Blowouts Are Back: Channel ’90s Cindy Crawford With These Hair Rollers

Not to be that person, but I was a hair roller stan before TikTokers decided to reintroduce them back into the beauty sphere as this year's unofficial cool trend. But! News! Flash! Hair rollers are not a trend—heck, they're a classic. But not classic like your grandma's tight pin curls and baby blue nightgown (though that can be done), classic like the big bouncy curls of the quintessential '90s It girls. And if you want that look, you're going to need one (or more!) of the 13 best hair rollers on the market.

The nineties and early aughts were known for those bouncy, bigger-is-better curls that look polished but not overdone. And I think it's safe to say that the latter of 2020 and allll of 2021 has revived the lewk with several methods: If it's not a round brush and a hair dryer, it's a hair-dryer brush—yeah, we've gotten inventive in this modern-day—but I'm tellin' ya, don't sleep on the OG. When done correctly, the curls from hair rollers will hold great, last long, and look fabulous, and I've got quite the star-studded lineup of some of the top celebrity hairstylists to back me up on that.

So without further ado, let's dive into the look and the tool that defined arguably the best decade. Here are 13 of the best hair rollers for bouncy curls.

What type of hair rollers are best?

Sure, I get it—all the throwback pics of supermodels getting glammed up typically feature velcro rollers. I can't lie, they're the OGs of the bouncy blowout. But times are a-changin', and that means rollers have evolved too.

Velcro rollers, foam rollers, hot rollers, steam rollers, and so many more variations can be used to create the effortless and bouncy look you're going for—it just depends on the size of the roller and the process you use. The bigger the roller, the bouncier the hair, the smaller the roller, the more tight the curls will be, explains Sally Hershberger, celebrity stylist and founder of Sally Hershberger 24K. "It’s common for people to think that any size roller will work when each size actually serves a different purpose,” she says.

What are the best products to use with hair rollers for bouncy curls?

If you're working from wet to dry hair, you should use a product for volume, whereas if you're starting with dry hair, you should use a light holding hairspray before setting, explains Eric Vaughn, stylist, owner of REV Hair, and Master Artistic Educator. "Most people need to have ultra moisture in the hair in order to get a hair roller style to stay," says Joseph Maine, celebrity stylist and Artistic Director of Color Wow Hair.

To ensure that your hair is moisturized, a blowout mousse, spray, or balm will do the trick. If you're working with curly hair, Maine recommends about 60 percent moisture in your hair before styling, versus if you have straighter hair, where you would only need about 20 percent moisture. "At the end of the day, curly and straight hair are the same, the curly hair just requires a few extra steps to finish the look," says Tippi Shorter, celebrity hairstylist, Mizani Global Artistic Director, and curl pro. Shorter recommends using a leave-in conditioner to hydrate hair prior to using rollers, and finishing off the look by running hair oil through the hair for those with all types of curls.

How do you use hair rollers?

Remember: Each hair roller is different, and each hair type will require unique steps. However, it's a good idea to keep these general tips in mind if you're looking to achieve a bouncy blowout at home:

• Start with a damp base to create even curls. — Sally Hershberger
• The way your hair dries is the way that it is going to flow. Place the rollers at the crown of the head and roll your hair under the curler, that way, you will get more volume and body. — Tippi Shorter
• Use a brush and rollers that are on the larger side in order to achieve a bouncy blowout. The smaller they are, the more curl they're going to leave in your hair. The larger they are, the more smoothing they're going to be. — Joseph Maine
• Use a diffuser attachment on a blow dryer to gently heat the rollers back up after every roller has been placed. This will ensure that they are set perfectly. — Eric Vaughn

K. So we're prepped and primed, now it's time to get to the fun part, and the reason y'all are here in the first place: The 13 best hair rollers for bouncy '90s hair.