Buzz
You don’t always need to use hot curling tools or other heat-based styling devices to create beautiful waves. Sometimes, simply dampening your hair and styling it before bed can give you the perfect waves by morning. This article will show you a few methods to achieve wavy hair overnight. However, remember that if your hair doesn’t hold curls well, you might need to use some styling products, and the results may not last very long.
Steps
Using a Headband
Start with slightly damp hair, but not soaking wet. This is essential; hair that’s too wet won’t dry fully overnight. You can lightly mist your hair with a spray bottle to dampen it.
- You can also use hair styling products like mousse, light gel, or styling cream. These products help the waves hold their shape longer.
Ensure your hair is tangle-free and pre-sectioned as desired. You won’t be able to section your hair once it’s tied up with a headband. Dividing your hair after it’s already formed into waves isn’t ideal, as it can disrupt the curls.
Wrap a thin, elastic headband around your head, over your hair. Use a headband that’s no wider than 2.5 cm. If the headband is too wide, fold the edges inward. You can also make your own headband using an elastic band wrapped around your head.
Take a small section of hair from the front. Grab a section of hair from your forehead that’s no wider than a few centimeters.
Pull the hair section, twist it, and tuck it under the headband. Lift the hair section and loop it over the headband. Gently slide the hair closer to your face to make room for the next sections.
Lift the previous section again and gather more hair. You’ll add more hair to the section you’re holding after each wrap around the headband. Incorporate additional hair into the section using a motion similar to French braiding.
Wrap the thicker section of hair around the headband once. Make sure to tuck the hair underneath the headband. Keep the hair relatively loose while wrapping. If wrapped too tightly, you’ll end up with tight curls instead of soft waves.
Continue this process until you reach the back of your head. Keep gathering and wrapping sections of hair around the headband until you reach the back. You’ll stop around the halfway point, completing one side of your hair.
Repeat the process on the other side. Follow the same steps to gather and wrap hair on the opposite side, stopping when you reach the back. You might have a small section of hair left at the end, which will be addressed in the next step.
Twist the remaining hair. Reach behind your head to find any loose strands and twist them tightly. If there’s space under the headband, wrap the twisted hair around it. If not, coil the hair into a small bun and secure it with bobby pins.
- You can also pin any stray hairs that stick out or were missed during the wrapping process.
Adjust the headband if necessary. If the headband is too tight, it may leave marks on your forehead by morning. To prevent this, gently slide the headband slightly higher on your forehead until it rests at your hairline.
Remove the headband and style your hair the next morning. Start by taking out all the bobby pins. Gently slide the headband up and off your head. If the headband doesn’t come off easily, you may need to unwrap the hair sections around it. Avoid pulling too hard, as this can straighten the waves. Once all pins and the headband are removed, run your fingers through your hair to soften the waves.
- To help the waves last longer, you can spray a bit of hairspray or apply a small amount of styling cream.
Sock Bun Method
Find an old sock you no longer use. Make sure the sock still has good elasticity. A stretched-out sock won’t hold your hair well. The sock should be clean, but it doesn’t need to be one you plan to wear again, as you’ll be cutting it.
Use scissors to cut off the toe part of the sock. You’ll end up with a tube that’s open at both ends.
Roll the sock into a donut shape. Fold the cut edge of the sock inward by about 2.5 cm. Continue rolling until you reach the other end. You’ll end up with a donut-shaped ring with an open center.
Pull your hair up into a high ponytail. Try to position the ponytail right at the top of your head. Secure it with a hair tie.
- If you want to make it easier to create a high ponytail, bend over so your head faces the ground and your hair hangs down. Gather your hair and wrap the hair tie around it before standing back up.
Lightly mist the ponytail with water until it’s slightly damp. Avoid making it too wet, as it won’t dry overnight. You don’t need to spray the top of your head.
- Consider adding a bit of mousse, light styling gel, or styling cream to help the waves hold better the next day.
Thread the ponytail through the sock ring. Slide the sock ring up to the base of the ponytail, leaving a small gap between the ring and your scalp.
- This gap is necessary to allow the ponytail to pass through the sock ring in the next step.
Spread the hair evenly around the sock ring. Pull the hair through the ring and distribute it evenly around the sock so it resembles flower petals. Guide sections of hair through the ring before tucking them underneath.
- Ensure the hair is spread evenly for uniform waves.
- Tuck all the ends of the hair under the sock before pressing it in.
- If you have very long hair, you may need to pull the sock slightly higher to make tucking easier.
Roll the hair into the sock. Hold the sock with both hands and roll it downward. This motion will push the hair upward and around the sock. Use your fingers to adjust the hair around the sock as needed.
