Do you ever find yourself scrolling through Instagram or browsing the internet, admiring your favourite celebrities with their gorgeous curls and waves? You might think, "I wish I could have hair like that!" Well, the good news is that you can achieve those luscious curls and waves, even if you have naturally straight hair. And the best part? You can do it without causing any damage to your strands, and it's a quick process that works its magic overnight. Here are a couple of easy methods for achieving that look:

how to naturally make your hair curly overnight

7 Methods for Achieving Heatless Curls Overnight

7 Methods for Achieving Heatless Curls Overnight

Photo by Armin Rimoldi: https://www.pexels.com

Before we dive into the making that curls and waves happen, it's important to prepare your hair properly. Start by giving your hair a good wash. Use a shampoo that's sulphate-free because it's gentler on your strands and won't dry them out. After shampooing, apply conditioner and detangle your hair using a wide tooth comb, your fingers, or a detangling brush.

This step helps get rid of any tangles and knots. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out. Follow up with your styling products such as leave in conditioners, curling cream and gel to help with the curl formation. Once your hair is clean and well prepped, you can move on to the fun part – creating those curls. Let's get started!

However, most of these techniques should be carried out on damp hair.

french braids

1,  French braid

French braids are a timeless hairstyle, but did you know they can also give you fabulous curls? Here's how:

Start with damp hair, about 80 percent dry. Divide your hair into two equal sections, or if you want more curls, divide it into more sections. Begin by taking a small piece of hair from the front and splitting it into three sections: left, right, and middle.

Take the right section and cross it over the middle, then cross the left section over the new middle section. This initiates the braiding process. As you continue to braid, add small sections of hair to each outer section before crossing them over the middle. For example, take a small section of hair from the right side, add it to the right section of the braid, and then cross it over the middle.

 Repeat this process on the left side. Keep braiding and adding small sections until you reach the nape of your neck. Remember to pull the sections tightly for more defined curls or waves. If you're a beginner, don't worry if it's not perfect right away. Let your hands guide you instead of constantly checking in the mirror. Once both sections are braided, wrap your hair in a silk bonnet or scarf before going to bed. In the morning, unravel the braids and enjoy your beautiful waves!

pin curls

2,  Pin curls

This is rather straight forward process and works as the name implies. Divide your hair into sections you can comfortably work with, the more and smaller the sections, a more definite curl pattern. Grab a section and wrap around your fingers and flatten to your head with bobby pins. Do these for all of the remaining sections. It is a fast and easy process, afterwards you can let it dry for a couple of hours and unravel or don on a silk bonnet and go to sleep. 

3, Flexi rods

Flexi rods are amazing tools for achieving curls without using heat, and the best part is they are super flexible and don't require clips or pins. Here's how you can use them to get those fabulous curls. Start by dividing your hair into small sections.

Take one section at a time and place the end of your hair on the flexi rod. Wrap your hair tightly around the rod and secure both ends. You can even sleep comfortably with the flexi rods in your hair.

4, Using old clothing

Grab a pair of scissors and some old clothes that you no longer wear. Cut the fabric into rectangular pieces, and the length of each piece should match the length of your hair. Now, here comes the fun part. Make a neat slit right in the middle of each fabric piece. Take a section of your hair and insert it into the slit you just made. Wrap the fabric upward, and tie it when you're done. Leave it on for a couple of hours and take them out or go off to bed and unravel in the morning. Either way you wake up to a lovely head of curls.

5, Sock curls

Get ready to transform your old socks into an amazing curling method for your hair! Don't underestimate their usefulness. You'll be surprised at the fantastic results. Gather around 2 to 5 pairs of socks, depending on the thickness of your hair or how you want your curls to look. This method works best when your hair is almost dry.

Start by dividing your hair into two or four sections, or even six if you prefer. Place the closed end of a sock at the root of your hair and secure it with a clip to keep it in place. Take a small section of hair and wrap it tightly around the sock, making sure to hold the end tightly.

Now, here's a cool trick: put your fingers into the sock, grab the section of hair, loop the sock over to the top, remove the clip, and tuck the ends of your hair in. Leave the socks in for a couple of hours. Then, gently remove the socks, and prepare to be amazed by your beautiful, bouncy curls!

bantu-knots-on-natural-hair

6, Bantu knots

This is an absolute favourite! And really easy to create. Divide your hair into small sections, take a section and twist it from the roots in an opposite direction in a manner as to create a knot and secure with snag free elastics or bobby pins. You could wear this an hairstyle because it totally rocks, or wait it out for a couple of hours and unravel, or wrap a bonnet or silk scarf and sleep!

7, Use a headband

Start by placing a headband on your hair, positioning it where you want the curls to begin. Divide your hair into two sections. Take one section and give it a twist, then wrap it around the headband. Repeat the same process with the other section. You can totally own this look and flaunt it during the day, or you can even go to bed with the headband in place. Either way, when you remove the headband, you'll reveal gorgeous curls that will make heads turn.

June 29, 2023 — Michelle Fletcher Smith