Psst—This Is My Low-Effort Trick for Styling My Super-Flat Hair

I don't normally do much styling to my stick-straight hair, because it's not very good at holding a curl or any kind of hairstyle for long periods, no matter how much hair spray I apply to it. Don't get me wrong; I find it very convenient to have the type of hair that I have because I don't really have to do much to tame it every day. It just kind of sits there, stick-straight. So I might brush it as I'm getting ready, but other than that, it's low-maintenance, which is perfect for me because I'm pretty lazy when it comes to styling my hair.

The thing that sucks is that since it's super straight, it's very flat and doesn't really do much. But because it's not very good at holding curls or waves, I don't love spending more than an hour on styling it because it seems like a waste of time. So I leave the heavy-duty styling for special events, but for the days or nights when I want to take things up just a notch, I turn to my personal favorite easy trick: hair rollers.

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(Image credit: @sarahayang)

Ah, hair rollers. They may seem so old-school, but let me tell you, they'll give you voluminous hair like no other. If you have flat, straight hair like I do, all you need to do is separate your strands and roll them up. It normally takes me less than 10 minutes to do it since my hair isn't super long. Then I leave them on for 30 minutes to even an hour if I've really got time. After that, just take the rollers out, give your hair a shake and run your fingers through it, apply some hair spray, and voilà: the big hair of your dreams.

The best part is it's pretty much hands-off hairstyling. After you put on the rollers, you're free to do your makeup, pick out an outfit, or whatever while you wait for them to work their magic. I find the multitasking helps me cut down on my getting-ready time, which is always a bonus.

As for the types of rollers I like, the classic Velcro, self-grip ones have always been my go-to for years—pretty much since I was 15. But there are a lot of other options out there, including hot rollers. Take a look at some options for hair rollers below, and get ready for the easiest styling experience of your life.

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(Image credit: @sarahayang)

Self-Grip Rollers

Hot Rollers

Foam Rollers

Styling Products to Try

Managing Editor

Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019.

In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot).

She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.