What braids are best for wavy hair?

Waking up with beautiful hair is every gal’s dream. Make it a reality with these seven easy to master sleep-in braid styles. From your run-of-the-mill pigtails to the complex sock method, these sleep-in braids will have you waking up with killer curls in no time.

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Easy Pigtail Method

The easy pigtail method is your introduction to sleep in braids. This is the easiest method to execute and can help get your feet wet when it comes to sleeping in braids. Start with dry hair and part it down the middle. Separate each section into three and curl from your roots to your tips. Secure the braids with a scrunchie to avoid marks. Remove your sleep-in braids the morning after and brush them out. Apply a bit of soft-hold hairspray and get ready for the compliments to roll in.

Boxer Braid Method

If you are looking for tighter curls with more complex curl patterns, boxer braids are for you. Sleeping in various braids (vs the traditional two braid method) will give you smaller, more even curls all over your mane. This is a preferred style for ladies who have a lot of hair. If you are on the thinner side, stick to two larger sleep-in braids.

Slightly Damp Method

You can either put your sleep-in braids in when your hair is fully dry or damp. Using dry hair will yield softer waves that will dissipate throughout the day. If you use damp hair, your braids will feel more marked and will also take longer to soften. If you have thin or stick-straight hair, opt for slightly damp strands so that the curls hold for longer.

Sock Method

This tried and true method takes a bit of practice but is very well worth it. Your hair can be damp or dry for this method. Grab a pair of your cleanest crew-length socks and part your hair down the middle. Start braiding your hair using the top of the sock as your third piece. The sock’s thickness will help create beach wave curls by adding volume. After you curl all the way down from your roots to your lengths, secure everything with a scrunchie to avoid marks. Repeat on the opposite side and wake up to the most perfect, bounciest waves around.

Robe Tassel Method

The roble tassel method is the leaner, meaner cousin of the sock method we described above. Hair guru Justine Marjan breaks the method down on her Instagram. Secure the robe tassel at your roots after you’ve parted your hair. Incorporate the tassel into your braid and sleep in the creation overnight. Upon waking up, remove the tassel and brush out curls.

Tightly Coiled Method

If you are looking for more kinky ’80s perm vibes, this method is for you. This is best executed on manes that are thin and not naturally curly. Similar to the pigtail method, you part your hair into two large sections down the middle. Instead of executing a typical three-piece braid, you start with a tight french braid at the top of the middle part, close to the roots. You continue making your way down until you reach your tips.

Braids aren’t the only hairstyle that can help you wake up to stunning strands. Sleeping in THESE hairstyles also has the same effect!

As I've mentioned before, I'm super lazy when it comes to doing my hair. So of course, I'm always down to try hacks, especially ones that help me get wavy hair overnight. One that I've been using since before I could even do my own hair (thanks, mom) is sleeping in a braid. I have naturally straight hair, so, because the grass is always greener, I've always coveted wavy and curly types. But now that I'm a little older and a little wiser than that six year old who went to bed with six braids for optimal crimpage, I realized that those other braids I sometimes wear (when I remember I should try doing something other than just air dry) can also be slept in to the same purpose. And because I was curious just how differently various braids would turn out, I put four to the test.

Before braiding each of these styles, I washed my hair and let it completely air-dry. Only prior to hopping into bed did I actually braid my hair to give each style the same eight hours to set. The next morning all I did was run my fingers through the braid to loosen up the waves. (Optional: set with hairspray.) And the best part is, even with the most time-consuming style, I still only spent about five minutes max consciously attending to my hair. So if you're feeling particularly lazy, you might want to try one (or more!) of these braids. Just keep in mind that even though there's no heat involved with these curls, constantly braiding hair (especially when wet) can cause damage. So make sure to give your hair a break every once in a while so it doesn't, well, break. Happy braiding!

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1. Fishtail Braid

The fishtail, although it takes longer than the other braids here to do, had beautiful results. This braid provided the exact wave effect I was searching for all those years sleeping in a traditional braid. It creates curves instead of dents, and even gives the hair a piece-y look that I rather enjoy.

Final verdict: This braid takes the longest to complete but will produce chic waves. Recommend.

2. Four-Strand Braid

I was pretty surprised by how poorly this one turned out. I sometimes think a regular three-strand braid can have an appearance that reads more crimped than waved, so I was hoping that by adding another strand to the mix, I could get more of a classic wave look. But because working with four strands means that one or two will usually run shorter than the others, so the braid cannot be as long as other types. And because the braid is only commenced at the nape of the neck rather than further up on the head, there is only a small section of waves between two otherwise straight sections of hair.

Final verdict: This braid takes longer to complete and is better for wearing as-is than sleeping in. Do not recommend.

3. Rope Braid

The rope braid somehow managed to turn out beachy waves. Where the fishtail produced uniform waves, this one produced a few different sized waves to make the hair appear to have more volume. And as far as time? The rope braid can be completed in about one minute.

Final verdict: This braid is quick and easy (with practice), and will produce beachy waves. Recommend.

4. French Braid

If I'm going to sleep in a traditional three-strand braid, I like to make it a French braid instead so the waves start further up than the nape of the neck. These waves come out more crimped than both the fishtail and rope braids, and are looser at the top and become tighter towards the bottom.

Final verdict: This braid is quick and easy (with practice), and will produce cute crimps. Recommend.

Images: Miki Hayes

Which braid is best for waves?

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