We all dream of rolling out of bed with perfect hair because let’s face it—who doesn’t hit snooze on their alarm at least a few times each morning? The reality is that straighteners, blow dryers, and curling wands are a major (and time-consuming) part of our everyday styling routines. If you’re feeling like you need a much-needed break from heat styling, however, there are plenty of no-heat ways to style hair overnight.
Wondering how to turn your no-heat styling dreams into a reality? Whether you have long hair or a short haircut, these eight overnight styling methods are foolproof.
The Best Overnight Hairstyles To Try Now
Dutch Braid Waves
The trick to waking up with effortless beach waves? We’ll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with the actual beach. If you want to style beachy waves overnight, we recommend Dutch braids.
Beginning with damp, clean hair, use a wide tooth comb to detangle your mane. Apply a quarter-size amount of hair mousse like Matrix Style Link Volume Builder Mousse for lightweight volume and styling control. Part your hair down the middle and split it into two even sections. Take either section and begin weaving a classic Dutch braid. Secure the braid with a hair tie and repeat on the other side.
When you wake up, gently undo the braids to reveal your voluminous waves!
Not sure how to style a Dutch braid? Check out our guide: How To Style A Dutch Braid In 7 Steps.
Good hair day by @pekelariley.
Bantu Knot Curls
If you have natural hair, you may be familiar with bantu knots—and many women wear the coiled buns overnight to create (and maintain) natural curls.
Before you begin styling your bantu knots, be sure to have a few bobby pins, a wide tooth comb, and a styling cream like Mizani Curl Define Pudding on deck. Starting with damp, detangled hair, apply a few spritzes of a leave-in conditioner like Mizani 25 Miracle Milk throughout your mane. Taking one small section of hair at a time, apply a dime-size amount of curl cream. Coil the section of hair around itself, forming a tight twist. Wrap the twist around itself to form a knot and secure it with bobby pins. Repeat these steps until you’ve secured all of your hair into bantu knots.
Once you’re ready to take them out in the morning, carefully unwrap each knot and pull it curl apart using your fingers or a wide tooth comb.
Sock Curls
The sock curl method is a super quick and convenient way to wake up to heat-free curls and it only requires one key tool:—socks! Any socks lying around your house (clean, preferably!) will do.
Start with slightly damp hair, apply an anti-frizz cream like Pureology Smooth Perfection Cream throughout your strands. The product controls frizz and unwanted volume.
Then, split your hair into two sections. Split each side into two more. Working with the first section, wrap the entire length of your strands around the first sock and roll it toward the top of your head. Use the loose ends of the sock to tie the section into a knot. If the knot isn’t tight enough, secure it with a few bobby pins to ensure it doesn’t come loose overnight.
Repeat the same steps with the next three sections of hair. In the morning, remove the socks from your hair, tousle, and complete the look with a few spritzes of light-hold hairspray like Pureology Style + Protect Soft Finish Hairspray. The final result? Effortless curls without the embarrassment of people seeing you with socks in your hair.
Good hair day by @janine_budde.
Headband Curls
Have an elastic headband laying around the house? Use it to create soft, voluminous curls while you sleep.
For the perfect headband curls, you’ll need to gather an elastic headband, hairspray, and curl cream before you begin styling. Once you’ve prepped your products, start with slightly damp hair, split your strands into two sections down the middle, and place the headband over the top of your head. Starting with one section at a time, twist it and wrap it around the headband starting at the back. Continue twisting the section and wrapping it around the headband until you reach the end of your length. Repeat this step on the second section of your hair. Before bed, apply a light mist of light-hold hairspray.
In the morning, gently unravel the two sections while the headband is still secured. Once the curls are loose, remove the headband. If your curls are looking a bit flat after tossing and turning all night, take a small amount of curl cream and run it through your strands. Complete the look with a few more spritzes of light-hold hairspray.
Good hair day by @balayagebylinet.
Pigtails For Straight Hair
Contrary to popular belief, your flat iron isn’t the only way to get straight hair. Case in point: the pigtail method. While this method won’t work to straighten curly hair completely, it can help to loosen your ringlets a bit.
For this method, all you’ll need is a few hair elastics. Begin with damp hair, making sure it’s completely detangled. Then, apply a dime-size amount of hair serum like Biolage Smoothproof Serum to tame frizz and flyaways while adding shine. Split your hair into two even segments, bring them over your shoulder, and secure a hair elastic at the base of each segment to create matching pigtails. Here’s where it gets a bit complicated. Working with one pigtail at a time, secure another hair tie about two inches below the first. Continue adding hair ties until you reach your ends. In the morning, remove all of the hair elastics.
Pro tip: Be sure to wrap the hair elastic as loosely as possible to avoid creases.
Good hair day by @hairbyru.
Top Knot Texture
Gather your hair into a high ponytail at the top of your head. Then, create a top knot and secure it with a loose hair elastic or scrunchie. When you wake up, undo the top knot and amp up your waves with a few spritzes of texturizing spray like Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray to complete your look. This aerosol dry texturizing spray provides hair with airy volume and beachy texture.
Good hair day by @londons_muse.
Space Buns For Loose Waves
Wondering how to achieve loose waves with space buns? Here’s how: Beginning with damp hair, use a fine tooth comb to create a part down the middle of your head creating two even sections. Gather each section into a high ponytail at the top of your head. Then, wrap your hair around the base of the ponytail and use hair elastics or bobby pins to form your buns. In the morning, undo your buns and apply a few spritzes of hairspray to lock your look in place.
Good hair day by @chrisgreenehairE.
Mini Braids For Crimped Hair
Good news: You don’t need to find your long-lost crimped to slay a crimped hairstyle. Three-strand braids will do the trick to get crimped hair overnight (and without heat).
Beginning with damp hair, take a half-inch segment of hair and create a three-strand braid. Secure the braid with a clear hair elastic. Continue creating small three-strand braids until you’ve completed your entire head.
Unravel your braids when you wake up and apply a strong-hold hairspray like L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Infinium 4 High-Hold Hairspray to lock in your look for the day.
Interested in more expert styling tips? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.
Style Link Volume Builder Mousse
A volumizing mousse that won't leave hair feeling sticky, crunchy or stiff.
Curl Define Pudding
A luxurious curl activator that elongates coily to extremely tight texture types.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Style + Protect Soft Finish Hairspray
A fast-drying, brushable, flexible-hold hairspray for color-treated hair.
Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Texturizing spray for all hair types that adds soft texture and lightweight volume for effortless style.
Tecni.Art Infinium 4 High-Hold Hairspray
A medium hold hairspray without the stiffness.
