How to Protect Your Curls Overnight

It’s a whole new kind of heartbreak when you go to bed with beautifully defined curls, hoping they’ll hold up — only to wake up with flat roots, stretched-out strands, and a halo of frizz and tangles.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Here’s how to preserve your curls overnight so you can wake up, give your hair a little shake, and get on with your day.

Wrap Your Curls in a Satin or Silk Scarf 

Silk scarves and satin wraps are the go-to for keeping your curls intact overnight. These smooth, luxurious fabrics help cut down friction, which means less frizz and more definition remaining by morning.

There are a few ways to wrap your curls up, but the classic “pineapple” method is a favorite and yep, it’s called that because you’ll literally look like a cute little pineapple once you’re done.

Here’s how to do it:

Grab a silk or satin scarf and fold it into a triangle if it is a square or rectangle. Lean forward and gather your curls at the top of your head. Place the long edge of the scarf at the back of your neck, then bring the two ends forward and tie a knot on top. If you like your curls out of your face, secure them with a clip or a scrunchie before wrapping, or gently tuck them into the scarf.

Another simple option? Pull your curls into a soft bun at the crown of your head, place the scarf on top (with the triangle point facing forward), bring the ends around to the back, and tie them once. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, loop them back to the front and tie another knot for extra hold.

Need a video guide? Check this one out from cosy.curls on YouTube.

Sleep with a Bonnet

If you want to lock in moisture and wake up with curls that still look great, a silk or satin bonnet is your best bet. It might seem like a simple throw-it-on-and-go situation, but there are a couple of tricks to help it actually do the job.

Flip your head forward and slide the bonnet on from the back of your neck, gently tucking your curls inside. No cramming or yanking, we’re keeping things gentle. If your hair’s on the longer side, try splitting it into two loose twists before wrapping it up. It helps prevent tangles and keeps your curl definition intact.

If you tend to toss and turn while you sleep, pinning down the sides can help your bonnet stay put. You can also layer a silk or satin scarf over the top for extra hold. And if your bonnet slips off anyway, a satin pillowcase has your back, literally.

If you really need sleep protection that stays in place, check out the MoonstoneSeven Satin Sleeper. She's not going anywhere!

Use a Strong Hold Gel on Wash Day

If you’re not using a strong hold gel, your day-one curls probably won’t make it to day two — simple as that.

You can have the best routine, the most hydrating products, and a perfect styling technique, but without something to hold it all together, it just won’t last. And no, we’re not talking about stiff, crunchy curls. A good strong hold gel forms a cast that helps lock in your curl pattern and keeps that definition right where you want it, but you can scrunch it out when it's dry.

So if your curls always fall apart overnight, the problem might not be how you’re preserving them: it may be that they just didn’t have a fighting chance to begin with.

Here are a few gels that actually hold well overnight:

• Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer

• Ecoslay Jello Shot – One of the strongest natural gels out there.

• Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel (Strong Hold) – Great for humid areas and lasting curl clumps.

• Rizos Curl Strong Hold Gel

• TréLuxe Hi! Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel

• Jessicurl Spiralicious Styling Gel

Braid or Twist Before Bed

Gently twisting or braiding your curls before bed is an easy way to protect your pattern overnight. It doesn’t need to be perfect; just go with however many sections feel comfortable.

Start by adding a bit of moisture. A leave-in conditioner, lightweight oil, or whatever you usually use at night will work. The goal here isn’t to style, it’s to protect your strands while you sleep.

Once you’re done, throw on a satin or silk bonnet, or take it a step further by gathering your twists or braids and wrapping everything up with a silk or satin scarf. You’ll keep more definition and cut down on frizz by morning.

Braiding your curls is not cheating. Yes, it may impact your curl pattern when you let them down the next morning, but our goal here is to have great second-day (and third, fourth, etc.) hair. It's okay if it's not exactly how it looked on day one.

Pin Your Curls

Take small sections of hair, wrap each one around your finger, slide your finger out, and gently flatten the curl against your scalp. Secure with a bobby pin or clip, then move on to the next section. When you’ve pinned all the sections, pop on a silk or satin bonnet or scarf and that’s it!

Now, let’s be real, pin curls can take some time, and sleeping with bobby pins isn’t exactly the comfiest. So this might not be your go-to every single night. But when you want to be absolutely sure that definition is still in place by morning, this one’s worth the effort.

Quick tip: Do fewer, chunkier pin curls to save time (and sanity).

Once you've mastered protecting your curls when you sleep, you can move on to figuring out the best way to refresh your curls if they need it. Even with the best sleep protection, some curls can still lose their shape or go a bit limp if you're sleeping on them.

Need help figuring out how to get the most out of your curls? Email us at help@curlwarehouse.com or swing by the store.

*Satin Sleeper photo courtesy of MoonstoneSeven