'I put Kmart's viral heatless curlers to the test – here's my verdict'

Do they live up to the hype?

Still searching for a hair-curling hack that won't dry out your hair (or your bank account)? Kmart's viral heatless curlers could be exactly what you're looking for. 

Despite absolutely loving how my hair looks after a fresh blowout or stylist-inflicted waves, I’ve yet to discover an at-home method that works for my low-level skill set. 

Traditional heat tools tend to dry out my hair, and no matter how many times I commit to teaching myself over an idiot-proof YouTube tutorial, I just can't seem to replicate the same quality curls with a straightener or curling wand (I even have a scar on my forehead to prove it).

Even those overnight hair rollers that promise bouncy curls without any heat have let me down, falling out of place during a full night of tossing and turning.

So, when I came across a few positive TikTok reviews of Kmart’s new OXX Haircare Heatless Wave Curlers, I raced into a store to get my hands on a box. 

Suitable for most hair types, these individual curlers are designed to add shape to hair without inflicting any heat damage. Made predominantly from recycled and reclaimed materials, the curlers are lightweight, reusable, and don’t slip off after application. 

They are, however, anything but subtle. In order to set long-lasting curls, you are required to wear a full head of the fluro curlers for hours on end. The effort, according to several happy shoppers, is worth it in the end, however. 

“These are great and work as expected. I just had washed hair that was slightly damp hair. Let dry in them and waves lasted several days,” writes one happy customer.

OXX Haircare Heatless Wave Curlers, $8 from Kmart

OXX Haircare Heatless Wave Curlers

Alas with nothing to lose, I gave them a test run yesterday morning, carefully dampening my locks as per the instructions of TikTok’s experts. Getting my hair into the wave curlers using the provided plastic hook apparatus was surprisingly easy, only taking a straight-haired girl like me 10 minutes to completely set my entire head. 

In addition to the bright colours and easy-to-master application, the OXX set’s most appealing quality is by far its affordability.

With most quality curling tools setting you back hundreds of dollars, the $8 price tag attached to these heatless wave curlers understandably would have most people questioning their effectiveness. 

My hair before trying the OXX Haircare Heatless Wave Curlers. 

My honest verdict:

After struggling to endure basic everyday tasks (like being able to see what I’m typing on my laptop, or eating soup without spilling half on my lap), it would be remiss of me not to warn others about the downsides of this curling method. 

Yes, in the grand scheme of things, the set is more than affordable, but it’s true what they say; you get what you pay for. Without any product or spray added in to help set the curls, mine promptly fell out within the hour after taking out the curlers. 

While the application is far easier than what some TikTokers described, I was overall disappointed in the finished product, finding the state of my hair resembled less of a curl and more of a crimp. 

What 6 hours with the OXX Haircare Heatless Wave Curlers will get you. 

Also, there’s no way this 36-piece set is comfortable enough to sleep in, so unless you’re planning on pulling an all-nighter (or are happy to be spotted out in public looking like Sideshow Bob), you will need to set aside at least five or six hours in the day to set your ‘curls’ in place. 

Sure, if you’re planning on spending a day locked indoors with the intention of heading out for an 80s-themed event, this DIY crimping tool is certainly worth the $8 investment.

But ultimately, the juice just wasn’t worth the squeeze in my opinion. 

Originally published as 'I put Kmart's viral heatless curlers to the test – here's my verdict'