Why I’m Never Using Heat on My Hair Again

Heatless curling techniques may be trending, but they aren’t brand new—in fact, they’ve been around for years. Even so, given how my silky and stick-straight hair requires max heat to even semi hold a curl for an hour, I never bothered giving any heatless tools or techniques a go. But TikTok’s rave reviews finally convinced me that Kitsch’s viral heatless curling set may deserve a chance after all.

The tools

Kitsch’s Satin Heatless Curling Set, retailing at $16, comes with a satin curling rod and two satin scrunchies. You’ll also need some sort of clip (ideally a claw clip) that unfortunately isn’t included in the kit.

The method

According to Kitsch, you can use the heatless curling set on dry or damp hair. The instructions are pretty simple: start by placing the curling rod over your head and clipping the center at the top of your head to secure it in place. Then, one side at a time, start wrapping sections of your hair around the ribbon—make sure to wrap outward, in the direction you’d normally curl. Finally, tie the bottom with a scrunchie, and repeat on the other side.

It may take a few tries to get the wrapping method right for your unique hair type and length, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy and quick. I’ve got it down to 5 minutes, max.

The results

Remember—I have fine, straight, silky hair. After much experimenting, I found the heatless curl kit works best when my hair is slightly damp after an evening shower, and keeping the rod in overnight. As promised, the tool is indeed comfortable enough to sleep on—yes, even for my fellow side sleepers. And to my surprise, the rod and scrunchies didn’t tug or slide out in the middle of the night, and the satin fabric lives up to its claims to be gentle and not pull on hair. Combining my frequent overnight masks and facial treatments with the heatless curling system takes beauty sleep to a whole new level.

In the morning, I unwrap my strands to voluminous, blowout worthy waves that make me look like I just walked out of the salon. The curls/waves don’t look perfectly done, but I prefer more lived-in, looser, natural-looking waves, so I’m not complaining. My hair still requires hairspray the next morning if I want the look to last, but that may not be the case for everyone. I’ll admit my expectations were pretty low going into this—it just seemed too easy—but I was happily surprised by the results!

Worth it?

Heatless curls have already become a staple in my routine—not only am I preventing unnecessary damage, but it also saves me a ton of time. While I’ll still reach for my T3 for events and occasions, heatless styling is quickly becoming my everyday styling of choice. While I was skeptical, I’m happy to confirm that Kitsch 1000% delivered.