How to sleep with wet wavy hair

Being able to wash and style hair the night is a great skill to learn to make your morning go that much faster, as sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to have much success with any style other than a bun. When showering every morning for definition is not an option, you can still get your freshest, best curls with this step-by-step guide.

1. Start with a leave-in conditioner.

While styling wavy and curly hair overnight, use about twice the normal amount of leave-in then you normally would in the morning. I have found that my hair loses more moisture overnight and without the extra conditioner, hair tends to be frizzier the next day. My current favorite leave-in is SheaMoisture Superfruit Multi-Vitamin Leave-in or Rinse Out Conditioner because it is leaves my hair feeling super soft and moisturized without feeling flat or weighed down.

2. Apply your favorite medium hold styling gel.

I stress using only up to a medium hold as you do not want your hair to harden into the shape of your head against a pillow the night before (or your pineapple). This way, your curls will not instead be able to bounce back to their natural curl formation the next morning. My favorite product for doing this is Kinky Curly Curling Custard because it has enough hold to give me great wave and curl formation but at the same time, won't cause any crunch.

3. Plop your hair for 30 minutes to an hour.

This allows the hair to dry a bit so you are not going to walk out the door with super wet hair. If you are short on time, now would be a good time to diffuse until your hair is about 50% dry to achieve close to the same results as you would with plopping for 30 minutes to an hour. However, personally, this tends to add more frizz whenever I choose this route since it draws more moisture out.

4. Place your hair into a pineapple.

I find this is the best hairstyle to wear overnight because it helps to not crush waves and curls by covering them with too much. Use a large scrunchie that will not cause a dent in your natural curl formation.

5. Sleep with a t-shirt over your pillowcase.

Your hair will still probably be slightly damp to the touch and so use a t-shirt over your pillowcase to help absorb some of the excess moisture without over-drying the hair or causing abrasion.

In the morning your hair may still have a few wet spots where you had your hair band around so to keep those areas from causing frizz it’s best to apply either a light cream or light hold gel in the morning. My current favorite to use in the morning is Alikay Naturals Wake Me Up Curl Refresher because I love that it adds volume to my hair the morning and helps keeps frizz to a minimum.

Finally...head out the door!

By cutting down the morning routine to only one step it makes being able to wear your hair naturally curly, even when you have to get up early, a much more manageable thing.

Read This is Why Your Hair Looks Frizzy After It Dries

This article has been updated.

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There are several ways you can help preserve your curls if you're sleeping with wet hair, whether you're using a styling product or not. Put your wet hair up into a pineapple, braid it to keep it in place, or create a bun on top of your head to keep your curls bouncy. If your hair needs some refreshing in the morning, spritz it with water or use a leave-in conditioner to add some moisture to your curls.

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   Shower 2-3 hours before you sleep if possible. It’s best if you shower a couple hours before you plan on going to bed, as this will ensure that your hair isn’t soaking wet. When your hair is partially dry, it’ll be easier for your curls to take shape and remain curly overnight.[1]

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   Apply your chosen styling product to damp hair. This can be whatever styling product you normally use, such as a curl-defining cream to get bouncy curls, or an anti-humidity oil for hair that tends to frizz. Dab a bit of the product throughout your hair after you come out of the shower to help shape your curls as you’d like them.[2]

   • Consider using a leave-in conditioner as your styling product to help your hair retain its moisture throughout the night.
   • Choose a product depending on the kind of results you'd like, such as no frizz or softer hair.

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   Plop your hair for frizz-free curls. Spread a soft T-shirt on a flat surface upside down with the sleeves close to you. After you shower, flip your wet hair onto the T-shirt so your head is in the middle of the shirt. Pull the bottom hem of the shirt towards you so it covers the back of your head and wrap the arms of the shirt around your head to tie them together, holding the shirt in place on your hair.[3]

   • Sleep with the T-shirt tied on top of your head to let your hair dry naturally overnight, leaving you with perfect curls when you remove the shirt the next morning.
   • Use a shirt with long sleeves to wrap the arms of the shirt around your head more tightly.

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   Braid your curls for wavy curls. Braid your hair into one braid going down the back of your head, or create two pigtail braids instead. This keeps your hair from moving all about as you’re sleeping, but be aware that the braid may affect how your curls dry.[4]

   • Braid your hair after your curls have dried about 50% to help prevent them from drying in the same texture as the braid.

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   Put your hair in a loose bun for natural-looking curls. If you have long hair, this is a good way to keep your curls out of your eyes and prevent yourself from laying on them. Gather your hair up on top of your head and use a hair tie to create a bun, holding your curls in place overnight.[5]

   • Make the bun high enough up that you won’t squish your curls when you’re lying down.

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   Create a pineapple on top of your head for looser curls. Flip your hair upside down and gather it up on the top of your head. Use a loose hair tie or scrunchy to secure your hair on top of your head, creating a pineapple shape with all of your curls. This style keeps you from flattening your curls as you sleep.[6]

   • Gather your hair up as high on the top of your head as possible—this will add volume to your roots in the morning as well as keep you from squishing your curls.

