How to use a heatless curler: Your step-by-step guide to heatless curls
Last updated: August 2026 · Written by Anya, Founder of The Silk Collection
The short answer: wrap 90% dry hair around a silk heatless curler in two sections, secure each end with a silk scrunchie, and sleep in it. In the morning you have curls with no heat and no damage. The whole thing takes about five minutes. Overnight gives the best hold; two hours will do at a push on slightly damper hair.
In this guide
The 8 steps · Real results · The 3 step routine · If it did not work · The set and what it costs · FAQs
Here's your sign to switch to heatless curl styling - goodbye heat damage!
Here's your reminder that achieving defined and luxurious curls doesn't need to involve hair damage! Now more than ever, there is increased focus on healthy hair styling techniques such as using silk scrunchies and silk heatless curlers as an alternative way to style hair in a more sustainable way.
Silk heatless hair curlers are the latest haircare trend as a great alternative to traditional heat styling tools for achieving effortless heatless curls without heat damage, whilst the natural properties of mulberry silk help to reduce frizz and prevent hair breakage.
Ready to transform your hair styling routine? Get your Silk Heatless Curler here!
Do heatless curlers work?
Heatless hair curlers have taken the beauty world by storm, becoming a must-have for anyone looking to achieve stunning curls without heat damage. But do they really live up to the hype?
Unlike traditional heated hair curlers, which use high temperatures to break and reshape the hair's hydrogen bonds, heatless hair curlers work by gradually molding your hair into curls while it dries naturally. This gentle method is not only healthier for your hair but also offers lasting results.
Using a silk heatless hair curler is not only better for your hair compared to traditional heated curlers, but it also offers a great time-saving for hair curling, as the process takes under 5 minutes and can be left in overnight so that you wake up with effortless overnight curls!
Real results from our customers
Reviews tell this story better than we can, so here is the first of two, word for word. The second is waiting further down, after the steps.
★★★★★
“I am amazed and really impressed. It leaves beautiful curls and they last all day. I am extremely happy with the silk Heatless Hair curler. Must have!”
See the heatless curls in action
How to wrap, step by step
Getting the best curls
The results, next morning
The 3 step heatless curl routine
The curler works best as part of the full overnight routine: three steps, five minutes before bed.
The best heatless curls technique: our top tips
If you have just received your silk heatless curls gift set and you are not sure on how to make the most of them, find out our top tips on how to use them to style your hair into anything from soft waves to beautiful, bouncy curls!
Here is The Silk Collection step-by-step guide on how to use a silk heatless hair curler to achieve beautiful waves and curls without hair damage.
NOTE: At the end there is also a short video heatless curls tutorial to show you exactly how to do these steps!
Achieve any style of heatless curls with The Silk Collection silk heatless hair curler. Get yours here.
How to use a heatless curler - your step-by-step guide
Once you get comfortable with the below process, it should take you only 5 minutes to do this each time! Trust us, our heatless curler will become your new go-to for effortless hairstyling!
1. Start with clean, 90% dry hair
Before using your heatless curler, make sure your hair is clean and almost dry. Wet or very damp hair will not hold curls well and hair is very delicate when wet, so we recommend waiting until it is almost dry.
Having hair almost dry rather than completely dry will mean that there is still some elasticity to hold the curls well.
TOP TIP: you can choose to add a small amount of curling mousse or spray to help the curls hold for longer before starting.
2. Divide hair and place heatless curler over head
Our heatless curls set contains a heatless curling rod and 2 silk scrunchies.
Divide your hair using a middle parting so that you have hair in two equal sections. Place the silk curling rod over your head so that you have an even amount of ribbon hanging on either side of your face. You will use this heatless curls rod to curl each section of hair around in the next step.
TOP TIP: at this stage, you may wish to use a small clip to keep the curling rod in place whilst you wrap the hair around.
3. Wrap hair around the heatless curler
First, take a small section of hair from the front of your face and wrap it once around the silk heatless curling ribbon, wrapping away from the face. When you go to wrap a second time, take another small section of hair together with the first strand and wrap them together. With each wrap, continue this process until all hair on that side of your head has been wrapped around the silk heatless curler.
TOP TIP: for tighter curls, use smaller strands of hair each time. For larger waves, use larger sections of hair. Experiment over time with different styles and amounts of hair to get to your preferred style.
TOP TIP: Make sure that with whatever size strand you are using, you wrap hair tightly around the silk curling ribbon each time and not on top of hair as this will help the curls form more effectively.
Pictured: Wrap the first strand of hair around the heatless curler, with each wrap incorporating another strand until all hair is wrapped around.
★★★★★
“Was so pleased with this set which I bought for my 18 year old daughter, who up until now has been overnight curling using a dressing gown tie! She was really pleased with the results after leaving in overnight and even without any spray the curls stayed in her long thick hair all day. This was beautifully presented in a blue box - perfect for gifting and wraps well.”
