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

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.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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3

Section your hair into a mohawk.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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4

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

  1. 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]
    • 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.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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6

Add 3 to 4 rollers to your mohawk section.

8

Wind a roller into the section you dried.

  1. 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]
    • 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.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How long do the curls last?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    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.
  • Question
    How long do you leave Velcro rollers in your hair?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    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.
  • Question
    How do you use hair rollers?
    Laura Martin
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
    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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About This Article

Ashley Adams
Co-authored by:
Professional Hair Stylist
This article was co-authored by Ashley Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016. This article has been viewed 907,006 times.
3 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 17
Updated: January 23, 2023
Views: 907,006
Article SummaryX

To use velcro rollers, dampen your hair and separate it into sections. Next, starting at the ends, wind one section of hair around a velcro roller so the hair curls down and inward toward your scalp. Continue rolling until the roller is snug against your scalp, then do the same for the remaining sections of hair. Wait 10-20 minutes for the rollers to set, then carefully unwind each roller and use hair spray or finishing cream to set your fresh curls! For tips on selecting velcro rollers, read on!

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