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   Secure your hair in pin curls for bouncy curls. Take each curl or small clump of curls and use your finger to push them up towards your scalp, keeping them in their curl shape as you compress them. Use a bobby pin to hold each curl in place on your head. When you wake up, you’ll remove all of the bobby pins to reveal beautiful bouncy curls.[7]

   • It’s best to cover your head in a silk scarf or satin bonnet before sleeping to keep the pin curls in place.
   • Pin curls work well if you have short hair.

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   Use bantu knots to create defined curls. Separate your hair into small sections using a comb, and then twist each section from the root up until it forms a spiral. Continue twisting the section until it's in a twist flat against your head, using a bobby pin to secure it. Do this to the other sections of your hair, creating secure curls.[8]

   • Consider separating your hair into 8-10 sections to create 8-10 twists.
   • Unravel each bantu knot in the morning to reveal your defined curls.

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   Cover your hair with a satin bonnet for extra protection. If you put your hair up in something like pin curls or a pineapple, placing a satin bonnet over your hair can help keep it in place and ensure your styling doesn’t come undone. Look for a satin bonnet at your local big box store or online.[9]

   • The satin bonnet goes over all of your hair with an elastic to stay on your head, keeping your curls from coming undone.

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    Exchange a regular pillowcase for a satin or silk one for softer curls. When it’s time to fall asleep, use a satin or silk pillowcase to keep your curls smooth. Satin or silk helps prevent friction, meaning your hair will slide smoothly over the pillowcase instead of getting caught on it which creates tangles and bedhead.[10]

    • Look for satin or silk pillowcase at your local home goods store or online.

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   Spritz your hair with water to reawaken your curls. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray a light mist over your hair. This will add some moisture and help revitalize your hair style, giving your curls more volume.[11]

   • Spray sections more heavily with water if you want them to re-dry a certain way or are styling them.

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   Step into a hot shower to use the steam to help style your curls. If you take a shower in the morning, turn on the hot water and pin your hair on top of your head to avoid getting it wet. The steam will help add volume to your hair so that your curls are full and bouncy by the time you’re done showering.[12]

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   Add a sea salt spray to your curls to redefine them. Spray a few spritzes of sea salt spray on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair to add texture and volume. If you find that your hair dries out due to the sea salt, add a layer of leave-in conditioner to help add moisture back into your curls.[13]

   • How much sea salt spray you use will depend on the specific brand of spray as well as how curly your hair is.

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   Apply dry shampoo to the roots of your hair for a quick lift. If your curls are feeling flat or your hair is already a bit oily, spray dry shampoo at the roots to add volume or on sections that could use a bit more definition. Dry shampoo is also great for separating clumps of curls because it covers up your hair's oils and prevents the curls from sliding back into one another.[14]

   • Look for a dry shampoo at your local drugstore, grocery store, or big box store.
   • Spray the dry shampoo generously on the sections you'd like to be more voluminous.

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   Use a diffuser on slightly damp hair to reshape curls. If you wake up and your curls aren't looking like you'd like them to, dampen your hair generously with a spray bottle. Use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to dry your curls, aiming the air straight up from the bottom of your curls to reduce frizziness while creating natural curls.[15]

   • Purchase a diffuser extension at your local big box store or online.
   • Consider drying your hair on a cool setting to reduce frizziness even more.

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   Give your curls a shake to add volume to your hair. If your curls are already fairly styled when you wake up, flip your hair over and give it a good shake. Use your fingers to lift up the hair at your roots to add even more volume.[16]

   • Shake your hair gently to avoid creating tangles.

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   Use a serum to smooth any frizzy sections. If your hair tends to frizz overnight, squeeze out a small drop of serum to apply to your hair. Spread the serum lightly over the frizzy sections of your hair, rubbing it in thoroughly so your curls aren’t stringy.[17]

   • Look for an anti-frizz serum at your local big box store or grocery store.

8. 

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   Spray a leave-in conditioner in your hair to add moisture. If your curls are feeling dry or in need of extra nutrients in the morning, spritz them with a leave-in conditioner. Spray the conditioner throughout your hair, lifting up your curls to ensure it reaches all of them.[18]

   • Look for leave-in conditioners that contain argan oil which helps lock in moisture in curls.
   • You can find a leave-in conditioner at a grocery store or big box store.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How should I take care of my short curly hair?

  

  Bianca Cox is a Hair Stylist, Licensed Cosmetologist, Owner of The Hair Throne, and Co-Owner of Bianchi Salon. Her salons pride themselves on their modernity, individuality, art, and professional services. You can check out The Hair Throne and more of Bianca's hairstyling on Instagram @hairthrone and on her personal Instagram @biancajcox.

  

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  You definitely want to get your hair trimmed regularly, which will prevent hair splitting. Curls have a tendency to get dry and frizzy, so you want to keep curls intact by keeping them really moisturized. If you want to have it hold that way, you can start using gels, which are more cosmetic and will hold your look.

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Things You'll Need

• Styling product (Curl-defining cream, anti-humidity oil, etc.)
• Soft T-shirt (optional)
• Hair ties (optional)
• Bobby pins (optional)
• Satin bonnet (optional)
• Satin or silk pillowcase

• Spray bottle with water
• Sea salt spray
• Leave-in conditioner
• Dry shampoo
• Diffuser
• Anti-frizz serum

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