We Tested Drew Barrymore’s Viral Toilet Paper Roll Curls: Do They Actually Work?

Trying to understand how we Tested Drew Barrymore’s Viral Toilet Paper Roll Curls: Do They Actually Work means for you? Check out this overview and key takeaways.

Hair shape relies on temporary hydrogen bonds. When hair absorbs water, those hydrogen bonds break down, allowing the cortex to stretch and take on the profile of whatever cylinder it wraps around. As water evaporates, the hydrogen bonds reform, locking in the mechanical shape. This fundamental rule governs all overnight curls.

Cardboard introduces an unusual dynamic because unsealed paper fibers are porous. As damp hair rests against the cylinder, the roll pulls moisture away from the interior of the wrapped strand. In testing, sections wrapped around cardboard dried approximately 15% faster than those pinned against non-porous plastic rollers. That accelerated drying comes with a hidden drawback: cardboard fibers create microscopic surface friction against cuticles that are swollen from moisture, lifting scales and leaving dull patches instead of frizz-free curls.

There is also an essential hygiene boundary. Online health reporting, such as coverage by the New York Post warning of bathroom bacterial transfer, highlights how paper products left in open restrooms collect airborne particulates and biological residue. Placing discarded toilet rolls directly against the scalp and wet cuticles poses obvious cleanliness concerns. Anyone attempting this Drew Barrymore beauty hack should use clean paper towel tubes cut down to size or core rolls sourced away from high-moisture bathroom spaces.