Ever since I saw The Sleep Styler make its big debut on Shark Tank in March, I’ve been waiting to get my hands on it. Creator and CEO Tara Brown, also a full-time ophthalmologist, made a compelling pitch for her innovative hair product:
“As a working mom, I could never find time to blow out and curl my naturally frizzy hair—I was tired of every day being a ponytail day. And even when I did take the time to blow it out and style it, my hair was dull and dry from all the heat damage. One day I was taking a braid out my daughter Clara’s hair that I put in wet the day before and I was thinking about how it still had that braid wave in it, and it stayed that way until she washed it again. So, I started thinking about that quality of hair, that whatever shape it’s in as it goes from wet to dry is how it will stay.”
Thus, The Sleep Styler—specially made hair rollers that style your strands while you sleep—was born. Seconds after Brown finished her pitch, business mogul Lori Greiner jumped on the deal, offering Brown the $75,000 she requested, which was accepted.
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The patented rollers, made of super absorbent yoga towel material that wicks moisture out of your hair, have two main goals: save you time in the morning and save your hair from the damage that comes with using hot styling tools.
Available in two sizes (both are $30), Original is best for hair that’s long and thick or curly, and Mini is better for short hair (or long hair that is fine). After letting your hair air-dry about 80 percent, you divide it into sections, wrap your hair around the roller like you would with a wand curling iron, and then wrap the attached strap around the hair to secure it (there’s Velcro at the bottom of each roller).
Each microfiber roller houses a piece of memory foam that the brand says is “marshmallow soft and comfortable to sleep on,” which is true. I tried the larger, original rollers—eight come in a pack, so I used four on each side—and slept perfectly fine. I shift from my side to my back while I sleep, and in both positions, the rollers molded easily on top of my pillow and were actually really comfortable.
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In the morning, they only took about 30 seconds to remove and slipped out easily without ripping any hair. I had loose, beachy waves and the silkiest hair I’ve felt in a while. I think it’s a great alternative for those who need a break from styling tools but still want styled hair, and for those who are looking to save time in their morning routines.
For me, I’m a shower-in-the-morning kind of girl and I’ve got my curling iron skills down to a science, so that’s probably what I’ll stick to for now. Either way, it’s nice to know there are options to suit every woman’s lifestyle. And as Lori Greiner says, “I can tell when a product is a hero or a zero, and this is a hero.”
