"For me, the joy of a hair appointment isn’t about the cut or color—it’s about the styling that comes after. There’s no moment I feel more fabulous than right after leaving the hair salon with a fresh, bouncy blowout. I’ve invested in every product and tool imaginable to replicate the feeling at home—the Dyson Airwrap, Color Wow Dream Coat, a heated round brush, you name it—and while I’ve gotten pretty close, getting my hair to look great is never effortless. I have to shower and wash my hair, fight through sore arms, and break a sweat (even though I just showered) while blow-drying it. Even when I do occasionally get the straight-from-the-salon result I’m hoping for, I know deep down that even if I’m diligent with my heat protectant, I’m most likely damaging my hair.
If I were blessed with three wishes from a genie, waking up with a salon-worthy blowout without the work every morning would definitely top the list (a close second would involve Timothée Chalamet and a five-carat diamond, but I digress). So, when my TikTok became flooded with heatless curl methods promising the same look without the time or damage, I had to try them all. Here they are, ranked from worst to best.
5. Flexi Rods
Curls: 1/5
Hold: 2/5
Comfort while sleeping: 1/5
Total score: 4/15
There was no question to me which heatless curl method came in dead last: flexi rods. From the moment I started this process, it was a struggle. My hair kept slipping off the rods’ rubbery surface, and bending the ends to secure them was a nightmare. The rods also overlapped awkwardly, making finding space to place the next one on my head nearly impossible.
Sleeping in these was even worse than putting them in. The rods were extremely hard and left me tossing and turning all night. The final curls weren’t worth the hassle, either. They were too tight—much more Shirley Temple than Sabrina Carpenter. While they did loosen slightly as the day went on, they never quite achieved the look I was after. That said, if you’re going for small, tight curls, flexi rods may be worth a try.
4. Foam Rollers
Curls: 3/5
Hold: 1/5
Comfort while sleeping: 1/5
Total score: 5/15
When I saw foam rollers trending on TikTok, I immediately pictured my grandma’s vintage hair routine and wondered how anyone could sleep in them. Putting them in was tricky at first, and I should’ve sectioned my hair better, but once I got the hang of it, the process went pretty quickly. That said, the hard, plastic clips used to secure the rollers did snag my hair, making sleeping a little uncomfortable.
Despite my restless night, I woke up with fantastic curls that looked far better than I expected. Unfortunately, though, they didn’t last. Within an hour, the curls had fallen flat, although the intense humidity and a power outage that turned my house into a sauna could have been to blame. One side also curled better than the other, probably due to my tossing and turning. A quick touch-up with a curling iron could have fixed it, but overall, the rollers didn’t feel worth it. If you’re a deep sleeper, foam rollers might work for you, but they didn’t win me over.
3. Classic Ribbon
Curls: 3/5
Hold: 3/5
Comfort while sleeping: 3/5
Total score: 9/15
The ribbon technique was one of the first heatless curl methods to go viral on social media. If you remember the days of using bathrobe belts or leggings to curl your hair, this is a similar concept. You wrap your hair around a soft rod, adding small sections of hair as you go (in a pattern similar to French braiding). I used a claw clip to secure the rod to the top of my head, making it easy to wrap my hair around quickly.
Putting the rod in took only a few minutes, and this was one of the more comfortable methods to sleep in. Though my hair was messier and looser around the ribbon by morning, it didn’t alter the result. My hair was left with more of a soft, loose wave that was super wearable and not too curly. While I did wish for more volume, the curls lasted all day, even through muggy, rainy weather (a big win for my fine hair). I’ll use this method again for an easy, reliable option.
2. Jumbo Flexi Rods
Curls: 4/5
Hold: 3/5
Comfort while sleeping: 3/5
Total score: 10/15
This method had me the most excited going in, and it didn’t disappoint… mostly. Using just three jumbo rods, I followed a TikTok hack perfect for back sleepers, with one rod for the front section at the top of my head and one on each side. The process was quick and easy, but the side rods were uncomfortable during the night, as they ended up pressing into my face. The side rods also fell out multiple times during the night, but I could rewrap them while lying down and being half asleep, which proves how easy they were to put in.
The results from the jumbo flexi rods were amazing and finally achieved something the rest couldn’t deliver: volume. My hair had that unmatched zhuzh that makes you feel like you just left the salon. I loved the curls enough to try these again, and if they hadn’t fallen out during the night, they could have gotten the top spot.
1. Sock Curls
Curls: 5/5
Hold: 5/5
Comfort while sleeping: 5/5
Total score: 15/15
The sock heatless curl method is the current internet favorite, and for good reason: it’s ridiculously easy, and only requires a pair of (clean!) long socks. For this method, divide your hair down the middle into two sections, then hold a sock between your teeth (I know), making sure the ankle opening is at the bottom. Then, your wrap your hair around the sock, and secure it by rolling the bottom of the sock up and around your hair. This method is super comfortable to sleep in, and the results were the classic blowout curl I was looking for.
Sock curls ended up being the ultimate low-effort, high-reward method, making them the winner by a mile. I’d love to pair them with a jumbo flexi rod on top for a little extra volume next time.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.