If you’re here, chances are you’ve seen videos of influencers trying different techniques to achieve perfect curls. Heatless curling methods are everywhere, with people trying everything from socks and foam rollers to leggings in the quest for flawless curls.

These heat-free curling techniques are popular for good reason. As the name suggests, they promise to give your hair gorgeous curls — whether they’re beachy, wavy, or highly defined — without the need for heat or harmful chemicals like hair-setting sprays.

But which method is best? And which one should you choose to get well-defined curls that last all day without relying on setting sprays? We tried them, tested them, and documented the entire process.

Before embarking on your journey, here are a few things to know:

• Heat was not used in any of the techniques.
• Almost all (except one) were heat-less overnight curling methods. We recorded the process in three stages: while setting the curls, the next morning, and again 8-9 hours after going about your day.
• This helped us assess how well the curls held up over time and determine which method gave the longest-lasting results.
• We have expedited all the time-consuming things.

Day 1: Braiding

For the first day, we chose the simplest and most time-tested technique (OG). breading,

Process:

After wetting your hair, braid them as tightly as possible. Leave the braids overnight and unwrap them the next morning to reveal the results.

Watch the video to see the results and the rest of the process:

Our final thoughts:

• If you don’t have a layered haircut then braids are best.
• Although they don’t give you defined curls, the waves last almost all day without the need for any setting spray.
• Ideal for casual, beachy, wavy looks but not for high-end, well-defined curls (Especially if you have a lot of layers,

Day 2: Heatless Curler Headband

This technique has been at the center of the heatless curl trend dominating social media. Heatless curler headbands are one of the easiest and most accessible devices, available on platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

Process:

1. Place the headband on your head and secure it with pins.
2. Wet your hair and divide it into two sections.
3. Twist each section tightly around the headband and secure the ends with a hairband (otherwise you’ll have to re-make some sections like we did).
4. Leave it overnight.

Here’s how it happened:

Our final thoughts:

• Surprisingly easy to use, even if it seems complicated at first.
• Creates clean, wavy curls with good volume.
• Hair setting spray makes the results last longer.
• Comfortable to sleep on despite appearances.

Day 3: Foam Rolling Curlers

Foam rolling curlers are one of the most affordable and popular options, especially among Indian influencers.

Process:

1. Wet your hair and divide it into as many sections as possible.
2. Roll each section around the foam curler and twist it to lock.
3. Make sure you roll all your hair
4. Leave it overnight.

Watch the complete process here:

Our final thoughts:

• This process takes about 15 minutes to set up.
• A little uncomfortable to sleep on.
• Provides highly defined curls that last longer, even without heat or spray.

• Intense curling may cause minor damage to the hair.

Day 4: OG Velcro Rollers

Velcro rollers have been a staple for centuries, but have recently increased in popularity thanks to social media and celebrity fans like Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Kate Middleton.

You can also easily find them online or on delivery apps like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart. Known for adding volume, they are now being used for curling as well.

Process:

1. Start with freshly washed, damp hair.
2. Take small sections, roll each with a Velcro roller and secure it with pins.
3. Keep the rollers in for at least 3-4 hours.

Here’s how it happened:

Our final thoughts:

• Adds some volume but doesn’t create strong curls.
• The longer you keep the rollers in, the better the volume and definition of the curls.
• It takes some time to install it.

Day 5: sock twisted

This viral technique uses socks to curl hair. With so many variations online, we tried the most popular method.

Process:

1. After wetting your hair, divide it into two parts.
2. Wrap each section around a long sock and secure it as shown in the video.
3. Leave it overnight.

Here’s how it happened:

Our final thoughts:

• Creates impressive volume and long, well-defined curls.
• Doesn’t last long without setting spray.
• It’s surprisingly comfortable to sleep in once you get used to it.
• This is the fastest technique out of all the methods we tried.

conclusion

After five days of experimenting with different heat-free curling methods, each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. For beginners, braiding is the easiest one to try. For defined curls, foam rollers work wonders, while sock curls are the fastest and most effective for volume.