Every Heatless Curls Hack You'll Need For Great Hair Without Damage

There's nothing hotter right now than heatless curls. Pun intended. For so many years, we've all fried and frazzled our hair with everything from super hot rollers to curlers, hair dryers, flat irons, perms, wands, and pretty much everything in between. For all too many of us, our hair is starting to show the evidence. In fact, a 2022 Dyson study found that as many as 70% of people around the world felt their hair is showing some kind of damage. "Hair damage refers to the breakdown of the hair cuticle and cortex, which can lead to your hair looking frizzy, dull, or snapping off," explained Dyson senior principal hair scientist Rob Smith. "The best way to achieve healthy hair is through prevention and minimizing exposure to causes of damage. This includes extreme heat which makes hair weaker and more susceptible to breakage and split ends."

But how on earth do we still get glamorous, voluminous curls without actually using any heat? It's impossible, right? Wrong! Don't fret our gorgeous hair-havers, because Women.com is here with some of our very favorite heatless curl hacks that will give you very similar results without all the damage.

Another way to make sure your hair has some curl, volume, and texture to it is to opt for braids. One of the best ways to make the curls stay is to put your hair into either two braids, or one single braid while it's still damp, so it's more likely to take. We'd also recommend trying out a French braid to make sure the curl starts further up on your head, giving you a little more volume from the root. Once you've braided every bit of your hair, you'll want to leave it for a minimum of three hours. Exactly how long will depend on how long or thick your hair is, although overnight is always your best bet with heatless curl methods. When you've left it for ample time, simply undo the braid (or braids) and say hello to your stunning curls.

If you have hair that tends to go a little frizzy, you'll want to make sure you're applying an anti-frizz product, smoothing serum, or leave-in conditioner before you braid, and potentially once again afterward. Equally, those with super straight hair or hair that struggles to hold volume may want to apply a volumizing mousse or curl product before giving this one a go for a little extra hold support.

For those looking for tighter curls as opposed to a loose wave, it's worth giving the Bantu knot method a try. This one's easier than it looks, though it is a little time-consuming, and requires creating several smaller braids that are essentially twisted around themselves. Allow us to explain. Start by sectioning your damp hair into two horizontal sections, a top and a bottom half. Grab a smaller section of the bottom half and create a small braid all the way to the bottom. Once you've done that, twist the hair section around itself until you have a mound of hair, and then secure it to your head using a hair tie. Repeat this step as many times as you need on the bottom section until all your hair is sectioned, braided, and secured. After that, it's time to move on to the top section, where you'll do the exact same method again. Leave your hair in its braided mounds for a few hours or overnight, and then all you have to do is remove all the hair ties and take out the braids for some absolutely dazzling corkscrew curls. 

As this other TikTok video shows, if you don't have the time to give this one a go, you could also do the twisting method in a quicker fashion. Just create bigger sections and twist the hair rather than braiding it.

This easy heatless hair hack involves just two hair rods and is a quick way to get those gorgeous curls we know you want. If your hair tends to frizz or doesn't hold a curl, you'll want to add a little product to smooth it out and give it some texture first. Then, divide it into two sections (making sure your part is where you want it) and comb it through, before twisting one section away from your face. Next up, grab your heatless rod and wrap the hair around it, making sure you're also twisting the rod away from your face. You'll want to make sure you scrunch the ends of the rod to form somewhat of a donut shape to make sure they stay put and hold your hair. Then, all you have to do is the exact same thing on the other side — that's it! See, we told you this one was easy. For a little extra security, especially if you're heading to bed, it's a good idea to wrap a scarf around your head to keep your hair in place. When you're ready to take your rods out, simply take off the scarf and unwrap the rods one at a time, making sure you don't pull at them to avoid damaging your luscious locks. Run your fingers through your hair or use a wide tooth comb to separate the curls a little, and they enjoy your stunning 'do.

If you'd rather not spend to get heatless curls, then this method may be the one for you. All you need is a hair tie and a couple of flat hair clips or generic hair pins! To achieve this method (which works best on longer hair) you'll want to start by putting your locks up in a high ponytail. Once you've done that, flip your hair forwards toward your face and create four equal sections, though you can do more If your hair is extra long or extra thick. When you've got your first section, use your index finger and thumb to slowly roll it back towards your face. Once you've brought it all the way back to your ponytail, simply pin it into place. Do the same with the rest of your sections so that your hair starts to resemble a bun, and leave it to set. After a few hours of waiting, it will be time to take the pins or clips out and check out your gorgeous curls. You can either leave your ponytail in for a super cute curled updo, or you can take the hair tie out and add a little hairspray and texturizing spray for some volume.

If you're looking for a heatless curl method that doesn't require anything at all, a naked heatless curl if you will, then stop scrolling. For this method, all you're going to need is a head of hair and a scrunchie. To begin, you'll want to split your damp hair into two sections. With your hair parted where you like it on your scalp, start the process by twisting your first section of hair away from your face into a tight spiral. Because your locks should still be damp, that twisted section should hold by itself for a minute while you focus your attention on the other side. Twist the second half of your hair away from your face in the exact same way, and then put both pieces over your shoulders before tying them together at the ends with a scrunchie. Depending on how long or short your hair is, you may need a friend to help you with that part. Once the twisted sections are tied together, it's time for the waiting game. As with all the methods in our list, you'll want to leave it for a few hours, then take out the scrunchie and step out with your hot (figuratively speaking) new curls!

Who knew a makeup headband could have multiple uses? Not only will it keep your hair out of your face while you're putting on makeup or applying skincare, but it can also give you killer curls as well. For this method, brush out your hair and apply any hair care products that you know work, to give your curls some hold and volume. Then, put on your headband by pulling it over your head and moving it up to your forehead so your hair falls over the top. Next up, separate your hair into two sections from your part so your hair falls over your shoulders. After that, take a small section from the front left side of your hair and wrap it around the headband, grabbing it from underneath, and then pulling it back through. Once that piece is wrapped over, the second time around you'll want to incorporate a little more hair into it. That way, your strand should be getting thicker each time until you have no hair left. Once the left side is complete, it should stay in place if your hairband is tight enough. If not, secure it with a bobby pin. After that, it's time to do the exact same thing on the other side until all your hair is wrapped up. As with all the techniques, you'll want to leave it like this for a few hours, then simply unwrap it to reveal your curls.