Tried and tested: dressing gown curls

I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the dressing gown curls on my Instagram feed, I was skeptical that they would work.

Since I was a teenager, I have believed that heat is the only way to achieve perfect hairstyles. So the thought of being able to get a bouncy style with only the strap of my dress seemed unlikely. Slowly, however, I started to notice the trend. I was seeing more amazing results and dressing gown curl converts who looked like they had spent all day at the salon.

I was curious to see if the trend is worth it. There are many reasons to learn how to style your hair. Many of us heat-stylize our hair, including myself. I am proud to say that I know how to blow dry my hair using a hair dryer. Even with heat protection, hair can become dry and fragile in extreme temperatures. This is why this unexpected household favorite could be the best hair product of 2022.

What are dressing gown curls?

Dressing gown curls are also called heatless curls. They are a great way to style your hair without using a hair dryer. This involves wrapping your hair around the strap of a dress gown or other soft material and letting it dry completely.

Wrap it for at least two hours. Then, unwrap gently. You should see a beautiful head of curls that lasts all day. The trend has grown so fast that many brands are now creating their own heatless curlers. This trial was done with a soft silk curler. It replicated the look of a dressing gown cord. However, any robe tie, thick piece of fabric, or other flexible material should be fine.

How to do them?

This trend was something I tried out on Sunday as part of my self-care routine. It’s not quick so it should be incorporated into a relaxing pampering routine. I washed my hair with the best shampoo, conditioner, and towel dried it. Then I set out to learn how to use it. After trying out different methods, I finally settled on this step-by-step approach.

1. Wash your hair. If your hair has natural texture, you can use a curl cream or hair styling product to give it some hold. Let your hair air dry until it’s almost dry, but still slightly damp. It’s the almost-dry part that is important. Do dressing gown curls work with wet hair? If your hair is saturated, it will likely remain that way until it’s wrapped up.
2. Prep: Part your hair in the desired way. For a neater finish, I went straight down to the middle. Place the dressing gown strap, or heatless curler, on top of your head. Secure it with a hair claw.
3. Wrap: Take your hair into sections, and start at the top. Then wrap your hair around your heatless curler. Take hair from the back and front. You can grab more hair as you move towards the ends. Seal the end with a scrunchie.
4. Repeat Steps 2-3 for the opposite side.
5. Relax: Let the heatless curls air dry for at least two hours. Take out the clip and the silk curler. Gently brush the ends.

Does it work?

Here comes the moment of truth. My jaw dropped when I saw the mirror and unwrapped my hair. Although I had more flyaways than I would normally expect from heat styling, the structure and shape of my curls was amazing. What impressed me the most was the root lift achieved by this technique. It was very similar to the volume I get from a DIY blow dryer. The style stayed in place for the entire day with the help of hairspray.

Last thoughts

This technique is great for dressing up gowns. I highly recommend it. However, I have never had to depend on my hair for style. If your hair is curly, textured, or struggles to keep a curl, you might not get the same results.

Also, you won’t get the same smooth texture from blow drying or using the best curling irons. However, I was able to create a beautiful curl with a lot of volume and structure without fear. It’s easy to ditch the heat with the help of a few products that smoothed flyaways and improved hold. I’m hooked.