Best heated rollers for salon-style hair

After spending all day changing nappies and feeding picky toddlers, it can be hard for us mums to feel good about ourselves. But, sometimes, all it takes is a new outfit and a fresh hairdo to make us feel transformed.

Whilst many of us have mastered the art of creating captivating curls with our straighteners, they can be a bit hit and miss, most likely to work on only one side of our head or create an unruly kink at the worst possible time.

Whether you’ve got thick, long hair or fine, short hair, or even somewhere in-between and forever feeling like you’re having a bad hair day, we’ve picked out the best heated hair rollers to style your hair and create a fresh new look without needing to visit the salon.

So which ones should you pick? There are loads of heated hair rollers on the market, with big variations in terms of the number of rollers, included accessories and the all-important heat up time. Whether your budget is big or small, we can help you find the right heated hair rollers to suit your hair type.

How we chose our recommendations

We’ve thoroughly researched the best heated rollers you can buy, taking into account tried and tested experiences from different reliable, trusted sources.

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

First, we got feedback from our trusted Mumsnet community, seeking out tried and tested recommendations from users who have genuinely put hot rollers through their paces - noting the good, the bad and the ugly. We looked at Mumsnetters' experiences of hot rollers in terms of quality, ease of use, time to heat up and, of course, the end results to find the most popular choices that were praised time and time again.

Expert opinions

When it comes to hair products, we know that the voice of industry experts such as hairdressers and stylists carry significant weight, so we investigated their views and recommendations on the best hot rollers they use to achieve salon-quality looks at home.

Authentic consumer reviews

Finally, we trawled through honest, independent reviews on various retailer sites to get wider opinions to ensure we were bringing you a useful, in-depth summary of the heated rollers available today.

Here are the best heated hair rollers for 2022.

1. Best overall heated rollers: BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers

Price £35 | Buy now from Amazon

A trusted haircare brand, creating products that help achieve a salon finish in the comfort of your own home, these BaByliss heated hair rollers use the latest thermo-ceramic technology to distribute heat evenly across the rollers. Not only can this create the perfect curl, but does so leaving your hair looking silky and smooth.

Budget-friendly and easy to use, even for beginners, there are two different options for holding the curlers in place: metal pins or large butterfly clips, the latter of which are easier for beginners.

They heat up relatively quickly, reaching optimum styling temperature in around 10 minutes. There’s even a heat indicator on one of the rollers, which changes colour when they're ready to use, so there’s no risk of using them too soon.

With two temperature settings and 20 rollers in three different sizes, the BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers are suitable for all hair types and hair lengths, with the kit containing everything you need to create beautiful bouncy curls.

Pros

• Three different sized rollers for easy styling

• Good number of rollers included (20 in total)

• Competitive price

• Two temperature settings for thicker and finer hair

Cons

• Lots of small pieces to keep track of

• Using the metal pins can take a while to master

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 20

• Heat-up time: 10 minutes

• Accessories included: Clips and pins

2. Best budget heated rollers: BaByliss 3663U Curl Pods Hair Heated Rollers

Price £28 | Buy now from Amazon

At just £28, these bargain-priced heated rollers are the ideal choice for beginners or those with a more limited budget.

Curling your hair with rollers and pins can be a bit fiddly if you’ve never done it before, but the BaByliss Curl Pods make things far simpler. There are no metal pins or butterfly clips to keep track of – simply wrap the hair around the pod and pop it closed.

With 18 curl pods included in the set, there should be plenty to curl your entire head of hair. Heating up takes just three minutes, with the handy colour indicator turning from red to clear when they’re ready to use.

Pros

• Good number of rollers included

• Bargain price

• Easy to use for beginners

Cons

• Rollers are all the same size

• Best suited for longer hair

• Some reviewers say they find it tricky to get the pods to stay shut

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 20

• Heat-up time: 3 minutes

• Accessories included: None

3. Best heated rollers for thick hair: Remington H9100 Proluxe Rollers

Price £40 | Buy now from Amazon

If you like your hair products to have a bit of style, you’ll love the Remington H9100 Proluxe Hair Rollers. They’re stored and heated in a beautiful rose gold box and they’re flocked with velvet, which is super soft on your hair and prevents catching or snagging.