4. Secure the silk heatless hair curler with a silk scrunchie (included in our Heatless Curls Kit)
Once you have wrapped all hair on one side of the head around the heatless curler, secure it in place with a scrunchie.
TOP TIP: Always make sure to use a silk scrunchie or silk hair tie to keep the curler securely in place, as silk hair scrunchies are soft and gentle on the hair to prevent hair breakage and tugging. This is especially important when using the silk heatless curler as your hair is still slightly damp, and so it is more delicate and prone to breakage compared to 100% dry hair.
5. Repeat on the other side
Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other half of your hair on the other side.
6. Leave the heatless curler in overnight
For best results, leave your silk heatless hair curler in overnight for at least 7 hours as this will help to ensure your curls hold for longer. Our silk heatless hair curler has been designed to have a flatter shape to make this more comfortable for sleeping. You can also clip the two ends of the silk curling ribbon at the top of your head to keep it away from your face as you sleep overnight.
TOP TIP: We recommend using our best-selling Silk Hair Wrap to keep hair in place overnight as you sleep. This helps to protect hair, reduce breakage and minimises frizz so that you wake up with the shiniest waves! Our guide to whether silk bonnets really work covers what to expect overnight.
TOP TIP: We also recommend sleeping on a mulberry silk pillowcase to reduce friction against hair as you sleep. Mulberry silk pillowcases will reduce frizz in the hair overnight and is also soft and gentle on your hair to help prevent hair breakage.
TOP TIP: In a rush? If you are in a rush, you can achieve similar results by leaving in for a couple of hours on 70-80% dry hair, although you may find the curls do not hold as long as the overnight method. The amount of time that the curls hold will vary depending on hair type so it is worth testing this on your hair over different time periods to see the best results for your hair type.
7. Remove silk curling ribbon
After leaving the silk heatless curler for the desired amount of time, remove the scrunchies and gently unwind from your hair. Try not to disturb the curls while you are removing the curler.
8. Style your overnight heatless curls as desired
Once you have removed the silk curling ribbon, use your fingers (not a brush as this tends to cause frizz and brushes out your curls!) to gently comb through your curls to get to the desired amount of wave or curls. If you are looking for looser waves, use a wide tooth comb to gently brush out the curls to form bouncy waves.
TOP TIP: Use a light hold hairspray or hair oil to help set the heatless curls. Do not use too much product as this can weigh down the hair which will cause the curls to drop faster.
★★★★★
“Leaves my hair feeling soft and retains the nice smell from my shampoo & conditioner. The curls hold for days whereas when I straighten my hair I can lose the curls after a day. My New Year’s resolution is to regain healthy hair after years of heat and bleach - this silk is a must have! I didn’t realise this would work so well, I will be purchasing this gift set again as a present for my sister”
Why use a 100% silk heatless hair curler?
Our heatless curlers are made from the highest-grade 100% mulberry silk fabric, which is not only one of the most luxurious fabrics in the world, but also offers a wide range of benefits for your hair, skin and quality of sleep.
Silk, as opposed to other materials, is a superior choice for heatless hair curlers as they not only curl hair, but also:
- Prevent static and frizz.
- Helps retain hair’s natural moisture.
- Are gentle on delicate, slightly damp hair.
Therefore, if you want to maximise your hair care routine whilst also achieving beautiful curls, we highly recommend using a heatless hair curler made from pure silk. This will ensure the overnight curls remain hydrated and frizz-free. Alternative heatless curlers made from cotton or synthetic materials tend to pull at hair, causing breakage and extreme frizz! Not sure how to spot a real silk curler vs. synthetic alternatives? Read our guide here!
DID YOU KNOW? Our Silk Heatless Curler has been designed with a unique flat shape, make it more comfortable to sleep in for overnight curls, whilst providing all the haircare benefits on top! It's the easiest way to both style your hair and keep it healthy over time.
TOP TIP: Pair our Heatless Hair Curler with our Silk Hair Wrap overnight to ensure your curls are protected and remain frizz free overnight as you sleep! Our best-selling Silk Heatless Curls Bundle provides the full set so that you can achieve the best heatless curls overnight.
Find out more about why our customers are loving our silk heatless curlers here!
★★★★★
“I got the heat free curlers for myself and my daughter and they’re amazing! They are so comfortable to sleep in and the curls are out of this world.”
If it did not work: the four common problems
Heatless curling fails in a small number of predictable ways. Almost all of them are fixable on the next attempt.
| What happened | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ends still straight | You stopped wrapping before you ran out of hair | Wrap right to the tip, then secure |
| Curls dropped by midday | Hair too dry, sections too big, or not left in long enough | 90% dry, smaller sections, leave overnight |
| A crease at the crown | Rod sat too far forward, or wrapping started too low | Wrap from the root, sit the rod along the crown |
| Uneven sides | The two sides were wrapped in opposite directions | Wrap both away from the face, or both towards it |
Are you ready to try silk heatless hair curlers?
