loose undone waves), beach waves or voluminous body for those of us with fine hair.
The type of curl you get will depend if you wrap, bend, curl, twist or even braid your hair with it. The detailed instruction booklet shows you exactly how to do it.
The apparatus, that looks a little bit like an octopus, is made from microfiber. It has a headband with 8 double vertical strips but the strips are double so you get 16 strips to curl your hair with.
In the “good old days” we used toilet paper or pieces of cloth, basically rags, to curl your hair overnight.
The Octocurl is based on the same premise but it is more versatile and easier to use than rags. You can leave it in overnight or use low heat to expedite the curling time.
Check out this hilarious video from Kimberley Cherrell that shows you how to use the Octocurl for heatless waves:
3. CharlieCurls On The Go No Heat Hair Curler
If you only have a few minutes to beach curl your long hair, then CharlieCurls is the way to go.
You just flip, spritz, slide, roll and twist the headband in your hair and within a few hours, you will have some serious waves and volume.
The band is made from soft, waterproof microfiber. Inside there is a strong, flexible wire to keep the band in place in your hair.
Because of the patent-pending technology, it grips your hair without you having to use clips or pins. Because it’s waterproof, it repels the water, which means you can use it on damp hair.
And it comes with a lifetime warranty and the manufacturer that assures us it won’t ever break.
It is so comfortable that you can sleep with it in your hair.
There are three ways to roll the CharlieCurls in your hair.
The traditional role gives body and volume to your hair. The unicorn roll offers those beachy waves. And you can wear it as a low bun in the daytime while you are exercising or working at the office and literally let your hair down to show off those curls for that evening event.
This video below shows you just how easy it really is:
4. The Sleep Styler
The Sleep Styler is recommended for shoulder length and longer hair.
Some reviewers have mentioned that it’s difficult to use and it has a learning curve but once you get the hang of it, it’s a great heatless tool for your hair toolbox.
It looks like a curler wrapped in microfibre with a strip attached to it.
What makes it stand out from other models is the memory foam core that is marshmallow-soft which ensures you will get a great nights’ sleep. It not only curls your hair but can also straighten frizzy hair depending on how you roll it.
The Sleep Styler Large set is recommended for long and thick or curly hair and comes with 8 six-inch rollers.
The Mini set is ideal for shorter hair or hair that is long but fine and includes 12 three-inch rollers.
For Sleep Styler tips and tricks, watch this video:
5. Wrap Snap N Go Hair Rollers
If you have short to medium-length hair and you felt a little left out because of the previous roller sets for medium and long hair, then the Wrap Snap N Go Hair Rollers might just be the one for you as they are ideal for short to medium-length hair.
The hair rollers are long and tube-like in a leopard print fabric. They have plastic snaps at the end.
As the name suggests, you wrap your hair around the rollers and snap them together to form a circle which keeps it from falling out of your hair.
It is designed to curl your hair from the root and they give maximum lift which creates a voluminous hairstyle that we so love. There are 12 rollers per set.
Madison Steward explains very eloquently how to use them in her, Using Wrap Snap n Go Rollers video:
6. Bukli Haircare Curling Flutes
For those of us with really long hair that wants bouncy barrel curls, Bukli Curling Flutes might be the one to use.
The reason why they work great for long hair is that they are stackable which means you can connect two of the curlers to create a long curler to accommodate your hair length.
Or you can stack them to create a wider roller thus the “stackability” also allows you to create different sized curls in one go.
These overnight hair rollers comprise of two components.
The first is a super soft and flexible flute. (It is these flutes that can be joined together to create a longer roller.) The flute is accompanied by featherlike nylon sleeve that encapsulates your hair, shielding the curls to prevent frizz and allows the hair to dry faster. The sleeve attaches itself to the flute in a self-grip motion because of the special material it is made of.
The set comes with 14 tapered flutes and the size is 5.5 inches by 1 inch (14cm x 2.5cm). There are also 14 sleeves and their size is 16 inches (40cm).
For a quick look as to how to use them, please look at this video by Bukli Haircare:
7. Titania Sleep Rollers
The outstanding feature of the Titania Sleep Rollers is they stay on the hair due to a special adhesive material which is kind of like velcro but much softer.
Because they are made from polyethylene foam, you will be able to use them for years to come. The soft spongy material is so gentle on your hair and scalp that you will be able to sleep in them.
