How to Curl Hair With Robe Tie Belt (2 Effective Techniques)

During the early years of my experience as a hairdresser, how to curl hair with a robe tie belt was one of the most complex and challenging projects I tried to learn alone.

It took me a lot of errors until I could do various styles such as loose curls, tight curls, bouncy curls, robe curls, and perfect curls.

What Do You Need For Curling Hair With a Robe Tie Belt?

Before we go to the process, it’s important that you know the things you will need for the process. If I had known this before, it would’ve made my life easier.

Check out these gorgeous curls from a robe tie belt.

@nellsboba heatless curls with a robe belt 😀 i left these in over night #fyp #hairtutorial #heatlesscurls #curls #results ♬ original sound – kem

1. Robe Tie or Gown Belt

2. Rubber Bands

Rubber bands are optional for this process. Their purpose is only to secure the coiled hair tie in place. If you have scrunchies, it is a great alternative for them, too.

3. Hair Clips

You’ll need hair clips to create different hair sections and have better and more full curls. The partition size depends on your hair’s ability to hold curls.

Christine Thompson, Spoke & Weal Co-Founder and celebrity hairstylist, suggests using smaller hair partitions for straight hair but larger, curled hair.

“If you have straight, fine hair, use smaller sections. But if you have hair that holds curls well, use larger sections of hair.”

Now that you have everything you need, how do you do the no-heat bathrobe curls process?

As you dive deeper into hair care, be sure to read our guides on how to air dry curly hair, the differences between flat iron vs curling iron, and tips on how to choose hair straightener.

2 Different Methods of Curling Hair With Robe Tie Belt

I was dumbfounded when I found that there are actually a few ways to utilize dressing gown curls to reshape your hair.

You can choose them according to what feels easier and more convenient.

Method 1: Side Braiding Method

To start, this is not something that’s labeled and named. These terms are just something I coined because of how they physically look like.

The process is just like the braiding process but with a twist. Erickson Arruntegui, a hairstylist from New York, says that braiding is one of the best natural ways to get curls without any heat.

He says that this is effective in producing thick, volumized curls.

“Using a good leave-in conditioner [1] is key. It helps add moisture and encourage more bends in the hair.”

So, here’s a detailed way to do this first method.

Step 1: Moisturize Your Hair First

The first step you want to do is moisturize your hair. You can use anything from leave-in conditioners to dedicated hair moisturizers, etc.

Just ensure you’ll use a safe hair product to moisturize your hair.

Step 2: Place the Robe Belt on the Top Middle Part of Your Head  

Then, what you want to do next is place the robe belt on the top part of your head. Make sure that it’s proportional.

What I usually do is face the mirror to see if it’s the same length on both the left and right sides.

Here is a simple tutorial on how to do it.

@breakfastatbetsys Results coming soon? #heatlesscurls #hairstyle #hairgrowth #fyp ♬ oops! – Yung Gravy

Step 3: Choose One Side First

I usually suggest starting on the side you’re not comfortable with so that you finish the hard part first. So, pick the side you want to work on and start with the curling process.

Step 4:  Perform the Braiding

The process is not like a simple braid. It involves other steps so that it can result in curls successfully. So, here’s how to perform the curling or the braiding.

1. On the side you choose, take a section of hair on the front and back parts with the robe belt in the middle.
2. After that, wrap the front hair over and around the robe belt, while still holding the partition with one hand.
3. Then, do the same for the back part that you’ve picked and chosen.
4. When that’s done, repeat step 2, but this time, pick out more hair from the front to add to the formula.
5. Do the same for the hair you pick out from the back section.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 until you reach the bottom-most part of your hair strands.
7. Secure your hair in place using a rubber band or a scrunchie.

Leave your hair in this position for about 6 to 8 hours, and when you untangle it, it will be curled.

As an added tip to this hair hack, you can tangle socks as a replacement if you do not have a good-quality robe belt. [2]

Method 2: Top Tie or Hair Wrapping Method

Compared to the first method, I would say that this method is a bit more complex and difficult because you’ll need to style your hair.

Step 1: Pick a Side to Start On

The first thing you want to do is choose which side you’ll start with. I usually suggest using hair clips for easier partitioning and sectioning of the hair.

When you pick a side, put a hair clip on the other side so you could focus on the side you’re working on.

Step 2: Place Your Robe Tie Belt on Top of Your Head

Then, what you want to do is place the robe tie on the top part of your head.

QUICK NOTE: To be sure that it’s symmetrical, fold the tie belt in half and see if it’s the same length before placing it on top of your head.

Step 3: Wrap 2 to 3 Inches of Hair on the Front and Back

When you’re sure that the tie belt is the same length, take 2 to 3-inch pieces of hair on one side separated by the tie belt. Wrap the hair around the tie by pulling a piece over it.

Then, on the other side that’s separated, take 2- to 3-inch-thick pieces of hair and let it over the first one that you wrapped.

After that’s done, what you want to do next is to start wrapping the hair around the robe and back to the tie again.

Continue this process until you reach the full length of your hair.

Here is another awesome technique.

@fabulousmag Create gorgeous curls using just your robe belt! ? #hairstyles #hairtutorials #hairtransformation #learnontiktok #hairhacks #hair #curlscheck #curls ♬ NICE GUYS – TheyreThere

Step 4: Secure the Tie With a Rubber Band or a Scrunchie

When done, secure the curls by using a scrunchie or a rubber band. What this does is restrict the curls from falling back into place again.

Step 5: Repeat the Steps on the Other Side

For the last part, do the exact same process on the side where the hair clip is. So, remove the hair clip from your hair and repeat the process.

Leave it for about 8 to 10 hours overnight, if possible, and make sure that you keep the hair away from your face.

Here’s a video you can use as a reference for how this method is done:

By doing any of the 2 methods I discussed, you’ll be able to curl your hair without heat. Never fail in doing any of the hair trends any longer with this simple cold hair tie technique!

FAQs

If you have more questions, here are some other questions about curling your hair using a gown belt or rope.

Want to Have Heatless Waves and Curls?

If you’re looking for a sign to do amazing curls without heat, then this is the guide you’re looking for.

It’s never easy to learn how to curl hair with a robe tie belt, but with this tutorial, you will never have any problem doing it ever again.

Sources:

1. Storr KA. How does hair conditioner work? | Scienceline. Scienceline. Published January 12, 2014. https://scienceline.org/2014/01/how-does-hair-conditioner-work/

2. Nast C. How to Do Heatless Waves If You’re Totally Over Your Curling Iron. Allure. Published June 26, 2020. Accessed March 10, 2022. https://www.allure.com/story/how-to-do-heatless-curls-and-waves