I Tried The Viral Mermade Hair Rollers And I Think I Might Be A Hot Roller Person Now?
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
There is something about a Mermade Hair tool that instantly sets the styling tone for the season. When they first launched their mega-viral Waver back in 2019, those idyllic, mermaid-esque ripples were the only thing on our Pinterest boards.
Post-pandemic saw the brand pivot to the "blowout-at-home" movement with their again-viral hot brush, delivering that sleek, nineties-supermodel finish we all craved.
And now? With the launch of the Mermade Hair Hot Rollers, it’s safe to say that high-octane, bouncy curls are oh-so back.
Truthfully (and only slightly bragging), hot rollers have been on my radar for a while. I was lucky enough to interview celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel last year, where he mentioned his affinity for the humble tool. He even credited them as the secret behind Nicole Kidman’s viral ‘Babygirl' press tour hair. Yes, the hair was hairing.
With that in mind, Mermade’s ultra-chic, slightly kitsch set felt like the ultimate entry point for my own hot roller renaissance.
I’ve been trying to bring you this review for months, but thanks to their explosive virality, they’ve been selling out faster than I can type 'add to cart.' When a tool generates this much digital noise, it deserves a rigorous deep dive. Here's how these beauties actually performed in the wild.
Mermade Hair Hot Rollers Review
What: Mermade Hair Hot Rollers
Fast Facts:
- 8 lightweight jumbo rollers (38 mm)
- Rapid 60‑second heat-up time
- Digital LCD display with adjustable temperature (100 °C – 150 °C)
- Cool-touch ends and flocked roller finish
- Automatic shut-off after 60 minutes
- Universal voltage (100V–240V) for travel use
- Includes 8 clips and compact storage tray
Inspecting the device, it wasn’t what I expected. I had visions of the clunky, hefty hot rollers of the early aughts that took up half the bathroom vanity. Instead, this set is suspiciously lightweight and unapologetically Barbie-esque.
At first, I wondered: Was it too lightweight? Too plastic? The novice-proof three-button interface - while a godsend for the tech-challenged - had me slightly puzzled.
But, once I saw the swift and smooth heat-up time, I knew we were in business.
Tips For How To Use Hot Rollers
Because this article was pushed back by several sell-outs, I’ve had the luxury of time to truly roadtest these beauties. I’ve picked up a few tricks that have helped me produce better results (and avoid any hair-meltdowns).
1. Keep Things Tight
Section your hair into 1.5–2 inch pieces. Because my hair is particularly long and obnoxiously thick (a blessing and a curse, I know), I found that tighter sections produced a much fuller, more intentional result.
I actually ended up doing two rounds of curlers - one for the front and one for the back. If you have a lot of hair, 12 rollers would be the dream, but the 8-piece set is a great starter kit. The 38mm size is perfect; they produce a medium-shape curl that looks expensive rather than pageant-y.
2. Placement is Everything
My first few attempts were (admittedly) a struggle. Some awkward root placement translated to zero volume. You want to get as close to the root as possible for that "just-stepped-out-of-the-salon" lift.
I also found that leaving too much space between sections resulted in a weird stiffness that took an hour or so to settle.
3. Master the Clip
You’ll want to be patient here. I had to spend a quite some time maneuvering the clips (which were a little short and flimsy for my liking) around the roller and my scalp to find a secure grip. Once held, I plonked myself firmly on the couch and avoided wiggling.
The more you use them, the more the clip-placement makes sense.
4. Respect the Heat
These babies get hot. I found 140°C to be the sweet spot. It wasn’t ideal for the one roller I accidentally left resting against my earlobe (ouch), but it was pertinent to a long-lasting, frizz-free finish.
5. Great Things Take Time
The longer you leave these suckers in, the better the results. Mermade recommend 10-30 minutes. I personally gravitated towards the 30 minute mark and let them cool completely while I do my makeup or have a coffee.
The Results.
Honestly? I loved it. Like, really loved it.
One unexpected -but entirely welcome- bonus was the incredible smoothing effect. As my "before" photos can attest, my hair is naturally prone to frizz, and testing this in 37-degree humidity was the ultimate trial by fire.
However, the combination of the consistent heat and that clever flocked roller finish acted like a soft-focus filter for my strands, leaving behind a silky, polished-looking result.
But it’s the structural integrity of the style that really won me over. While it did take me a while to master the technique (bad placement did me dirty a few times) - the volume was impressive from the jump. And the real kicker was the longevity.
Usually, my curls have a "gone by lunch" policy; here, the lasting lift and bounce held up remarkably well throughout the day without looking stiff or over-sprayed. It’s that rare "done but undone" aesthetic that usually requires a professional with a round brush and a lot of patience.
Is 2026 the year I finally retire the flat iron and fully embrace the curl? If the results are this effortless and this chic, it very well could be.
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