How to Use Self-Grip Rollers for Volume at the Roots

To get volume at the roots with self-grip rollers, blow-dry a section of hair until it is warm and almost dry, hold it straight up from the head and slightly forward, roll it down from the ends to the scalp, and leave the roller sitting on its own base until the hair is completely cool. The lift comes from the hair cooling while it is held up and away from the head. Rolling the hair is the easy part. Angle and cooling time are what make it work.

What are self-grip rollers?

They are lightweight plastic cylinders covered in a fabric with tiny hooks, the kind used in hook-and-loop fasteners. Hair clings to the surface, so the roller stays in without pins on most hair. They are used on dry or nearly dry hair to add volume and a soft bend, not tight curls.

What do you need?

• Self-grip rollers, medium to large for volume
• A hair dryer
• A tail comb
• Clips, for heavy or slippery hair
• Volumizing mousse or root spray, and hairspray

Where do the rollers go?

For root volume alone, the mohawk row on top is enough.

How to set them, step by step

1. Prep. Apply mousse or root spray to damp hair at the roots.
2. Blow-dry to about 90 percent, lifting the roots with your fingers as you go.
3. Take the first section at the front hairline. It should be no wider than the roller and no thicker than its diameter.
4. Comb it smooth and hold it straight up, then tilt it a little forward, toward your face. This is called over-directing, and it is what puts the lift at the root.
5. Warm it. Aim the dryer at the root and along the section for a few seconds.
6. Place the roller at the ends, on the side of the section facing away from your face.
7. Roll down to the scalp, keeping the hair taut and the ends smooth around the roller.
8. Let the roller rest directly on top of the base of its section. It should sit on its own root, not hang behind it.
9. Clip it if it feels loose.
10. Repeat back to the crown.
11. Give the set one more blast of warm air, then leave it.
12. Cool completely. Ten to twenty minutes. Do your makeup while you wait.

How to take them out

1. Remove any clips.
2. Hold the base of the section with one hand.
3. Unroll the roller in the direction it was wound. Do not pull it straight out, which tangles the hair.
4. Let the sections fall and leave them for a minute.
5. Run your fingers through at the roots, and smooth the surface lightly.
6. Mist hairspray at the roots from underneath.

Which size for volume?

• Large rollers: the most lift with the least curl. The standard choice for root volume on medium to long hair.
• Medium rollers: lift plus a visible bend. Good for shoulder-length hair.
• Small rollers: more curl than lift. Use for short hair or a fringe.

The hair should wrap around the roller at least one and a half times for the roller to hold.

A set with three sizes and clips

The Uexim self-grip hair roller set has self-grip rollers in three sizes plus metal securing clips, and needs no heat to use. The rollers are plastic, and the set comes in 19-piece and 28-piece versions, in black or rose.

How do you avoid tangles?

• Use them on dry or nearly dry hair. Wet hair grips too hard.
• Keep sections smooth and no wider than the roller.
• Do not overlap hair from one roller onto the next.
• Always unroll. Never slide the roller out sideways.
• Be cautious with very fine, fragile, damaged or tightly curled hair, which can catch on the grip surface. Test one roller first.

Common mistakes

• Rolling the section back flat against the head. No lift. Hold it up and forward first.
• Taking the rollers out while the hair is warm. The volume drops at once.
• Sections that are too big. The roller slides off and the root is not supported.
• Using them on soaking hair. It will not dry on the roller.
• Brushing hard afterward. Use fingers.

Looking after the rollers

Pull trapped hair out of the grip surface after each use. Wash the rollers now and then in warm soapy water to remove product, rinse and air dry. Store them loose in a bag or box so they do not get crushed.

Frequently asked questions

Do self-grip rollers work without heat?

Yes, but a little warmth from a hair dryer before rolling, followed by full cooling, gives much more lift and hold.

How long should I leave them in?

Until the hair is completely cool and dry. Ten to twenty minutes is typical.

Can I sleep in them?

They are not comfortable to sleep on and can tangle. They are designed for short sets while you get ready.

Do they damage hair?

Used on dry hair and unrolled carefully, they are gentle. Pulling them out is what causes snagging.

The bottom line

Warm the section, hold it up and forward, roll down to the scalp, and wait until it is cold. A row of three or four large rollers along the top is all root volume needs.