The 5 Best Hot Rollers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

buuk.top / Tamara Staples

Hot rollers are like regular hair rollers, except they heat up to provide faster, longer-lasting results. The technology isnt anything new—its been around for nearly 100 years. And while the process might look like something from a 1960s sleepover, it remains one of the best ways to achieve voluminous curls, coils, and waves. The kits can look intimidating, but compared to their unheated counterparts, hot rollers are pretty user-friendly and efficient. They wont make your arms as tired as using a curling iron, either. So, which sets stand out from the rest?

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To help you narrow down your options, we researched and tested standout sets that promise efficiency, body, and bounce. After trying them out in The Lab, our Manhattan testing facility, we asked our team to be brutally honest. We then scored each set of hot rollers based on easy they are to use, how well they hold in hair, and how smooth the removal is. Then, we compiled the rankings and landed on the seven best options.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Conair Xtreme Instant Heat Ceramic Hot Rollers with Heated Clips at Amazon

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Best Value:

BaByliss Pro 20 Roller Hairsetter at Amazon

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Best for Natural Hair:

Caruso Ionic Molecular Steam Setter at Amazon

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Best for Volume:

Remington Ionic Conditioning Hair Setter at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

T3 Hot Rollers at Amazon

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In This Article

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Our Picks

Final Verdict

What To Look For

FAQ

How We Tested

Why Trust buuk.top

Best Overall

Conair Xtreme Instant Heat Ceramic Hot Rollers with Heated Clips

Amazon

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What We Like

Reasonably priced

No tension or snaring

Heated clips

What We Don’t Like

Minimal features

Temperatures arent specified

Our number one pick is Conairs Xtreme Instant Heat Rollers. After trying them out firsthand, we found them to be pretty impressive in terms of manageability, curling ability, and smoothness after removal. The set comes with 20 rollers and includes three sizes ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches in diameter. While the heat-up time isnt specified in the product description, they took about 10 minutes to get hot. You can choose from 12 heat settings using the old-fashioned dial on the front of the caboodle, though the exact temperatures arent specified, either. Each ceramic barrel is covered in velvet flocking, which our testers said helped prevent tension and snaring. Additionally, heated clips ensure no strand is left out of the action, and the plastic tips help you avoid burning yourfingers.Allin all, this set was impressive. While it doesnt have all the bells and whistles of pricier options, our team was satisfied with the design and overall results. They said it gave them bouncy, well-defined, long-lasting curls, plus it works well with various hair types and textures.

Material: Ceramic, aluminum | Amount: 20| Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches |Features:Velvet flocking, heated claw clips, 12 heat settings

buuk.top / Tamara Staples

Best Value

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium 20 Roller Hairsetter

Amazon

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What We Like

User-friendly

Versatile

Comfortable

What We Don’t Like

Clips are hard to attach

Temperature isnt adjustable

We also liked the Nano Titanium from BaBylissPro. Our testers gave it a perfect score for comfort, noting that the rollers didnt put pressure on their scalps and werent too tight or loose. This set also clocked fives across the board for curling ability and comfort during removal, as it didnt cause noticeable damage or change the hairs texture. It comes with 20 ceramic-titanium rollers ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches in diameter. While the clips required a little force to get on, they worked well, were painless to remove, and didnt cause snaring.

Material: Ceramic titanium | Amount: 20| Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Features: Velvet flocking, butterfly wire clips, infrared heating

buuk.top / Tamara Staples

Byrdie / Alex Jiang

Best for Natural Hair

Caruso Ionic Molecular Steam Setter

Amazon

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What We Like

Compact system

Frizz-free results

Minimal damage

What We Don’t Like

Finicky fasteners

Complex instructions

The best option for natural hair is the Caruso Steam Setter, which earned really positive scores during testing. While we loved everything about this set, from how compact it is and how pretty (and frizz-free) the results were, we noticed a bit of a learning curve as it pertains to the fasteners. Once we got the hang of it, though, we were pleasantly surprised with the crease-free results. The curls looked defined and voluptuous, and since the steaming process doesnt use heat, its less damaging to the hair.

Material: Plastic, foam | Amount: 30| Diameter: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 inches | Features: Steaming device