Rubber curling rods are used like hard plastic curlers, but they don't need pins or clips to hold them into place. The curling rod folds against itself to hold the twist of hair in place while the curl sets. You can use these self-fastening curlers hot or cold, and they can give you a range of curl sizes when you use them properly.

You might think the only way to make curls is to heat your hair, but rubber curlers make it easy to skip the damaging heat. Spritz your hair with water until it's slightly damp. Take a small section of your hair and twist it a few times. Hold the twisted hair with one hand, then roll the ends of the hair around the curler. Roll the rest of the twisted hair over the ends to secure them to the rod. Roll the curler until it is tight against your scalp. Push the end of the rod through the hole in the other end to secure the rod in the hair. Once all of the hair is rolled, let it dry completely and take out the rollers.

Hot curls are done in the same way, except you can take out the curlers sooner. Heat the rods in the heater they came with for at least 15 minutes or follow the manufacturer's instructions. Take a small section of your hair and twist it a few times. Hold the twisted hair with one hand while you remove one curler from the heater. Roll the ends of the hair around the curler and then roll the rest of the twisted hair over the ends. Roll the curler until it's tight against your scalp. Push the end of the rod through the hole in the other end to secure the rod in your hair. Keep in the rollers for 15 minutes or less to avoid overheating your hair.

The size of your curls depends on how much hair you wrap around each curling rod. For tiny pin curls, only wrap a section of hair as thick as a pencil around the rod. To get thicker waves, wrap sections of hair about as thick as your thumb. Use the cold method to get the best results with thicker sections of hair.

For the best looking curls, remember a few facts. First, always brush your hair before you begin to curl. Second, always hold the hair above your head and to an angle when you twist and roll it onto the rods. Third, dirty rollers might leave your hair looking limp, so wash them in warm water and a mild detergent after each use.