Get Wavy Overnight: Easy Tricks For Straight Hair

There are several ways to get straight hair wavy overnight. One way is to braid your hair into 4-5 braids after applying a curl-enhancing product and letting it air dry. You can also use a salt spray, which can be purchased or made at home, and then braid your hair into one or two braids. Another option is to use a curling iron with a medium-sized barrel and curl your hair in small chunks. Finally, you can use a diffuser or funnel on your hair dryer to create waves.

Braiding hair overnight

Braiding your hair overnight is a great way to get natural-looking waves without the use of heat. This method works for all hair types, from straight to afro-textured hair, and can be customised to create anything from subtle waves to tight curls.

Preparation

First, wash your hair. If your hair is fine and straight, skip the conditioner as this can make your hair too silky to hold a curl. If your hair is coarse or afro-textured, you may want to skip washing altogether as this can strip your hair of its natural oils. Instead, you can apply a moisturising product to dry hair before braiding.

Next, gently squeeze out any excess water with your hands or a microfiber towel. Avoid scrubbing or wrapping your hair in a towel as this can cause frizz. Once your hair is damp, use a wide-tooth comb to brush out any tangles.

For extra hold, you can apply a styling product such as sea salt spray, mousse, or curling cream. However, this step is optional—experiment with your hair to see what works best!

Braiding

Now it's time to start braiding! Divide your hair into sections—the number of sections will depend on the thickness of your hair and how loose you want your waves to be. If you have very thin hair, one or two sections may be enough, while thicker hair may require more sections.

Clip the sections of hair that you are not currently braiding out of the way. Then, working section by section, loosely braid your hair. Remember, tight braids will create a crimped look, so be sure to braid loosely if you want soft waves. You can experiment with different types of braids, such as French or fishtail braids, to create different types of waves.

Once you've finished braiding, secure each braid with a hair tie. Try to braid to the very end of your hair to avoid having pin-straight tips. Avoid tying the hair too tightly, as this can create an indentation in the hair.

Styling

Your braids will dry overnight. In the morning, remove the hair ties and undo the braids. Run your fingers through your hair to smooth out the waves and blend the sections together, but avoid brushing your hair as this can create frizz.

Finally, style your hair as desired and spritz with a light hairspray to help your waves last throughout the day.

Using a salt spray

• Start with damp hair: If your hair is freshly washed, gently towel dry it until it is damp, not soaking wet.
• Shake the spray bottle: Sea salt sprays contain solid elements like salt that may settle over time, so give the bottle a good shake to ensure the formula is properly mixed.
• Apply the sea salt spray: Focus on the roots and mid-length of your hair, as the ends are more prone to drying out. The amount of spray you use depends on your hair type. Start with a small amount and gradually add more if needed.
• Style your hair: You can let your hair air dry naturally or use a diffuser attachment on a blow dryer for added volume. If you want to let it air dry, you can twist and scrunch your hair or create loose braids.
• Add finishing touches: Once your hair is dry, you can finish with a texturizing spray or flexible-hold hairspray to ensure your waves last all day.

Some additional tips for using sea salt spray include:

• Mix with a leave-in conditioner: To avoid a crunchy texture, especially if you have dry hair, combine the sea salt spray with a leave-in conditioner, detangler, or hair serum.
• Avoid towel-drying: Rubbing your hair with a towel can lead to frizz and tangles. Instead, opt for air-drying or blow-drying.
• Choose the right product for your hair type: Select a sea salt spray that is designed for your specific hair type, such as thick, fine, wavy, or frizz-prone hair.

By following these steps and tips, you can use sea salt spray to achieve beautiful, beachy waves in your straight hair overnight.

Using a curling iron

Prep Your Hair:

Start with completely dry hair. Any leftover moisture from previous washes can cause damage when you use the curling iron. You can blow-dry your hair straight, focusing on the ends to ensure they aren't flipping out too much. This will give you a good base for that natural, beachy wave look.

Section Off Your Hair:

Divide your hair into small sections. For long or thick hair, you might need about 4 to 5 sections. Start with the bottom layer at your neck and work your way up to the top layer.

Start Curling:

Take the front pieces of hair around your face and begin curling them away from your face. Then, alternate directions throughout your head. For each section, wrap the hair around the curling iron, leaving about 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) of the ends out. This is the secret to achieving that beachy wave look!

A helpful tip is to start curling your hair at the top, closest to the roots. This will give you better hold and more volume. Clamp the curling iron midway up the section, then bring it up towards the root and continue to curl.

Work Out Your Curls:

Once you've curled your entire head, use your fingers to gently break up the curls. You want to avoid tight curls, so work those fingers through to create a more natural, beachy wave.

Texturize:

Finish with a texture spray and/or a beach wave spray (sea salt spray). These products will add volume, shine, and separation to your waves.

And there you have it! A simple way to get those effortless, overnight waves using a curling iron.

Using a diffuser or funnel on your hair dryer

• Start with freshly washed hair. Gently squeeze out any excess water. It is best not to leave your hair to air dry for too long beforehand – damp hair is best.
• Spritz your hair with a heat protection spray.
• If you want to add volume at the crown of your head, insert some clips at the roots.
• Place a section of hair onto the diffuser and press it up against your scalp as you blow-dry. This will scrunch the hair and keep it in position while the air flows around it.
• Ensure that you tilt your head into the diffuser, so the airflow is pointing towards the roots of your hair to maximise volume.
• Repeat for each section of hair, then apply a styling product such as hair spray to preserve the added volume.

For best results, use a curl-enhancing product such as a lotion, gel, or mousse to encourage and enhance your waves. Also, make sure you use the hair dryer on a very low heat and flow setting, and hold it around 30cm away from your hair.

If you don't have a diffuser attachment, you can try using the barrel of your hair dryer in a similar way to create waves. Simply wrap medium sections of hair around the barrel of the dryer, then pull the dryer up and outward to release a spiral curl. Finger comb wherever you want to make the curl looser.

Using pin curls

Pin curls are a great way to get wavy hair without using heat. This method works best for hair that is "pin straight" and doesn't hold curls well.

Step 1:

Start with damp hair. Lightly mist your hair with water to make it slightly damp. You can also apply a small amount of mousse, light gel, or styling cream to help the waves hold better.

Step 2:

Part your hair as you normally would. You can part it in the middle or to the side, whichever you prefer. This step is important because once you have the curls in, you won't be able to part your hair without disrupting the wave pattern.

Step 3:

Take a small section of hair from the front of your head, about a few fingers wide. Twist this section away from your face and then pin it to your head with a bobby pin. You can also use a bathrobe string or hair clips instead of bobby pins.

Step 4:

Repeat Step 3, adding more hair to each section as you work your way towards the back of your head. Each time, twist the section away from your face and pin it to your head. The more sections you have, the wavier and curlier your hair will be.

Step 5:

Continue until you reach the back of your head. You will likely have some hair left over in the back. You can twist this into a bun and secure it with bobby pins or a hair tie.

Step 6:

Sleep with the pins in your hair. In the morning, remove the pins and gently run your fingers through your hair to separate and soften the waves. If your waves are too tight, brushing them gently will help loosen them.

Tips:

• If you want tighter curls, use smaller sections of hair and twist them more tightly. For looser waves, use larger sections and twist them more loosely.
• If you want the curls to hold longer, use hairspray or styling cream before twisting your hair.
• Practice makes perfect! Pin curls may take some time to master, but they are a great way to get heatless curls that last.

Now you know how to create beautiful, heatless waves with pin curls!

Frequently asked questions