How to Get Natural Waves & Loose Curls Overnight With No Electronics

Scrunch some mousse into your hair the next morning after removing the braid.

Celebrities like Mischa Barton and Kate Hudson have successfully rocked the just-enjoyed-a-beach-day hair style, though their stylists used electrical equipment like hairdryers and defusing attachments. Getting those glossy, gentle waves in your hair shouldn't require waking an extra hour early, but it does require proficiency in French braiding. Giving your body some extra sleep and sparing your hair from the damaging heat of a blow dryer are two benefits to sleep-styling your tresses.

Things You'll Need

• Wide-toothed comb
• Satin pillow case
• Towel
• Non-rubber hair elastic
• Mousse

Instructions

1. Wash and towel dry your hair in the evening before going to bed. Comb out any tangles with a wide-toothed comb.

2. French braid your hair. Begin right at the forehead hairline and continue down the entire length of your skull. For straight locks on top with waves on the lower half, begin the French braid halfway down the back of your head.

3. Continue French braiding until the neck nape, then begin a standard 3-strand braiding until all but the last two or three inches of your hair is braided. Tighter plaits create shorter waves, while loser braid plaits give you softer, rolling waves. Secure the tail with a non-rubber hair elastic.

4. Cover your pillow with a satin pillowcase. Unlike cotton, satin lets your hair slide smoothly over the pillow surface, reducing the chances of frizz and wispy hairs the next morning.

5. Sleep with your hair in a French braid for the entire night.

6. Feel the back of your head the following morning for any moisture. Your hair must be completely dry before unbraiding, otherwise your gentle waves will become a frizzy mass in a few hours.

7. Unbraid your dry hair. Pump a golf-ball sized amount of mousse in your hair and use your hands to scrunch your waves upward toward your scalp. The mousse gives your waves a glossy finish and helps them keep shape throughout the day.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't brush your hair during the day or you will separate the waves, causing frizz.

• French braid your hair four to five hours before sleeping if your locks are especially thick. An earlier braiding time helps ensure that your hair dries completely by morning.

References

• Hair Boutique: Braid Waves
• The Hair Styler: 6 Easty Steps for Celebrity Worthy Waves