The Silk Collection Silk Hair Curler Gift Set is the perfect set to help you achieve effortless, heat-free curls. Made from 100% mulberry silk, this heatless curler has a number of benefits to help you achieve the best heatless curls overnight:
- Unique flat design: our silk heatless curler has a unique flat design compared to other heatless hair curlers, which means that it is more comfortable against your head for overnight curls
- 100% mulberry silk: our silk heatless hair curler is made from 100% natural material which comes with a number of extra benefits for hair, including prevention of hair breakage and tangling, and reduced frizz
- Silk scrunchies included: Our Silk Heatless Curls Gift Set contains 2 of our best-selling classic silk scrunchies (worth £20!) which can be used throughout the day and night for natural hair care. Find out the benefits of using silk scrunchies for hair here.
- Gift box included: Our heat free curler comes inside our signature luxury gift box to make the perfect gift.
In summary, we hope this guide was useful to show you how you can achieve the best heatless curls overnight. If you are looking for the best heatless styling, we highly recommend using a Silk Heatless Curler for achieving frizz-free, heat-free overnight curls.
By following our heatless curler guide above, you can use a silk heatless hair curler to achieve beautiful, bouncy curls and the whole process takes under 5 minutes once after a few practices!
The set, and what it costs
The Silk Heatless Curls Set is £39 and contains the silk curling rod plus two classic silk scrunchies, which are £20 on their own. It is 22 momme, Grade 6A, 100% mulberry silk, OEKO-TEX certified, the same fabric as our pillowcases, which is what separates it from a £6 synthetic satin curler that creates the friction you are trying to avoid. Free UK delivery over £60, 30-day returns.
Check out our customer heatless curls results and reviews here.
Heatless Curl Tutorial - Video Tutorial
Frequently asked questions
Why are the ends of my hair still straight?
The most common heatless curl problem, and it is almost always the same cause: the last few centimetres were not wrapped around the rod. Keep wrapping until you physically run out of hair, then secure. If your ends are very fine, wrap the last section slightly tighter and tuck the tip under the scrunchie.
Why did my curls drop out by lunchtime?
Three usual reasons. Hair was too dry when you wrapped it, so there was nothing to set. It was not left in long enough, and overnight really does beat two hours. Or the sections were too large. Fine and straight hair holds least well; a light mousse before wrapping makes a real difference.
There is a crease or bump at the top of my head. What went wrong?
The rod has sat too far forward, or the hair nearest the parting was not wrapped from high enough up. Start wrapping right at the root rather than partway down the length, and sit the rod along the crown rather than across the forehead.
Why are my two sides uneven?
Almost always because one side was wrapped in a different direction from the other. Wrap both sides away from your face, or both towards it, and be consistent. It is also worth dividing the hair with a proper middle parting rather than by feel.
Will it work on short or shoulder-length hair?
Yes, down to about shoulder length. Below that there is not enough length to wrap around the rod and hold. On a bob you will get bend and movement rather than defined curls. Very long or very thick hair works well but benefits from smaller sections.
Does it work on fine hair that will not hold a curl?
It works, but it needs help. Wrap on slightly damper hair, around 70 to 80% dry, use a light mousse or setting spray before wrapping, and leave it overnight rather than for a couple of hours. Fine hair takes the shape quickly and loses it quickly.
Does it work on thick, coarse or curly hair?
Yes, and it is one of the better options for textured hair because there is no heat involved at all. Use smaller sections, allow the full overnight, and make sure hair is properly dry before you unwrap or the curl will not have set.
Is it comfortable to sleep in?
Most people find it is, which is the point of the silk rod rather than a hard roller. It sits along the crown rather than under your head. If you are a heavy side-sleeper, a silk bonnet over the top keeps everything in place until morning.
Can I use it on wet hair?
Not soaking. Around 90% dry is the sweet spot, or 70 to 80% if you want a tighter curl and have time to spare. Fully wet hair will still be damp in the morning and the curl will drop within the hour.
How do I make the curls last a second day?
Sleep in a silk bonnet or on a silk pillowcase so the shape is not crushed overnight, then shake the roots out with your fingers in the morning. Do not brush. If they need reviving, twist a section around your finger and hold for a few seconds.
How much is it and what is in the set?
The Silk Heatless Curls Set is £39 and includes the silk curling rod and two classic silk scrunchies, worth £20 on their own. Everything is 22 momme, Grade 6A, 100% mulberry silk, the same fabric as our pillowcases.
How do I wash the curler?
Hand wash in cool water with a gentle or silk detergent, or machine wash at 30°C in a mesh bag. No fabric softener, no tumble drying. Reshape while damp and dry flat away from direct heat.
Still unsure? Email us at info@thesilkcollection.co.uk and we will happily help you choose.
