Flexi rods vs a curling ribbon

Pick a curling ribbon or long rod if you want speed, you have medium or long hair, and you are happy with soft waves or loose curls.

Pick flexi rods if you want control over curl size and placement, you have shorter hair, or you want volume at the roots.

If you are undecided, start with whichever fits your hair length; see how to do heatless curls.

	Curling ribbon / long rod	Flexi rods
How it works	One long piece across your head; wrap sections around it	One short rod per section; roll and bend
Speed	Faster for a full head	More steps
Control	Less per curl	More per curl
Hair length	Medium to long	Short to long
Curl size	Set by rod diameter and section size	Set by rod diameter and section size
Sleeping	Soft and continuous	Soft and bendy; several pieces

Both depend on your section size as much as the tool.

One more difference: how forgiving they are. With a ribbon, if a section is a little off, the next section covers it, because everything lies along one rod. With flexi rods, every section stands alone, so uneven sections show. That makes a ribbon more forgiving for beginners and flexi rods more rewarding once you have the knack.

The facts table below lists each product. In short:

• Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set ($18): satin rod, 34 inches long, 1.25 inches in diameter, with two scrunchies.
• The Hair Edit Soft Ribbon Curl Set ($17.99): velour rod, 69 inches long, two scrunchies and a storage bag.
• Kitsch Satin Jumbo Flexi Rods ($21): four rods, 10 inches long, 1.2 inches in diameter.
• The Hair Edit Volumizing Hair Rods ($17.99): four rods, 10.5 inches long, 1.25 inches in diameter, with clasps.

Neither brand publishes how many curls you will get.

• You want the fastest way to wrap a full head.
• You are comfortable sleeping with a long piece on your head.
• You have medium to long hair.
• You like a continuous wave rather than distinct curls.

The Hair Edit says its 69-inch rod accommodates any hair length; Kitsch describes its XL rod as ideal for all hair lengths, especially extra-long.

• You have short hair.
• You want distinct curls and control over where each one goes.
• You want root volume (rods can be placed at the root).
• You want a mix of loose and tight curls in one style.

Kitsch says its flexi rods bend to hold in place without pins or clips, and The Hair Edit's use clasps.

There is no published ranking. As a rough guide: fine hair benefits from a firm wrap and small sections whichever you use; thick hair needs more sections, which can favor a long rod with more surface or more than one set of flexi rods. See fine hair and thick hair.

There is no published ranking. As a rough guide: fine hair benefits from a firm wrap and small sections whichever you use; thick hair needs more sections, which can favor a long rod with more surface or more than one set of flexi rods. See fine hair and thick hair.

On comfort, both brands describe their products as suitable for day or night. Kitsch says its flexi rods are comfortable to sleep in, and its curling sets are soft and comfortable to sleep on. The Hair Edit describes its rods and ribbons as soft and non-slip or lock-in-place. The practical difference is how many lumps you have against the pillow.

• Shoulder-length hair, first try: a ribbon or long rod for speed.
• Chin-length bob: flexi rods or rollers; a ribbon is too long.
• Waist-length hair: a long rod, or flexi rods with larger diameter.
• You want control over where each curl falls: flexi rods.
• You sleep restlessly: a soft ribbon may shift less than several rods, but both are designed for sleep by their brands.