How to Keep Curly Hair Curly Overnight

Dear Emilie,

yes, you can sleep with conditioner in overnight. However, your hair is only going to absorb what it needs ; so overnight is not going to give it extra conditioning.

Be careful though, because not all conditioners are equal. If you are using a high protein conditioner, and using it too much, it can make your hair brittle.

I would recommend putting your deep conditioner on while in the shower. Put a shower cap on, and finish showering. A good 20 minutes in a hot shower will help open the cuticles and let the conditioner soak in better than sleeping on it all night.

Cheers, Nicole

Of course!

As you sleep, your hair is somewhat protected with the conditioner in your hair. Your hair will, of course, only absorb all of the nutrients it needs for the moment and, as others say, it only absorbs for so long. When you wake up and wash your hair it will feel healthier but the only benefit is that your hair is a little more protected overnight. After you wash the conditioner out, use cold water to close the cuticles for protection.

Why Certainly

You definitely can. I never wash the conditioner out of my hair unless I'm straightening it. My hair's in great shape and it gives you nice soft curls, not brittle, wet looking, gel curls. Not to mention it saves me a boatload on leave-ins and other product.

-Mags

Yes, there is a way to sleep on curly hair to help the curl in the morning. You can try either one of these suggestions. See which one works better.

1. Take a "scrunchy" or a covered rubber band and pull your hair into a loose ponytail. Secure the ponytail at the base of the neck.

or

2. Divide your hair into vertical sections, using your ears as a reference. (While sectioning your hair do not brush or comb the sections. Just section your hair with your fingers, in a gentle manner.) Make one vertical section from the top of your head to the ear and forward. Loosely twist this section up so the under hair is exposed and the hair on top is covered. Secure this in place with a long duckbill clip. Follow the same directions for the other side of your head. In the back you will twist the hair up in the same manner, but you may need to divide the hair there into 1, 2 or 3 sections depending on the density of your hair.

Pulling curly hair up or back helps to contain it at night, so it does not toss around, and that helps to minimizes big and fizzy hair in the morning.

Another key to helping the curl stay day after day is product application. Check out some of the styling/product applications on this site for more tips! Best of Luck,
Nicole

Hi Niki,

if you are washing or wetting and conditioning your hair at night I would suggest checking out product application and products I like on this Q&A site.

After you have applied the gel I would dry your curls with a diffuser just a little before you go to bed - that way the hair is not soaking wet. After it is about 50% dry, gently section your hair into three sections: one section on either side of the head, from the ear forward, then a section in the back.

Individually take each section and twist it down, then up so the ends of your hair are loose on top of your head. Clip the section on top of your head with a duck bill clip or a clip that holds your amount of hair. Then go to the next section and do the same.

In the morning take down the twists and lightly fluff the curl. If your hair is still pretty wet in the morning, dry it more the next time you do it. If the gel is crunchy on the hair simply take and pinch out the crunch.

Try not to rake your fingers through the hair after is dry.

Best of luck, Nicole

Dear Ruth,

there are a couple things you can try to help the curls not "flatten out" as you sleep. Try either pulling your hair back into a low pony tail with a soft covered rubber band or take 3-4 sections and make individual twists like a french twist. Direction the twists up to the crown of the head and clip them in place. Make sure the clips are in a comfortable location, so as to not hurt your head at night.

Another option would be to make barrel curls with your hair. Do this by taking about an inch section of hair; starting at the end of the hair, roll it down to the scalp creating a "barrel" shape. Attach the barrel with a single prong clip or bobby pin. Making sure to attach the clip through the barrel.

When doing this at night make sure the hair is slightly damp. I usually apply a little extra gel to the dry section I am about to roll down - that gives the hair plenty of moisture to set. After you figure out how to create the barrel, then, play with different sizes of barrels for a whole new curly hair look!

Good luck, Nicole

Easy and it works

Tie it up in a loose high pony tail with a "scrunchy". Believe me, it works; I have been doing it for years and I have very fine sparse curly hair...

Easily solved

Whenever that happens to me, a bit of water sprayed on followed by some curl cream sorts it right out. just shake your head upside down and scrunch the curls back into life. alternatively, if youre hair is long enough, make a loose side plait and sleep with that in.

I suggest you check out Q&A from this site on product application.

Then, twist your hair up into 3 separate sections (more if you have very thick hair). Take one section, for example all the hair from the hairline to the ear, twist it down. then bring it up to the top of your head and clip it. Do this on dry hair. Then go to the next section and do the same thing until all of your hair is twisted up on top of your head.

In the morning just untwist your twists, and spritz a little water on your hair if you have any frizz. Let it air dry and you are ready for the day.

Best of luck, Nicole

Hi. Yes, to help have a successful second, third or maybe fourth day of curls, make sure you are applying your gel liberally. This will make it easy to re-activate the gel the next day if needed.

Check out FAQ on this site for product application tips and curly hair products I like.