The rollers are easy to use, held in place with large butterfly clips, which are heated along with the rollers to provide the best hold possible. Heating up in just 90 seconds and taking around five minutes to set, they’re also a fast and efficient choice for when you’re limited on time.

Pros

• Good number of rollers included (eight medium, 12 large)

• Both rollers and clips are heated for best results

• Rollers heat up in just 90 seconds

Cons

• No ‘ready’ indicator light

• Large size takes up significant space

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 20

• Heat-up time: 90 seconds

• Accessories included: Clips

4. Best heated rollers for beginners: Glamouriser Multi Styling Glamour Rollers

Price £40 | Buy now from House of Fraser

Unlike plastic rollers which can be challenging to master, the Glamouriser Multi Styling Glamour Rollers are made with a silicone tab that you simply pull to secure the rollers in place. With no fiddly pinning required, even those new to heated rollers can create Hollywood quality curls quickly and easily at home.

With two different sized rollers included, the set provides options for both short and long hair, although reviews do suggest it works better on longer hair. If your hair is prone to frizz, you’ll also be pleased with the added infusion of Black Diamond Oil, helping prevent snagging and ensure smooth, shiny curls.

Pros

• Fast five-minute heat-up time

• Easy to fix without clips or grips

Cons

• Reviewers reported better results on long, thick hair

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 20

• Heat-up time: 5 minutes

• Accessories included: None

5. Best heated rollers for long hair: BaByliss Pro Heated Ceramic Roller Set

Price £48.92 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re looking for a fully comprehensive set of heated rollers, with enough rollers to curl a full head of long or thick hair, you can’t go wrong with the BaByliss Pro Ceramic Roller Set. With a substantial 30 rollers in the set, coming in four different sizes, you’ll be able to create all sorts of different styles.

We love the fact the metal pins used to secure the rollers are colour coded, so even though there are a large number of pieces to keep track of, you can easily see which pin is needed for each roller. Some reviewers have noted that they can be tricky to use due to the heat of the roller, however, so extra caution is required when using.

Pros

• Large number of rollers (six small, eight medium, eight large and eight jumbo)

• Colour-coded metal pins to secure rollers

• Two temperature settings

Cons

• Higher price point than most other sets (but also lots more rollers included)

• They can get very hot, so be careful when using

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 30

• Heat-up time: 10 minutes

• Accessories included: Clips and pins

6. Best heated rollers for short to mid length hair: Cloud Nine The O Pod Heated Roller Set

Price: £169 | Buy now from Cloud Nine 

Is your short or mid-length hair falling flat? If you’re looking to add some instant volume, the O Pod Heated Roller Set from Cloud Nine can give your hair a much-needed boost and recreate a salon blow-dry experience within minutes.

Unlike other heated rollers, the O Pods use innovative induction heat technology to heat up individually in just four seconds as you style, meaning you can be out the door and ready to go in a fraction of the usual time.

They do come with fewer rollers than other sets, however, with just 12 rollers in three different sizes.

Pros

• Rapid heat-up time

• Soft grip without snagging or pulling

Cons

• Pricey

• Low number of rollers

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 12

• Heat-up time: 4 seconds

• Accessories included: Clips

7. Best heated rollers for XL volume: T3 Micro Volumising Rollers

Price £125 | Buy now from T3 Micro UK

The T3 Micro Volumising Rollers are a luxury set of heated hair rollers for those who are willing to pay a little extra for a top-quality product. Whist they offer great performance, there are only eight rollers included in the set, so you may need to purchase additional rollers if necessary.

The rollers, which come in two different sizes, are secured with large butterfly clips for easy to fix, smooth, snag-free results every time. Heating up in just two to three minutes, you don’t have to wait long before you can start creating your bold bouncy curls.

Pros

• Two different roller sizes (four medium, four large)

• Gives beautiful bouncy curls

• Two heat settings for different hair types

• Sleek look

Cons

• Far fewer rollers than most other sets

• High price point

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 8

• Heat-up time: 3 minutes

• Accessories included: Clips

8. Best portable heated rollers: TRESemme 3039U Volume Rollers

Price: £23.99 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re after a more portable option, the TRESemme 3039U Heated Roller Set comes in a handy travel case that’s perfect for packing into a suitcase or grabbing to take to a friend’s house before a night out. These lightweight, plastic rollers are quite large in size, resulting in envy-inducing big, bouncy curls.

