How to Sleep with Curled Hair

Curly hair often looks great the night before, however, once you wake up it can look flat, dented, or frizzy! There are many different hairstyles that you can try to help keep your curls looking good overnight, including a loose bun, two-strand twists, a high ponytail called a pineapple, braids, pin curls, or bantu knots. Protecting your hair at night can also help to preserve your curls, such as using a satin pillowcase, wearing a T-shirt turban, or plopping your hair with a microfiber towel.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Trying Different Hairstyles

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1
Tie your hair in a loose bun to prevent frizz. Put some leave-in conditioner in your hair. Then gather your hair into a ponytail on top of your head and twist it loosely. Wrap the twist around itself to create a bun on top of your head. Hold it secure with a soft scrunchie.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Don’t twist or wrap your hair tightly as you put it into a bun, otherwise, this may dent your hair and flatten your curls.
- This is the best hairstyle to do if you are short on time, yet want to protect your curls as much as possible.^{[2]XResearch source}
- You can also do more than 1 bun if you want more voluminous curls in the morning. For example, divide your hair into 2-4 sections and create a bun for each section.
2
Use the two-strand twist style if you have tight curls or coils. Part your hair down the middle into 2 sections. Divide each section in half again. Take both sections on 1 side of your head, start at the roots, and cross each half over the other until you reach the tips of your hair to form a loose twist shape. Repeat on the other side so you have 1 two-strand twist on each half of your head. Secure each twist with a hair tie wrapped around the end.^{[3]XResearch source}
- You can use this hairstyle if your hair is wet or dry. However, if your hair is damp, you will have tighter curls in the morning.
- This style creates a two-strand twist on each half of your head. However, you can do as many two-strand twists in your hair as you prefer.
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3
Tie your hair into a pineapple style to keep your curls from getting squished. Flip your hair forward over your face. Gather it together and tie it into a very high ponytail on top of your head. Use a scrunchie to secure it and try to avoid laying down on the hair in the ponytail.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Secure your hair very loosely so that you don’t damage your hair.
- You can also use a clip to secure the pineapple style.^{[5]XResearch source}
4
Braid your hair to help hold your curl pattern in place. Choose to do either 1 loose braid, multiple smaller braids, or a French braid. A tighter braid will result in a more crimped style when you wake up, while a looser braid will work to keep your natural curl pattern. Secure your braid with a scrunchie.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Experiment with trying out a different braid style each night before you sleep to see what style you prefer.
- After you braid your hair, you can use a sea-salt or wave spray to help set the braids in place.^{[7]XResearch source}
5
Choose pin curls if you have a soft hair texture. Take each large curl from the bottom and wrap it around your fingers. Make the curl sit flat against your scalp and use a bobby pin to hold it in place. Repeat this until all of your hair is pinned up.^{[8]XResearch source}
- When you remove the bobby pins in the morning, you will have soft, bouncy ringlets.
6
Choose bantu knots if you have defined curls. Use a wide-tooth comb to create 8-10 sections in your hair and tie each of these into a ponytail. Separate each ponytail into 2 sections and do a two-strand twist by crossing each half over the other until you reach the end. Wrap each twist up clockwise into a knot against your scalp and hold it secure with a bobby pin.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Use a setting product to prepare your hair before you create the sections if required.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Wear a silk bonnet while you sleep to protect your bantu knots even more.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Protecting Your Curls

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1
Use a satin pillowcase to avoid waking up with frizzy hair. Change your regular pillowcase to one your hair is able to smoothly glide over.^{[11]XExpert SourceJenny Tran
Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 19 May 2020.} For the best protection for your curls, choose a hairstyle such as a braid or a pineapple and use this in combination with a satin pillowcase.^{[12]XResearch source}
- A silk pillowcase is a good alternative.
- Avoid sleeping on cotton pillowcases if you have curly or frizz-prone hair.^{[13]XResearch source}
- You can also wear a satin bonnet to help protect your hair even more. A satin bonnet also helps if you have acne, as it prevents the oils from your hair touching your face.^{[14]XResearch source}
2
Wear a T-shirt turban to keep your curls from getting flattened or dented. Flip your hair forward and place the base of a T-shirt on the nape of your neck. Bring the base of the T-shirt around your forehead and secure each side with a safety pin that rests flat on your forehead. Bring your head back up and wrap the sleeves of the T-shirt around your hair. Knot the sleeves together, taking care not to include your curls in the knot, and your curls will be held in place throughout the night.^{[15]XResearch source}
- At the end of creating this style, your hair will be sticking up and spilling slightly out of the top of the T-shirt. The T-shirt turban will feel secure and it will be comfortable to sleep in.
3
Plop your hair using a microfiber towel to keep your curls intact. Style your hair into your preferred curls first using a curl styling gel. Then place a thin, microfiber towel on a flat surface. Flip your hair forward so that it rests on the towel and bring the towel over the back of your head. Bring your head back up and tie each long side of the towel together in a knot at the back of your head so that it holds in place.^{[16]XResearch source}
- This method will also help to dry your hair as you sleep.
- If the towel is too difficult to knot, use a clip instead.

Expert Q&A

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How can I make my curly hair dry faster after showering?
Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.
Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Answer
Curly hair is definitely a process, but I always like keeping a microfiber towel around to scrunch the curls up. Keep scrunching until you get your desired curls and level of dryness. I usually do this process after I have applied my curl products to prepare it for air dry.
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