Continue rolling until you reach the base of the ponytail. Roll the hair around the sock until you reach the base of the ponytail, close to your scalp. Keep the ponytail upright while rolling to maintain tension.
- You don’t need to secure the bun with pins. The sock’s elasticity will hold it in place.
- Consider using another sock or a hairnet to cover the bun. This will keep it secure while you sleep. If using another sock, make sure to pull it all the way over to prevent the bun from wobbling.
Remove the sock and style your hair the next morning. Carefully unravel your hair and remove the sock ring the next morning. Avoid pulling too hard, as this can straighten the waves. Take off the hair tie and let your hair fall naturally.
- If you’re not satisfied with the waves, you can refine them using styling products like mousse, light gel, or styling cream.
- If the waves are too tight, gently run your fingers through your hair to soften them.
Twisting Method
Dampen your hair and apply styling products. Damp hair is easier to work with and holds waves better. Lightly mist your hair if it’s dry. Avoid making it too wet, as it won’t dry completely by morning, and the waves may not hold.
- For better hold, consider using mousse, light styling gel, or styling cream.
Part your hair as you normally would. You’ll have two sections: left and right. Since you’ll work on one section at a time, you can tie the other section back to keep it out of the way.
- You don’t have to part your hair down the middle; a side part works too.
Take one section of hair and begin twisting it outward. Continue twisting until you reach the ends. The hair should now be tightly twisted like a rope.
Secure the twisted section. Use a small elastic band to tie the end of the twisted hair. Lift the twisted section and wrap it around your head like a headband, placing the end of the twist at the top of your head, just above your forehead. Secure the end of the twist to the rest of your hair using bobby pins. Try crisscrossing the pins in an X shape for the strongest hold.
- You can also wrap the hair into one or more buns at the nape of your neck. This is easier to manage if you have thick or heavy hair.
Repeat the process on the other side. Remove the hair tie if you previously secured the other section. Pull the hair out and twist it into a rope-like shape. Wrap the twisted section around your head and secure it with bobby pins. Try to pin it directly in front of or behind the first twisted section.
Add more bobby pins if needed. If you have thick or heavy hair, you may need extra pins to hold the twists in place. Secure the twisted sections on both sides of your head with 2-3 bobby pins each; you don’t need to add more on top.
Wait until morning and let your hair down. Remove the bobby pins and release your hair. Use your fingers to separate the twisted sections into soft waves. If necessary, apply a bit of hairspray or styling cream to help the curls last longer.
Creating Small Buns
Dampen your hair and apply styling products. Avoid making your hair too wet, as it won’t dry completely by morning. Apply a small amount of mousse, light styling gel, or styling cream. This step will help the waves hold longer.
Divide your hair into at least 3 sections and tie each section. Start by pulling your hair up into a half-up style, then split the lower section into two and tie each side into low ponytails. You’ll undo these sections later, but for now, this keeps them out of the way.
- You can divide your hair into more sections. For example, you can create 2 upper sections and 2 lower sections. The more sections you create, the tighter and more defined the curls will be.
Bianca Cox
Hair Styling Expert
Hair Styling Expert
Experts suggest: If you want to achieve curls overnight without heat, you can braid your hair into two large braids or wrap it into multiple buns before bed. When you wake up, you’ll have wavy hair after unraveling it.
Release the top section of hair and twist it into a rope-like strand. Continue twisting tightly until you reach the ends.
Roll the twisted section into a bun and secure it. Keep twisting the hair until it naturally coils into a small bun. Pin it in place using bobby pins. You may need to wrap a hair tie around the bun to keep it secure.
Repeat the process for the two lower sections. Work on one section at a time. Release the left section, twist it into a rope, and roll it into a bun. Secure it with bobby pins before moving to the right section.
Undo the buns the next morning. Sleep with the buns intact, and in the morning, remove the pins and hair ties. Gently release the hair and run your fingers through the waves for a natural look.
- If needed, you can use a bit of styling gel, mousse, or hairspray to help the curls last longer.
Tips
- Consider using styling products before twisting or braiding your hair. This will help the curls last longer the next day.
- A quick way to achieve wavy hair is to divide your hair into two sections and braid them. Make sure your hair is damp before braiding.
Warnings
- This method may not work for all hair types. The waves may not hold well if your hair doesn’t curl easily.
Things You'll Need
Sock Bun Method
- A long sock
- Scissors
- Hair tie
- Spray bottle
Using a Headband
- Spray bottle
- Elastic headband
- Bobby pins
Twisting and Bunning Hair
- Spray bottle
- Elastic hair ties
- Bobby pins
