These 7 Best Hot Rollers Gave Us Bouncy Curls That Lasted

Best Overall

BaByliss Pro 20 Roller Hairsetter

$75 at Amazon $75 at Ulta $69 at Walmart

Material: Ceramic titanium | Amount: 20 | Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Features: Velvet flocking, butterfly wire clips, infrared heating

The Nano Titanium from BaBylissPro genuinely stood up to and often surpassed the more expensive options we tested across the categories. It comes with 20 ceramic-titanium rollers ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches in diameter, offering a good amount of curl variety. It was the most comfortable set of rollers we tried—the rollers didn't put pressure on scalps and weren't too tight or loose. The rollers didn't snag as we removed them and didn't cause noticeable damage or change the hair's texture. The best part: they left us with perfectly bouncy curls that lasted. While the clips required a little force to get on, they worked well and came out with ease. We just wish the temperature of the curlers was adjustable.

Best for Damaged Hair

Caruso Ionic Molecular Steam Setter

$44 at Amazon $57 at Walmart $50 at jcpenney.com

Material: Plastic, foam | Amount: 30 | Diameter: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 inches | Features: Steaming device

We love the Caruso Ionic Steam Setter for damaged and/or chemically-treated hair. It relies on a steaming process that doesn't use heat so it's less damaging to the hair. We loved almost everything about this set, from how compact it is and how pretty (and frizz-free) the results were. That said, there was a bit of a learning curve as it pertains to the fasteners. Once we got the hang of it, though, we were pleasantly surprised with the crease-free results. Our curls looked super defined and voluptuous.

Best for Fine Hair

Remington Ionic Conditioning Hair Setter

$29 at Amazon $25 at Walmart View on Remingtonproducts.com

Material: Ceramic | Amount: 20 | Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Features: Metal J-clips, velvet flocking, cool-touch ends

If your hair is on the finer side, or you're after a good boost of volume, the Remington Hair Setter has your name on it. We love this kit, not just because it's one of the most affordable ones we tested, but because it created perfect curls with no kinks in sight. These ceramic rollers come with color-coordinated metal pins that match the different barrel sizes and offer a super-secure hold. You'll see results after the curlers are in for just five minutes. Once we pulled them out, we were thoroughly impressed with our hair's long-lasting body and definition.

Best Splurge

T3 Hot Rollers

$140 at Amazon $140 at Sephora $140 at Ulta

Material: Ceramic, aluminum | Amount: 8 | Diameter: 1.5, 1.75 inches | Features: Velvet flocking, crease-free clips, cool-touch ends, two heat settings, auto-shutoff

You won't regret investing in a set of T3 Hot Rollers. While it only comes with eight rollers, there's a lot to love about this sleekly-designed, feature-rich kit. The ceramic barrels are coated with velvet flocking to protect your hair, and the ends have a cool-touch grip to prevent burning. The curlers were easy to remove and we didn't notice any damage. After pulling them out, they left large, glammed-up curls in their wake. We loved the modern display stand (especially in comparison to the retro-looking caboodles).

Best for Long Hair

Chi Smart Magnify Ceramic Rollers

$112 at Amazon View on Chi.com

Material: Ceramic | Amount: 9 | Diameter: 1–1.25 inches | Features: Velvet flocking, claw clips, bacteria-killing LED light

Chi's Smart Magnify Rollers are made for our friends with longer locks. You'll get nine ceramic barrels in your choice of 1-inch or 1.25-inch diameter. While they have velvet flockings, during testing, we found that the rims get slightly hot to the touch. The rollers hold securely in place with the included claw clips, though. When we pulled them out, we got a classic hot-roller look: not too glam, not too tight, just bouncy hair that's full of body. You can't beat that.

Best for Beginners

Conair InfinitiPRO 20-Roller Ion Generator Setter With Cord Reel

$62 at Amazon $55 at samsclub.com

Material: Ceramic | Amount: 21 | Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Features: Velvet flocking, plastic clips, 12 heat settings

This 20-piece ceramic roller set from Conair was one of the easiest we've tried. The rollers come in three sizes ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches in diameter, so your curls won't feel too uniform. It only takes about 90 seconds to get hot, and then you leave them in for 10 minutes for loose waves and 20 minutes for tighter ringlets. There are a whopping 12 heat settings to choose from ranging from 140F to 230F. Each ceramic barrel is covered in velvet flocking, which we felt really helped prevent tension and snaring. Additionally, we appreciated that the plastic tips kept us from burning our fingers. All in all, this set was impressive. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of pricier options, we loved the design and overall results. We saw bouncy, well-defined, long-lasting curls across a range of hair types and textures.

Best for Travel

Conair Multi-Size Rollers

$25 at Amazon View on Ulta $23 at Walgreens

Material: Stainless Steel | Amount: 20 | Diameter: 0.75, 1, 1.25 inches | Features: Metal clips, grip rollers

Traveling with hot rollers can be a pain since they take up so much room, but not this kit. Another winner from Conair, this compact set of 20 comes in a case that's about the size of a small purse, so you know it'll fit in your carry-on. But what we love most about it is the roller design—they have little grippers all over to help get your hair into place (and keep it there). It also helps prevent snags and tangles when you take them out. The rollers heat up in just 85 seconds and create big waves in just 10 minutes. We wish it had more than one heat setting, but considering the size and price tag, it's a great product that works exactly as it should.