How to Get Curly Hair Overnight

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Looking for a way to curl hair without damage? Or a way that doesn't take forever? Your search is over! Here are a few easy, fun ways to curl your hair overnight.

Things You Should Know

  • French braid your hair, loop and tie the ends, lightly hairspray your locks, sleep in the hairdo, and wake up to curly hair in the morning.
  • After washing and detangling your hair, fold your hair into a towel and tie the excess material over your head to leave in place overnight.
  • Or, consider other methods like curling mousse , ribbons, or curlers to achieve curly hair.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Leaving Plaits (Braids) in Overnight

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    Spray your hair lightly with water using a spray bottle, or wash your hair and let it dry until it is damp but not dripping.
    • Do not continue this process with soaking wet hair. Plaited hair takes longer to dry, and the curls will not form if your hair is still wet the next morning.
    • Optionally, you can apply hair oil to keep your hair shiny and healthy.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Brush out knots . Brush or comb your hair, getting rid of any knots.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Plait your hair . Part your hair into two sections (for wavy hair) or 4–9 sections (for wavier hair). Plait (braid) each section in a French plait. [1] Make this as tight as possible for a curlier effect.
    • Two thick plaits create a wavy effect. Smaller, tighter braids will create more defined waves.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Plait as close to the end as you can, then loop the ends up and tuck them in. This will ensure there are no straight ends dangling from your curls.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    This will keep them in position during the night.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    If you have long hair, bring each plait up to the top or side of your head. Pin them into place with bobby pins.
  7. 7
    Wrap your head in a scarf before you go to bed. To avoid messing up the braids or having the pins come out, wrap a scarf around your hair before you go to bed. This will help to protect your hair while you sleep
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    When you wake up, spray your plaits with hairspray again. Then unravel them and let your hair down.
    • Do not brush your hair. This will just make your hair frizzy and ruin the effect.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Plopping Your Hair

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Brush or comb out any knots. Wash your hair, and continue on to the next step while it's still wet.
  2. 2
    Let your hair dry most of the way. Your hair should be damp, not soaking wet. [2] If you use this method while your hair is still fully wet, then it will not work. Allow your hair to air dry or use a blow dryer to dry it most of the way.
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    Use an old cotton T-shirt instead if you have fragile hair. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Bend forward, concentrating all of your hair onto one place at the top of your head. Touch the top of your hair to the towel. [4]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Gather the towel on your left and right and twist inward. Keep twisting until all your hair is twisted in the bundle. [5]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Once finished, the top and bottom edges of the towel should be compressed against your forehead and the back of your head. Your hair should sit in a pile on top of your head, underneath the towel. [6]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Make sure your two "towel pigtails" stay twisted. Wrap them around each other at the base of your neck or your forehead, whichever you find comfortable. Secure them in place with a hair clip, or by tying them in a knot. [7]
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    Sleep with the towel over your hair. Remove the towel in the morning and watch those gorgeous locks tumble down! [8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Other Methods

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Curling mousse, curl-defining creams, and an anti-frizz product can enhance your curls. For best results, apply these before any of the other methods.
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    Find a sock for waves or a ribbon for smaller curls. Arrange your hair as follows:
    • Section your hair into several parts. Begin a pigtail with each one.
    • Halfway down each pigtail, separate it into two lengths of hair.
    • Wrap the two lengths of hair around the sock or ribbon, in an over-under helix pattern.
    • Apply hairspray and leave in overnight.
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    Insert hair curlers . This is what hair curlers were made for, after all. Wrap a small section of hair tightly around each roller, and leave it overnight. Check out this article for more detailed information.
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    You can make your own hair curlers by wrapping your hair around strips of cloth from an old, cotton T-shirt or around plastic straws (for tight ringlets). Wrap more loosely than you would with curlers, and use larger sections of hair. This gives more of a wavy look than full-on curls.
    • You can even wrap the hair around your finger, then secure with bobby pins before pulling your finger out. Take care not to poke yourself.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get Curly Hair Overnight
    Wrap a stretchy hairband around your hair, making sure it sits on top of all your hair. Starting on one side of your head, loop a small section of hair around the hairband. Add another small section and loop again. Keep adding on and looping until you get to the back of your head. Repeat from the other side until all your hair is up. Leave in overnight and roll the hairband down in the morning.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I braid my hair into many small braids, then put straightener in before taking them out?
    Community Answer
    Sure, just don't leave the straightener on too long, and don't melt the elastics if you're using rubber ones.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 25
  • Question
    Is there a simpler way, as braiding my hair only makes it frizzy, not curly, and it is extremely uneven.
    Kalie McLaughlin
    Community Answer
    Something else you can do than braiding is the other things listed above or you can curl your hair in the morning into really tight ringlets and then very softly and carefully brush them out to waves. Your hair will still get frizzy with this method, but not as much.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 9
  • Question
    Are there any other effective methods for pretty curls?
    Emma Trifan
    Community Answer
    Yes, there are. You can twist your hair, while it's damp, scrunch it up, and put it into a mini bun. Make these mini buns in bigger forms for bigger curls or smaller forms for curlier smaller curls. Spray them with hairspray and sleep with them overnight or keep them in for 5-6 hours.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Use snag-free elastics, to ensure no knots or split ends.
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      • To keep your curls from sagging during the day, wet your hands and "jump up" your hair by pulling it outward and upward with your fingers. This will only work if you applied hairspray in the morning.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Snag-free elastics
      • Hairspray
      • Hair ties
      • Towel
      • Comb

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-prevent-curls-from-falling-nighttime-techniques
      2. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      3. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      4. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      5. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      6. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      7. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/
      8. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/beauty/hair/a46236/plop-your-hair-for-the-best-curls-ever/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get curly hair overnight, start by spraying your hair with water so it's damp, then separate your hair into 2 sections. Next, plait your hair as tightly as possible before looping the ends up and tucking them in so they don't slip out. Finish by applying hairspray to your plaits and wearing a headscarf overnight to protect them. Alternatively, lay a towel on a flat surface and bend forward so your hair gathers in the center. Twist the sides of the towel around your hair, fix the towel in place with a hair clip, and wear the towel overnight. To learn how to curl your hair with a sock or ribbon, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Nancy Bergen

        May 12, 2020

        "In the morning I took the braids out and moved my hair around and it was perfect."
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