Easy and Cheap Heatless Hair Styling Tools You Need To Try
Heat styling tools like flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers are fantastic for achieving a polished look, but they can also lead to hair damage over time.
The excessive heat can cause dryness, breakage, and split ends, so limiting the use of heat styling tools on your hair is a great way to maintain its health and minimize damage. Fortunately, there’s a solution: heatless hairstyling!
An added benefit of heatless hair styling tools is that they often cost a fraction of what regular heat styling tools cost, saving you some extra money in the bank.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best easy and cheap heatless hair styling tools, share valuable tips, and introduce you to some trendy heatless hairstyles!
In this blog post, we’ll be covering:
- Why Choose Heatless Hairstyling?
- Essential Heatless Hairstyling Tools
- Tips for Successful Heatless Hairstyling
- Wet Hair Vs. Dry Hair For Heatless Curls
- Trendy Heatless Hairstyles
Why Choose Heatless Hairstyling?
Before diving into the world of heatless hairstyling tools, it’s crucial to understand why you should consider them. Here are some compelling reasons:
- Damage Prevention: Heat styling tools can damage your hair’s cuticle, leading to dryness and breakage. Heatless styling eliminates this risk, ensuring your locks remain healthy and vibrant.
- Time-Saving: Many heatless hairstyles are quick and easy to create, making them perfect for busy mornings or when you’re short on time.
- Versatility: Heatless styles can be adapted for various occasions, from casual days to formal events. You can experiment with different looks without worrying about heat damage.
- Cost-Efficient: Once you have the right tools, heatless hairstyling can be cost-effective. You won’t need to invest in expensive heat styling products or frequent hair treatments.
- Eco-Friendly: Heatless styling reduces your carbon footprint as it requires no electricity or energy-consuming devices.
Essential Heatless Hairstyling Tools
Now, let’s explore the must-have tools for heatless hairstyling:
1. Heatless Hair Rollers
Hair rollers come in various sizes and materials, including foam, velcro, and flexi-rods. They create curls or waves without heat. Simply roll your damp hair onto the rollers, secure them in place, and wait for your hair to dry. Voila, bouncy curls!
You can find these heatless styling tools all under $15, and they can be used a limitless amount of times!
Headbands can be used for overnight heatless curls. Place a headband over your damp hair and roll sections around it, then secure it in place. In the morning, release the curls for a beautiful, heat-free hairstyle.
This is the heatless curl headband I use, and make it a weekly ritual to use it once a week!
Don’t miss a before and after of heatless curl headbands:
3. Hair Ties and Bobby Pins
These basic tools are essential for many heatless hairstyles. You can create updos, buns, and braids using these items.
Materials you’ll need:
- Hair ties or scrunchies
- Bobby pins
- A comb or brush
- Hair spray (optional)
- Hair mousse or styling product (optional, but I’m obsessed with this one)
Step 1: Prepare your hair. Start with clean and dry hair. If you’d like extra hold, you can apply a small amount of hair mousse or a styling product to your hair, but this is optional. Comb or brush your hair to remove any tangles and ensure it’s smooth.
Step 2: Divide your hair. Divide your hair into several sections, depending on how many curls you want. The more sections you create, the smaller and tighter the curls will be. Use hair ties or scrunchies to secure each section of hair.
Step 3: Twist and secure. Take one section of hair and twist it tightly. The tighter you twist it, the tighter the curl will be. Once it’s twisted, coil it into a bun or loop and secure it in place with a bobby pin. Make sure the bobby pin is holding the twisted hair securely.
Step 4: Repeat. Repeat the twisting and securing process for each section of hair. You can make all your curls go in the same direction for a uniform look or mix it up for a more natural appearance.
Step 5: Wait for the curls to set. Leave the twisted and secured sections in your hair for several hours or overnight. The longer you leave them in, the more defined the curls will be. You can cover your hair with a silk or satin scarf or bonnet to protect the curls and ensure they stay in place while you sleep.
Step 6: Remove the hair ties and bobby pins. Carefully remove the hair ties and bobby pins from each section of hair. Gently unravel the twisted sections to reveal your heatless curls.
Step 7: Style and set. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to separate and style your curls as desired. If you want your curls to hold better, you can lightly mist them with hair spray.
4. MORE HEATLESS CURL TECHNIQUES
- Curlformers: Curlformers are plastic spiral-shaped curlers that come with a hook to pull your hair through. They can create defined curls without heat.
- Hair Braiding Tools: There are various tools designed to help you create intricate braids and twists without heat. These tools make braiding easier and more consistent.
- Hair Donuts: Hair donuts are perfect for creating sleek and stylish buns. They provide volume and shape to your hair without heat styling.