The heated rollers are held in place with metal pins and, unlike some other roller sets, there are no large butterfly clips included. As such, these TRESemme rollers may be more suitable for people who are already experienced with using metal pins to hold the rollers in place.

Pros

• Very competitive price

• Handy carry bag

• Can heat all 10 rollers at the same time, unlike some other small travel sets

• Multi-voltage feature ideal for travel

Cons

• No butterfly clips included – only pins

• Only one roller size

Key specs

• Number of rollers: 10

• Heat-up time: 10 minutes

• Accessories included: Pins, travel case

What are heated rollers?

Unlike traditional velcro rollers, heated rollers are heat-conducting pods that use the power of heat to create and set curls more quickly. Depending on their size, heated rollers can be used to create anything from soft waves to tight curls as well as adding volume to short or fine hair.

How do you use heated rollers?

Whilst they can take some time to perfect, achieving your new hairstyle can be done in just a few quick and easy steps. Heated rollers should be used on clean, dry hair, although you may wish to use a heat protecting spray if your hair is prone to damage. We also suggest reading the instructions for your rollers to ensure you're using them right.

To use heated rollers you should:

• Plug in the heated rollers and allow them to heat up fully - different products may vary in terms of heat-up time and many have a visual indicator that changes colour when they’re ready to use.

• Divide your hair into three manageable sections: left, right and middle. Start rolling at the front of your head and work backwards.

• Taking a small section of hair, hold the roller around halfway up and wrap around the ends, before rolling towards your head and securing it in place using the pins or clips provided (the latter are easier for beginners).

• On the side sections of hair, ensure the rollers are rolled away from your face.

• Repeat until all your hair is secured. You will need to read the guidance included for the product you are using to determine how long you should keep the rollers in for. With some models you need to leave them in your hair to cool down - how long this takes will depend on the rollers. Avoid removing them too soon as they need time to work, but also don't overdo it and risk hair damage!

• Remove the rollers individually by gently rolling downwards, running your fingers through the curls as you do.

• If you wish to create a more natural wave, you can brush through to smooth and loosen the curls.

Can heated rollers be used on all hair lengths and types?

As a general rule, heated rollers can be used on all hair lengths and types, however, some heated rollers are better suited to shorter hair than others, requiring smaller rollers to achieve the desired effect.

A set with a range of roller sizes is often the most versatile choice to suit a variety of hair types, whereas a set with one larger sized roller will be best suited to those with longer, thicker hair.

Are heated rollers better than hair straighteners?

It’s fair to say there’s a time and place for both!

Many people prefer to use heated rollers rather than using hair straighteners because it’s less hands-on. Once you’ve rolled the curlers into your hair, you can get on with something else while your hair curls itself. Using hair straighteners is much more labour-intensive, as you need to create each curl individually and it can also go wrong very quickly!

Curling irons and straightening irons also tend to produce tighter curls than the big, bouncy curls you’ll achieve with hot rollers, so it depends on what type of hairstyle you’re hoping to achieve.

Do heated rollers damage your hair?

As with any heated hair tool, hot rollers can cause your hair to become dry and brittle if they’re used too often. Make sure you use a heat protectant on your hair before using your heated rollers and try to only use them once or twice a week.

What size hot rollers should I use?

It depends on what type of curl you’re hoping to achieve. If you’d like loose, bouncy curls, use larger rollers. If you’d prefer small, tight curls, use smaller rollers.

How long should heated hair rollers be left in for?

How long heated rollers are left in for will depend on the set you use. For a super quick curl setting, something like the Remington H9100 can work in just five minutes, whereas other sets need longer for the rollers to cool before being removed. Generally, the longest you should leave them in for is around 15 minutes, but the good news is rollers help keep both hands free so you can finish your makeup whilst you wait.

Which heated rollers are best?

After researching the top products on the market, we think that the best heated rollers are the BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers. It’s a great set, with plenty of different sized rollers to choose from, and it comes in at a very competitive price point too.

What are the best heated rollers for fine hair?

If your hair is particularly fine, it’s a good idea to use ceramic rollers to avoid damaging your hair. These give an even heat distribution and a consistent temperature. Based on consumer reviews, the BaByliss Thermo-Ceramic Rollers are the best heated rollers for fine hair.

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