Written & Styled by Lillian Templeton

Photography by Molly Pritchett 

Modeled by Reese Tackett, Ashlee Finke, McKinley Brown, & Janette Beckner

Consistently styling your hair with heat can lead to hair damage. To protect your hair, try using heatless curling methods.  Heatless curls are timeless and have been a thing since the 1920s.  With the significant rise of heatless curls in the 2020s, the benefits speak for themselves: the curls last longer than heat curls, save your hair from heat damage, are very convenient since the curls form overnight, and give good results most of the time. Here is how to curl your hair without heat to see the best results!

Depending on the curling technique, your hair can have different curl patterns. Using heatless techniques is the easiest way to prevent hair damage. Heat tools like curling irons and blow dryers can cause heat damage and breakages and take up a lot of time. Heatless curls form the curls while you sleep, using nourishing products like oils or masks to help with dryness and breakage. This is a great way to save time in the morning. It is easy with your hair in the rollers because it is practically already done.

There are many different techniques that you can use to curl your hair.  You could do a heatless curling rod to curl your hair, but sometimes, you just need household objects like some Coke cans for loose blowout curls, socks for loose bouncy curls, t-shirt scraps for tighter curls, or some colored pencils for even smaller ringlet.  A way to add a more secure way to curl your hair is by using velcro rollers or foam curlers. These techniques help the curls to stay where they are and are more beneficial and accurate than socks or t-shirt scraps. 

With a plethora of techniques available, it can be overwhelming to learn how to curl your hair without heat. However, it's crucial to understand which method works best for your hair texture, length, and thickness. The good news is it's a straightforward process. Using rollers, for instance, is a breeze. Step one: section your hair. Step two: select a piece of hair that is the right size for your roller (just place the strip of hair over the roller. If it sticks off the side, it is too big). Step three: Start rolling from the ends of the hair towards your head, pulling as you roll for the tightest results. Step four: secure the roller in place, either with a clip or the clips it comes with. Step five: repeat throughout the head. Step six: go to sleep. Step seven: wake up, remove the rollers, and admire your fresh, heatless curls. It's as simple as following this seven-step plan. You'll be surprised at how easy it is!

Throughout the last 100 years, women and anyone who wants flawless curls have used heatless curls to enhance their hairstyles. In the 1920s, comb-waving was popular. Using several curved combs on damp hair and waiting for it to dry caused very pretty tight waves. In the 1960s, foam rollers were used to create big curls for a signature 60s look. In the 1990s, braiding was used as a crimper; this is how it worked: people would braid multiple braids in their hair, sleep with them in, then wake up, take out the braids, and boom, there they were tight little waves. 

Nowadays, this valuable hair trend has flooded the internet and social media, especially on TikTok. Sharing tutorials, techniques, and styles with millions of people who enjoy curling their hair without heat. People have seen heatless curls' benefits due to the trend and its popularity. People have been using heatless curls to better their hair health, by using less heat-damaging items and for cute styles. 

Using heatless curling methods not only maintains the health and vitality of your hair but also offers a universal and effortless way to create gorgeous curls. Adding these methods to your beauty routine allows you to enjoy beautiful, bouncy curls without the risk of heat damage. This allows the ability to quickly embrace natural beauty with confidence and style. So, say goodbye to heat styling tools and hello to radiant curls. Anyone who dreams of these curls deserves to learn to style them heatlessly, especially while keeping their hair healthy and vibrant.