Because of the special adhesive texture, you can use this product on both dry or wet hair and yet it easily removes without damaging your hair. Roll the curlers vertically for tight ringlets and horizontally for softer, wavy curls.
These German-made rollers are available in multiple sizes and quantities to suit your needs.
The sizes range from half an inch (15cm) to 1.4 inches (36cm), seven different diameters to accommodate your needs. They come in sets containing three to eight rollers.
8. Conair Soft Curlers
The Conair Soft Curlers look a bit like a peapod and it is made from soft towel-like material with a soft center in the middle.
It also contains an internal metal wire for fastening purposes and to shape your hair into any curl you desire. If you want tight curls, use a small section of your hair. For looser curls, use a bigger section.
They work on wet, damp and dry hair and is comfortable enough to sleep in. The roller can be used on short, medium and long hair. These soft curlers come in a pack of 24.
Julie Jelaco says using them is like sleeping on pillows and she shows us how to do it in her explanatory video:
9. Goody GoCurl Satin Pillow Soft Rollers
The Goody GoCurl Satin Pillow Soft Rollers are similar to Conair Soft Curlers but they are individually wrapped in satin which is better for your hair.
They also have a cushion core with bendable ends for fastening.
You can sleep in them for curl, body, and volume knowing your hair is protected against breakage due to the satin wrapping. You don’t need clamps, pins or clips to fasten them.
They come in a pack of 16 which includes 6 large and 10 small.
Do yourself a favor and watch the vivacious Janae Mason explaining and reviewing satin pillow soft rollers on this video:
FAQs
What are the best rollers to sleep in?
Or maybe a better question is, which are the best rollers for you?
In the reviews above, there will be something that catches your eye.
We all have different hair types and hair routines. What works for me might not work for you.
Therefore I suggest do some more digging into the product that caught your eye.
If you can, it would be great to be able to see and touch an example before you make the investment.
Is sleeping in rollers bad for your hair?
It could be because hair strands can get thinned and break as you toss and turn in your sleep.
That being said, it is definitely a better alternative to using heated tools like heat curlers and wands on your hair as heat can do more damage to your hair.
Sleeping in hard hair rollers should be avoided at all cost as they can do some serious damage.
But as you can see from the reviews, a lot of research has gone into overnight hair curlers, to make the experience more comfortable for you and your hair.
Should you put rollers in wet or dry hair?
You could do either but for the best results use the rollers on damp hair.
Your curls will last longer, have more bounce and be more defined being set in damp hair.
Damp, not soaking wet, is the way to go, otherwise, you will have to wait a very long time before your hair is dry.
And only take the curlers out when your hair is completely dry otherwise the curls will be limp and not last very long.
Can you sleep with hair rollers on?
Yes, but it depends on the style of the rollers and your preference.
What works for others may not work for you.
All the products we’ve listed above are comfortable enough to sleep in, but whether it is actually comfortable enough for you or not remains to be seen.
How long should you leave rollers in your hair?
This depends on a number of factors. Is your hair damp or dry? How long is your hair?
Also, your hair thickness will play a part in the answer but usually, the rule of thumb is to leave it in for a long as possible if you are not going to use heat.
My suggestion would be to leave them overnight and sleep with them in your hair to get the best results.
How to use hair rollers overnight
My suggestion would be to wash, condition and air dry your hair.
Your tresses will stay more healthy the less heat you apply to them.
The second step is the wrapping stage.
Brush your hair and make sure there are no tangles. Then divide your locks into sections. The smaller the section, the tighter and more defined your curl.
So if you’re going for a more relaxed look use bigger sections. Now wrap the individual section of hair around the roller and fasten. The way you wrap and fasten it will depend on the product you choose.
Thirdly, make yourself a nice cup of chamomile tea or read your book.
Basically, do whatever you do before you go to sleep. Have a good night’s sleep.
Step four is to remove the rollers in the morning. Take care not to pull or tug on them as this could tangle your hair.
The fifth step is most important: remember to enjoy your beautiful style.
Wrapping It Up
You know your hair better than anyone seeing you’ve been friends (and, let’s face it, sometimes frenemies) with it for your entire life.
By doing your own research you will find that perfect sleep in curlers mate for you and your hair.
And if a product doesn’t work, send it back and try another one.
Don’t skimp on your comfort. Especially when it comes to you and your beauty sleep.