Scrolling through TikTok, I stumbled upon a video by New York influencer Brigette Pheloung showcasing a heatless curling method. Her hair was adorned with what seemed like a million pink clips, and I couldn’t help but wonder: how long would this take, what would the curls look like, and most importantly, would it damage her hair?
The answers weren’t hard to find on the app itself. Fellow influencer Sabryna Salmon revealed her own heatless curling journey, lamenting that it took four hours just for one side. Pheloung, on the other hand, breezed through the routine in a mere 20 minutes. As for the results, Salmon achieved tight crimps while Pheloung’s curls lacked definition. My question about potential hair damage remained unanswered.
To get to the bottom of this, I reached out to Dom Seeley, a renowned hairstylist and international creative director for Color Wow. He offered a professional perspective on the viral trend, exploring its effectiveness and potential risks to our hair health.
Seeley’s initial assessment was that the heatless curling method might not be the most practical or sustainable option. Not only do you need to invest in a ton of clips, but achieving similar results with heat tools might be much faster and more efficient. He explained that for straighter hair types, simply clipping dry hair doesn’t work because it doesn’t alter the hair’s internal structure. It’s similar to trying to curl freshly dried hair with a Dyson AirWrap or a Shark styler.
To effectively curl hair, Seeley clarifies, you need to change the hydrogen bonds within the hair. This can be achieved with heat or by applying product to wet hair. The heatless method relies on hair drying in a new shape under the clips, but this may not be effective for all hair types. He found that the technique might yield better results for those with thicker, textured hair.
While acknowledging the interesting crimps achieved in some videos, Seeley remains unconvinced about the overall effectiveness of the method. He also cautioned that the close proximity of the metal clips can damage the cuticle layer of the hair.
Heatless curling methods offer a much-needed respite from the heat styling tools that can permanently damage hair when used improperly or too often. Seeley emphasized that soft, heatless tools coated with silk or satin are healthier for hair because they minimize friction. To enhance the curling process and achieve defined curls, he recommends using nourishing products like Color Wow’s Money Mist leave-in conditioner and Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer to add texture. This approach allows you to enjoy beautiful curls without compromising the health of your hair.