Also, at night, gently section your hair into 3 or 4 vertical sections. Take each section individually and twist it all the way to the ends. Then, lift it up and clip it to the top of your head so that the clips are not in your way when you sleep. Clips are not comfortable to sleep on. :) Sleep on the twists. In the morning, un-twist your hair. Try not to rake your fingers through the curl. If you have a lot of frizz, simply spritz water on the frizzy area to re-activate your gel. It doesn't need to be soaking wet. Just mist.

Best of Luck, Nicole

Hi Megan,

I would suggest, after washing your hair, apply your gel right away (check out other Q&A on this website on product and product application).

Then allow it to dry 80% before you go to bed. After it's that dry gently twist each side up so you're not sleeping on it directly. In the morning take the twists down and see how the curl looks.

If your gel in your hair is crunchy then just pinch your hair. Pinching the hair will break up the crunch but keep the hair structured instead of frizzy (saying you applied the gel as I suggest in the product application Q&A).

Best of luck, Nicole

Hi,

yes, twisting your hair up at night is a good way to keep it contained so that it's more manageable in the morning. Section your hair into about four vertical sections around your head. One section at a time, take and twist the hair down then lift it up and clip it on top of your head. Clip the end of the twisted hair up on top of your head so it is comfortable to sleep.

Best of luck, Nicole

If you want to wash your hair at night try using a leave in conditioner and some gel and see if that helps control the frizz in the morning.

If you have an oily scalp then you would want to wash your hair daily. Just use a gentle cleanser and a good conditioner. Check out products I like and other Q&A on this site.

Best of luck, Nicole

When you wear your hair to bed wet the odds are that it will still be wet in the morning. I would suggest letting it dry about 70% before going to bed.

If you braid your hair at night it will alter the curl pattern and you'll have looser curly hair. However, it depends on your natural curl pattern how loose it will be when you take out the braids. Sounds like fun. Give it a try and let me know!

Best of luck, Nicole

How sweet of you to want to help your sister and parents.

When someone with curly or really wavy hair brushes their curls the curl pattern is disrupted, creating frizzy, poofy hair.

Your sister is right on with her assessment of her brushed waves.

Here are a few suggestions:

First, when washing the hair use a light shampoo and wash out conditioner. Comb the hair in the shower with a wide tooth comb.

Then gently dry hair with a towel. Avoid vigorous shaking - merely wrap the towel around the hair and squeeze, moving down the length of the hair. This will help smooth down the cuticle.

After, work a small amount (pea size) of leave-in conditioner through the hair and apply a styling gel.

Second, apply the gel in sections from the root of the hair to the ends.

Blow dry the hair with a diffuser. This will help enhance the curls. After the hair is at least 80% dry, take out the crunchy feel by taking big sections and twisting the hair all the way to the ends.

Lastly, when getting ready to sleep make sure to pull the hair back in a scrunchy in a loose low ponytail to avoid tossing the hair all night. Then in the morning instead of brushing her hair she can just undo the scrunchy, spritz a little water on it to control any "fly aways" and she's ready for school.

Another idea would be to check out my book Strictly Curls: A Step-by-Step Guide to Styling Curly Hair Up. There are some very easy styles that would give her options when she doesn't feel like washing her hair. You can check out a couple of looks on my web site, www.strictlycurls.com.

Along with Strictly Curls I recommend Curl Talk by Ouidad. This would be a good book for your sister and your parents to read. It is a good resource for wavy and curly hair care.

Take Care,
Nicole

Here are a couple of tips to help the tight flyaway hair around your face:

Apply your leave in conditioner and gel around your hair line right after your shower. When towel drying your hair gently move the towel over your hair instead of vigorously shaking it back and forth.

For low maintenance curly hair styling you could try washing and styling your hair at night. Then, separate your hair into three sections: one in the back, one on either side of the head. Twist each section up and use a clip to attach the hair on the top of your head. Place the clips high enough so you are not sleeping on them. (Check out styling tips on this site for product application) Then, in the morning, take the twists down and your curl should be fairly managed through the night. You may need to spray a little refresh spray or water on your hair if you have a curl out of place.

Good luck,
Nicole

Hi Merna,

here are a few tips to try:

• Try twisting your hair up at night to minimize the friction on your pillow. Take the hair on the right side of your head and twist it up in a mini french twist. Then, take the hair on the left side and twist it up in the same manner. Do the same in the back. You can use clips to hold the hair - just make sure they are on top of your head or it may be uncomfortable to sleep.
• Another suggestion if you feel you need to wash your hair to get the curl right, then try just rinsing and conditioning. (If you have oily scalp this is not an option.) Use your fingers to scrub the scalp vigorously. Use the soft pads of your fingers instead of the nails to break up the oil.

Best of luck, Nicole

Foam rollers

I have put my hair up in large foam rollers while I sleep, which seems to give my curls good shape and then just touch up with a curling iron in the morning. Good luck!