Heatless curls solve the oldest hair problem there is: you want the curls, you do not want the damage that comes with getting them. Curling irons and wands do their job, but doing it three or four times a week is hard on fine or short hair, and the ends are usually the first to complain. This method skips the heat completely. You wrap damp hair around a soft tool, leave it while you sleep or get on with your evening, and unwrap a head of soft, smooth curls in the morning. It works on short hair too, which most curling tricks quietly ignore. Watch it in action below and see how simple it is.
Heatless curls are made by wrapping damp hair around a soft tool, a ribbon, a headband or a fabric rod, and leaving it to dry in that shape instead of using heat. The curl sets as the hair dries, so no iron ever touches it. Wrapping takes about ten minutes, and the curls set fully overnight.
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I was surprised by how easy and way safer this approach is because it uses little to no heat-styling at all, plus, you can even do this the night before and have your hair ready all set in the morning! What’s even better is that your hair will come out softer and smoother than when you use curling irons. Learn how now with this video tutorial by Shonagh Scott on YouTube.
Easy Heatless Hair Curling Hack:
- Long fabric
- Comb or hairbrush
How to Curl Short Hair Without Heat:
Step 1
Part your hair where you usually would, then place the fabric on top of your hair about a few inches away from the forehead, and clip it in place. Working on one part of your hair first, take a section of hair at the very front and loop it over the fabric in a 360° direction, then grab a section of hair at the back and bring it forward looping it over as well, and continue this alternately until you reach the ends of the hair.
Step 2
Secure the hair to the fabric with elastic, then remove the clip, and start working on the other part of your hair using the same process you did earlier. You can leave the excess fabric hanging out or tie them together, then bring them over the top of your head, and tie it securely as well. Leave it for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results, the longer you leave them the longer the curls will last.
*All image credit belongs to Shonagh Scott via YouTube. Follow and subscribe to her channel for more!
Easy Heatless Curls for Short Hair
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you leave heatless curls in?
Overnight is the reliable answer, roughly six to eight hours, because the curl only holds once the hair is completely dry inside the wrap. If you are in a hurry you can do it on damp hair in the morning and leave it three or four hours, but expect a softer, looser wave rather than a defined curl. Damp at the roots means the curl drops within the hour.
Can you do heatless curls on short hair?
Yes, and short hair often takes the curl faster because there is less length to dry through. The adjustment is the tool: a thinner rod or a rolled ribbon grips short sections that a thick headband would let slip. Work in smaller sections than you would on long hair and start the wrap closer to the root so the ends are not left poking out straight.
Do heatless curls work on wet or dry hair?
Damp is the sweet spot. Soaking wet hair takes far too long to dry inside a wrap and often comes out limp or still wet at the root, while fully dry hair has nothing to set and just goes flat. Towel dry first, or rough dry until the hair feels cool and slightly damp to the touch, then start wrapping.
How do you stop heatless curls falling out by lunchtime?
Three things hold them: hair that is properly dry before you unwrap, a light mist of hairspray or a setting spray on the sections as you wrap, and leaving the curls alone for a few minutes once they are out. Do not brush them through. Separate them with your fingers instead, because a brush pulls the set straight out of fine hair.
What can you use if you do not have a curling ribbon or headband?
A soft fabric belt, a long sock, a scarf or strips of an old cotton t-shirt all do the same job, as long as the material has some grip and no hard edge that will press a crease into the hair. Anything with plastic or metal on it is worth skipping, since it digs in overnight and leaves a dent rather than a curl.
