The 5 Best Hot Rollers of 2026, Per Celeb Experts

I’ve had fine, flat hair all my life. It’s the kind that slips out of a braid because there’s just not enough density to hold it together, despite the best efforts of volumizing products. I used to hate it—and to be honest, I still do from time to time. But these days, I rely on a few volume-boosting formulas such as texturizing spray and dry shampoo for that extra oomph. When I really want ’90s-style volume, though, I’ll reach for my secret weapon—old-school hair rollers that give me Topanga Lawrence–level lift and bounce.

According to Tatum Neill, the creative director of Elevate Hair, hot rollers became popular in the 1960s, “as women desired salon-quality hairstyles they could do at home.” Neill explains that these little tools quickly turned into hot commodities, becoming “fixtures for most fashion-conscious women into the early ’90s.” However, these tools became a bit fancier, smarter, and more efficient in the decades that followed.