We’re all about clever beauty shortcuts here at Body+Soul, and this hair hack from Kmart should be right at the top of your list.
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It’s a safe assumption that in 2023, most of us are pretty busy.
It costs too much to exist right now (rent, groceries et cetera) so we’re all working our asses off, checking social media 22 hours of the day and hopefully maintaining relationships with friends, family and lovers. Not to mention making time to move your body, maintain your mental health and occasionally sleep.
Long story short, there’s a lot to factor into every day, so it pays to take shortcuts where you can – especially when it comes to beauty.
One of the best shortcuts that have come to light in the Body+Soul office of late is courtesy of me (you’re welcome), or rather one of my best friends, whose cheap Kmart find is a sure-fire way to get blowdry-worthy waves without a single ounce of heat.
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Clocking in at a grand total of $4.50, the Heatless Hair Roller is your surefire way to trick everyone in your life, including yourself, into thinking you’ve been to the salon that very morning rather than six months ago. We’re not kidding.
The set includes a foam-filled headband, two scrunchies and a claw clip – all in a kind of hectic shade of bubblegum pink.
If it looks a little rudimentary, that’s because it is. But this simple four-part system has given my straight and not-that-voluminous hair more bounce and longevity than any heat styling tool I’ve tried.
The general idea is that you wrap your hair around the band, sleep in it, and wake up with perfect hair. If you’re into a beauty hack, you may have tried this with a pair of leggings, stockings or, if you got in too deep, a flannelette dressing gown cord. I’ve tried all of these tricks and ended up with hair kinking in strange places and resembling more of a bird's nest than a blow wave.
The set on the other hand, makes the process genuinely foolproof –because the headband is the right width and length, and the scrunchies actually stay on. What’s more? Because it requires no heat, your hair remains healthy and hydrated, which also helps to extend time between washes.
How to do it
It’s easy enough, but there are some learnings I’ll share to help take your waves to the next level.
#1. Wash your hair in the evening, shortly before you go to bed. Allow it to dry about 70-80%, air dry, in a towel (love this one from Davroe) or with a dryer is fine
#2. Part your hair ideally where you want it to sit the next day, because it won’t want to move from this position come day break. Separate the two halves of your hair.
#3. Brush it out and make sure there are no knots or kinks, to avoid it setting weirdly overnight. I like to use a detangling spray like this one from Daily Naturals to ensure there are no tangles hiding underneath.
#4. Clip the headband to the top of your head to keep it in place
#5. Wrap your hair around the band, starting from the front and gradually adding more hair as you go. Do one side of your hair at a time, and secure at the bottom of the headband with a scrunchie.
TIP: If you have a fringe, use a velcro roller to keep hair up out of your face overnight and add volume.
#6. Re-secure the band to your head with the clip, so it’s comfortable to sleep but still secure.
#7. The next morning, unclip the band and take out the scrunchies, then pull the band upwards off your head, shaking the curls off gently as you go.
#8. Brush out the curls for a natural, blow-dry-like finish, or tousle with your hands for a tighter look.
TIP: if you have bangs, use a hot brush to flick them out before you leave
It’s genuinely as easy as that. If you have flat hair, I suggest misting with hairspray before you leave for the day, especially if it’s humid, to help maintain curls.
But otherwise, give it a toss and prepare to rake in the compliments all day long. You’ll thank us later.
Holly BerckelmanDigital Editor
Having written for a number of lifestyle publications throughout her career (and in the privacy of her Notes app forever) Holly Berckelman now leads the online and social team as the Digital Editor of Body+Soul. After completing a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communication) at the University of Sydney in 2019, she started as a coordinator at News Corp and has been there ever since – writing and producing content for Stellar, Delicious, Escape, and the print and online iterations of Body+Soul. She loves cream blush, long blacks and boutique hotels, and is always keen to put the hottest new beauty products to the test.
