Curious how to use sponge rollers on natural hair? Many naturals want to know what 
Sponge rollers, also known as foam rollers, are fun and easy to install. Your mother and grandmother probably used them. Women from past generations wanted a nice look, and these spongy foam rollers made it possible to achieve tight, curly locks.
Fast forward to today and women are still using them. In this post, you’ll find out how to use sponge rollers on natural hair for beautifully defined curls.
How do Sponge Rollers Work?
If you’re looking at sponge rollers vs. curling iron, the heat-free method wins every time. Rolling natural hair with sponge rollers is a great damage-free way to set curls.
What are sponge rollers used for? Sponge rollers work by manipulating the hair strand into a curl and absorbing moisture from the hair. The foam absorbs the water from the curl while drying.
Many women find them too drying for use on natural hair, but using satin rollers will help reduce the dryness factor.
They work best on damp hair, but you can still use them on dry hair too. Apply a curl enhancer such as 
The Best Way to Use Sponge Rollers
The best way to use sponge rollers is on clean, moisturized, and detangled hair. Hair should be damp with water or product. It’s best to section your hair detangle it, apply your product, then wrap your hair around the roller and set it.
However, if you are you wondering about the difference between regular sponge rollers vs. hot rollers? Hot rollers will firmly set the hair and last for two or three days longer, but you risk damaging your hair because of the heat. Heated styling tools tend to dry out hair and lead to long-term breakage. Also, if you are going to use hot rollers, it’s best to do so on dry hair.
Sponge Roller Sizes
Sponge rollers come in several sizes: Extra small, small, medium, and large. Wear small rollers for cropped, natural hair. Relaxed, straight, or transitioning hair should use medium to large rollers.
Wondering how to use sponge rollers on short hair? Size small is the best for short natural hair and is the most comfortable roller to wear while sleeping. Sponge curlers are hard to manipulate on hair that is less than four inches since it’s hard to secure the ends.
If you have short hair, you should begin by securing the hair tightly around the rod. You may experience shrinkage, but using a curl-defining product will help with that.
Use medium or large sponge rollers for medium hair and longer lengths to create loose curls with a nice bounce. For the best sponge rollers for long hair, try 
Do Sponge Rollers Damage Hair?
You can avoid damage with proper care and a detangling process. Your hair will become damaged if you don’t detangle it before installing the rollers. Strands can also break if you twist the hair too tight on the roller.
Many say that foam rollers are drying to the hair because they absorb moisture from the hair strand. It’s a good idea to purchase rollers with satin covers to prevent breakage. It will keep the hair from tangling and drying out. See more about satin covers below.
If you purchased foam rollers a while ago and you don’t want to buy satin rollers, try wrapping tissue paper over the roller to prevent breakage.
What about other rollers? If you’re comparing sponge rollers vs. perm rods, you’ll probably notice that perm rods dry faster. They also give a different curly look, so you should experiment with both.
Sponge Rollers with Satin Covers
Satin rollers save time and work well to prevent breakage. They reduce fuzz and cause less damage to both relaxed and natural hair. Using satin rollers means you do not need to use paper or wraps over the sponge.
How to Put Sponge Rollers in Your Hair
Here are the best tips for putting in sponge rollers:
- Moisturize and detangle your hair before beginning.
- Use a comb instead of your fingers to section your hair. This will give you even, well-balanced curls. Part the hair into small to medium sections. Next, apply a setting lotion or a curl enhancing cream to each section. Do not make your sections too large as the roller won’t clip shut and your result will not be as smooth as it could be. Part and create fifteen to twenty sections depending on your desired hairstyle.
- After 7-10 hours in the rollers, take down and fluff for your desired look.
How to Use Sponge Rollers to Curl Your Hair
Sponge rollers make curling easy on natural hair or relaxed hair. Installing two strand twists makes an attractive style and will stretch the hair more.
Sponge rollers give the hair volume by lifting the roots. This is a heat-free option for women that want bouncy or spiral curls without damage.
Add curl cream to help reduce frizz and be sure to tuck the ends under the clip.
How to Use Sponge Hair Rollers Overnight
Allowing the hair to dry while you sleep with foam rollers is a heat-free and healthy hair option. The clip attachment holds the roller in place while you sleep and the soft sponge makes it comfortable for overnight wear.
Put a satin bonnet over the hair to keep strands in place. It may take up to eight hours. You’ll want to make sure your hair is dry before you remove the rollers as any amount of dampness will cause frizz.
What about sponge rollers vs. hard rollers? Hard rollers are challenging to keep in overnight, but you can use them during the day while using a hooded dryer.
Maybe you’ve heard about Velcro and are curious about sponge rollers vs. Velcro rollers. Velcro rollers work best on straight hair and are harder to use on natural hair textures. Many report breakage, so you should probably stick to satin sponge rollers.
Sponge Roller Hairstyles
There are several roller hairstyles that women love to wear. Women with short natural hair can use the sponge curls to have a more relaxed look, while naturals with medium or long hair use the sponge rollers to create hairstyles that make the hair appear fuller.
The way you place sponge rollers determines the style. Faux Mohawks, messy updos, and buns are standard styles worn with sponge curlers. Small rods can create an easy pin curl look.
These styles are easy to form, and natural hair queens can appreciate the low-cost investment and the longevity of the style.
Install modern styles with medium rods. Roll the hair forward to create a curly bob or roll from the sides to the middle to make a mohawk.
Bendy hair rollers are different from sponge rollers, but they can create versatile styles and are perfect for creating luxurious spiral curls.
The beauty about sponge rollers is most hair types, and hair lengths can use them. Using them on natural hair is a good idea if you want a defined curl without using heat. The rollers are easy to sleep with, and the hairstyle can last for days if done on damp hair.
Now it’s your turn to discuss. Have you used sponge rollers on natural hair, and what were the results?
Hey Curl Friend, I’m Patrina Haupt the creator and author of Natural Hair Queen. I hope you find my healthy hair care tips helpful in your hair journey. Healthy hair care practices are definitely, what helped me to achieve waist length hair.
