How to Put Velcro Curlers in Your Hair

The best tips and techniques for glamorous waves in any length hair

Co-authored by Hannah Madden Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 Fact Checked

Are you ready to look like a 90s supermodel? Velcro rollers are a great tool to give you that sleek, shiny blowout look for an effortless ‘do. Whether you’ve used rollers before or are a total beginner, we’ve got you covered! We’ll walk you through using velcro rollers so you can get a salon-style hairdo without ever leaving the house.

Things You Should Know

Start with damp hair, and add heat protectant spray to your ends.
Blow dry your hair with a round brush. Work in small sections throughout your head.
Insert the rollers by rolling them up into your hair from the ends to the roots. If any rollers feel loose, use a clip to hold them in place.
Wait 45 minutes, then gently unroll each roller one by one. Brush your hair out to create the perfect blowout look.

1

Add heat protectant to damp hair.

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Wash your hair and pat it dry so it’s not dripping wet. Velcro rollers work the best on clean hair, so take a shower before you start. Use a towel to pat your hair dry, then spritz a heat protectant throughout your hair. Use a wide tooth comb to get rid of any tangles before you use your velcro rollers.^{[1]
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- While you can use velcro rollers on dry hair, you’ll get more volume and wave if you use them on damp hair.
- Want to fight frizz? Run a hair serum through the ends of your hair to cut down on flyaways for a silky smooth finish.

2

Use big rollers for more volume.

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Choose 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide rollers for a perfect blowout. While it might seem like a good idea to use tons of little rollers, the big rollers are actually the way to go. When you’re looking for rollers to buy, stick to the larger, wider ones. These will create tons of volume and give you the sleek, shiny waves you want.^{[2]
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- Large rollers are also better if you have long hair.

3

Section your hair into a mohawk.

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Use a brush to separate the top strip of hair, where a mohawk would be. Look in the mirror and separate a 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) wide section on top of your head. Clip that hair up, then pull the rest of your hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of the way. This section on the top of your head is called the “mohawk” section, and it’s used a lot when putting in rollers to create waves.^{[3]
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- Sectioning your hair into manageable chunks will make it much easier to use the rollers.
- To make sure your section is completely straight, use the pointed end of a rat tail comb.

4

Dry a 1 in (2.5 cm) thick section of hair.

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Blow dry a small section to get it ready for a roller. You know that mohawk section you just created? Now, separate an even smaller, 1 in (2.5 cm) thick piece near the back. Then, use a hair dryer and a round brush to completely dry the section, moving from front to back.^{[4]
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- While it is totally possible to add velcro rollers without blow drying first (and you will see some people doing this), you get way more volume and bounce if you blow dry quickly before putting them in.
- If you plan on using velcro rollers a lot, consider investing in a hair dryer brush. These 2-in-1 tools combine the power of a round brush and a blow dryer, so you only have to hold one thing at a time.

5

Wind the roller in from the ends to your roots.

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Slowly wrap your hair over the roller until it hits your scalp. Once your hair is completely dry, set down your blow dryer and grab your first roller. Push it up against the ends of your hair, allowing your hair to get caught in the velcro. Slowly roll your hair over the roller until it stops at your roots.^{[5]
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- If you hit any tangles or loose pieces of hair, unroll the roller and try again. The smoother and sleeker the roller looks now, the better your waves will turn out later.
- Unlike other rollers, you don’t need to secure velcro rollers with clips. The sticking power of the velcro will hold the rollers and your hair in place, making them super lightweight and easy to use.

6

Add 3 to 4 rollers to your mohawk section.

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Keep drying your hair and adding rollers until your mohawk section is complete. You can now move forward: section off another small section of hair, dry it with your hair dryer and a round brush, then add another roller. Most people will use 3 rollers in this section, but if you have super thick hair, you might need 4.^{[6]
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- For this section, wind the rollers all in the same direction (backwards, or with the hair going over itself). This will help your bangs and face-framing pieces curl the right way.

7

Dry 4 in (10 cm) sections of the rest of your hair.

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Comb through your hair and dry it to add more rollers. Let the rest of your hair loose, then pick a side to start with. Grab a 4 in (10 cm) wide section and, just like you did before, use your blow dryer and a round brush to dry it completely, moving from front to back.^{[7]
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- It’s usually easier to start with the hair near your face, since you can see it well.

8

Wind a roller into the section you dried.

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Roll the roller on top of itself to create waves in opposite directions. Instead of adding your rollers all the same way, mix it up to create more dimension in your hair. Start at the ends of your hair, then roll the roller up and on top of itself.^{[8]
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- These side rollers tend to fall out a little easier than the top ones do, especially if you have shorter hair. If your roller feels loose, use a clip to hold it in place.
- Once you’ve done one roller, keep going around the rest of your head. Go from one side, around the back, then to the other side.

9

Take your rollers out after 45 minutes.

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Let your waves set, then gently unroll each roller. Even though your hair is dry, your rollers still need time to work. Watch a TV show or do some chores, then come back after 45 minutes. Start unrolling 1 roller at a time, gently pulling them away from your hair and unraveling them as you go.^{[9]
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- Unroll from the bottom up to avoid laying your hair on top of rollers.
- The slower you go here, the better. Unrolling your rollers too fast can create frizz and tangles.

10

Brush out your hair to create a beautiful blowout look.

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Gently comb through the ends to make your hair look perfect. Once you take your rollers out, your hair might look a little messy. Comb your hair gently from the bottom up. Once your hair is sleek and shiny, you’ll have the perfect 90s glam blowout!^{[10]
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- Noticing a little frizz? Run some hair oil through the ends of your hair to smooth down flyaways.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How long do the curls last?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

The longevity of the curls depends on how long the set is left in, the products used to support it, and the size and placement of the rollers as well as the porosity of the hair and the weather. Generally a Velcro set will last a full day, but won't hold up overnight.

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Question

How long do you leave Velcro rollers in your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

At least 10 minutes, but you can certainly leave them in longer for a stronger set- even overnight. I like to to heat them up slightly with a hair dryer and then let them sit for about 20 minutes.

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Question

How do you use hair rollers?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

The way you use rollers depends slightly on the type of rollers. All rollers should be wound into the hair on sections about the same size and shape as the roller using firm tension. Magnetic rollers are applied to wet hair, most other types are applied to dry hair with, but some, like velcro rollers, need hair spray to hold shape.

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