Here's What You Need To Know About Velcro Hair Rollers

Move over, Dyson Air Wrap, there's a new go-to curling tool in town: the velcro rollers.

Thanks in part to the Y2K resurgence, the velcro rollers, which were a big thing in the '90s and the early aughts, are making their way into the dressers of people everywhere once again. To achieve voluminous curls, people are trading expensive styling tools and trips to blowout salons for rollers you can easily pick up from your local beauty retailer. The #velcrorollers tag on TikTok says it all. Everyone is channeling their moms in the '90s, with multiple rollers attached to their heads to give their locks extra body and natural-looking curls, giving Cindy Crawford a run for her money.

Even though velcro rollers are not new to the beauty world, they're relatively foreign to many of the new users. If you're looking to hop on to this trend, here's a quick lowdown on the favorite hair tool of the '90s.

No one can exactly pinpoint the genius who invented the velcro rollers, but you have Swiss engineer George de Mestral to thank for the velcro — or hook-and-loop fastener if you want to get technical — innovation. According to Time, the engineer came up with the idea of making synthetic burr when he marveled at how burs from a burdock plant stuck to his pants and pet. After nearly a decade of experimentation, he managed to invent pieces of fabric that seamlessly clung together.

It wasn't until the '60s that his brainchild rose to popularity, and around that time, velcro rollers also started becoming a go-to curling tool, per Curling Diva. The fact that they easily stay in place while people fuss with their makeup and clothes — and sometimes even chores — makes them such a fuss-free tool to use. People would even sometimes choose to sleep with velcro rollers in and find they were in the exact same place the next day.

Velcro rollers work exactly how you think they would. They're just like normal plastic rollers, except the top layer is made out of velcro, sans the side that sticks. Why? Because the rollers need to cling to your hair, so you shouldn't need to wear any additional attachments to make them hold on to your stands, per Allure.

Velcro rollers also come in varying sizes, and the size you use largely hinges on how you want your hair to look. Bustle notes the smaller ones would work best if you want tighter curls, but for a more voluminous crown of glory, go for the bigger rollers.

Make no mistake. You can't exactly rely on velcro rollers if you want curls that are akin to ringlets. New York City–based hair stylist Cataanda James told Allure that they only work for those who are gunning for bouncy curls. "Your hair will bounce, but the curls that you see at the initial roller release will convert into a curvaceous bevel near the ends after you toss and fingerstyle your hair," she noted.

Meanwhile, Cassie Siskovic, national artistic director for Alfaparf Milano Professional USA, told Martha Stewart that using velcro rollers is a fool-proof hack to get salon-worthy hair without breaking the bank. The best part is it doesn't involve heat that may potentially damage your strands. "Because of the texture of the velcro, they lock in easily and create a brushable finish," Siskovic said. "They also allow your hair to cool after heat application, resulting in a longer-lasting style."

You have the option to use velcro rollers on damp or dry hair, but celebrity hairstylist Priscilla Valles told Glamour that going the dry route is preferable because that way, it's easier to work with extensions. But really, the secret to voluminous curls with velcro rollers is the direction you roll. "Go under at a 90-degree angle," she said.

Hair stylist Aaron Carlo also told Byrdie to use around five or six curlers at a time. When wrapping them around your locks, Carlo recommends that you "always roll your hair rollers away from the face, otherwise the hair will bounce forward and look old-fashioned."

Styling your hair with velcro rollers is one thing, but keeping them looking bouncy is a whole other ball game. If you want the styling to last longer, hairstylist Cataanda James shared with Allure that the trick is to use a blow dryer to save more time. "Blow the rollers with a hair dryer on the high heat setting with low airflow," she dished. "Make sure to point the air in the same direction the hair was set."

What's more, celebrity hairstylist Barry Lee Moe told PureWow that using hairspray helps, but not too much. "Use your fingers to gently rake the hairspray through your hair while still upside down. Then, flip your hair back and refine specific sections with a wide tooth comb or your fingertips to finish," he advised.