- Hair Accessories: Clips, ribbons, and bows can add a touch of glamour to your heatless styles. They’re perfect for securing hairstyles and adding flair to your look.
- Hair Twists: Twist sections of your damp hair and secure them with clips or hairpins. Let them air dry or leave them in overnight for wavy hair.
Tips for Successful Heatless Hairstyling
Now that you know the tools, let’s explore some tips to ensure your heatless hairstyling endeavours are a success:
- Start with Clean Hair: For the best results, start with clean, freshly washed hair. This ensures that your heatless styles hold well and look their best.
- Use the Right Products: Apply lightweight styling products like mousse, texturizing spray, or a bit of hair oil to give your hair the right texture and hold for your chosen style.
- Damp Hair is Key: Most heatless styles work best with damp hair. If your hair dries out during styling, spritz it with water or a leave-in conditioner (this one is my fave!).
- Practice Patience: Heatless styles often require more time to set than heat styling. Be patient and give your hair enough time to dry or set before removing the styling tools.
- Experiment and Customize: Heatless hairstyling is all about creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tools and techniques to achieve the look you desire.
- Accessorize: Use hair accessories to enhance your heatless hairstyles. A well-placed bow or decorative clip can take your look to the next level.
Wet Hair Vs. Dry Hair For Heatless Curls
When it comes to curling your hair, the choice between doing heatless curls on wet or dry hair depends on the method you’re using and the results you want to achieve. Do you want loose curls? Do you want tight curls?
Here are some considerations for both options:
- Wet Hair:
- If you’re using methods like braiding, twisting, or using curlers on wet hair, it can help create more defined and long-lasting curls.
- Wet hair is more malleable and can hold the curl shape better as it dries.
- However, it may take longer for your hair to dry completely, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
- Dry Hair:
- If you want looser or softer waves instead of tight curls, you may prefer to work with dry hair.
- Dry hair can also result in a more relaxed, natural look.
- You won’t have to wait for your hair to dry before seeing the final results.
Here are some popular heatless curling methods and their recommended hair conditions:
- Wet Hair Methods:
- Braiding: Create braids (e.g., French braids, regular braids) when your hair is damp, and leave them in until your hair is completely dry.
- Twisting: Twist sections of damp hair and secure them, leaving them to dry.
- Curlers/Rollers: Use foam or fabric curlers on damp hair and let them air dry or sleep in them overnight.
- Dry Hair Methods:
- Bun or Topknot: Create a bun or topknot with dry hair and leave it in overnight for loose waves.
- Headband Curls: Wrap a headband around your dry hair, twist sections through it, and leave it in overnight.
- Sock Curls: Use a sock to create curls in dry hair by rolling sections of hair around it, then leave them overnight.
Trendy Heatless Hairstyles
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge and tools, let’s explore some trendy heatless hairstyles you can try:
- Beachy Waves with Braids: Create natural beachy waves by braiding your hair in multiple sections before bed. When you wake up and undo the braids, you’ll have effortless waves.
- Sock Bun: Achieve a polished bun without heat by using a sock bun. Roll your hair around the sock, secure it, and you’re ready for an elegant updo. You can also use a hair donut if you don’t want to use a real sock!
- Twisted Headband Updo: Place a headband over your hair and twist small sections around it. Secure each twist with bobby pins, and you’ll have an elegant updo with a twist.
- No-Heat Curls with Straws: Yes, drinking straws! Roll small sections of damp hair around drinking straws and secure them. Leave them overnight for stunning, heat-free curls.
- Fishtail Braided Crown: Create a chic and intricate look by making two fishtail braids on either side of your head, then wrap them around like a crown and secure them with bobby pins.
- High Ponytail with Volume: Get a voluminous high ponytail by using a hair donut or teasing your hair at the crown. It’s a sleek and polished look that requires no heat.
Bottom Line: Easy and Cheap Heatless Hair Styling Tools You Need To Try
Heatless hairstyling can be made cheap and easy, yet give off fantastic results! It’s a great way to maintain healthy hair while still enjoying a wide range of stylish looks without breaking the bank. With the right tools, tips, and a bit of creativity, you can achieve stunning heat-free hairstyles for any occasion.
Make it a personal challenge to reduce the use of heat on your hair, and try a heatless curling method mentioned in this blog post at least once a week. You can even make it part of your self-care Sunday ritual!
Say goodbye to heat damage and hello to gorgeous, healthy locks! Start experimenting with these heatless hairstyles today and embrace the versatility and beauty of natural hair styling on a budget!
Like this blog post? Check out these 100 Ways To Improve Your Self-Care Habits today.