How to do heatless curls overnight

Gather everything before you start so you are not hunting for a scrunchie with half your hair wrapped.

What you'll need

• A heatless tool: a curling rod or ribbon (for example a 34-inch, 1.25-inch rod from Kitsch's heatless curling set, or a 69-inch velour rod from The Hair Edit), or a set of flexi rods
• Scrunchies or hair ties to secure the ends (most sets include two)
• A wide-tooth comb or your fingers
• A spray bottle of water, in case your hair dried while you were prepping
• Optional: a lightweight leave-in or styling product for hold
• A satin or silk bonnet, or a satin pillowcase, to protect the set while you sleep

Not sure which tool? The guide to picking a method breaks down who each one suits.

Slightly damp. Think towel-dried and a little cool to the touch, not wet enough to drip on your shoulders.

Hair that is too wet will not dry overnight under a wrapped rod, and you wake up with limp, flat curls and a damp pillow. Hair that is fully dry will not take the shape as well. If you wash at night, towel-dry well, then let your hair air-dry until it feels barely damp before you start.

Brands say the same thing in their own words. The Hair Edit suggests slightly damp hair for its pillow rollers, and Kitsch says its rod-style tools work on dry hair too, so you have some room. If your hair dried out while you were busy, mist it lightly with water.

This is the method for a long soft rod or ribbon, the kind that goes over the top of your head like a headband.

1. Detangle. Comb through so the sections wrap smoothly.
2. Place the rod. Lay the middle of the rod across the top of your head, like a halo, with equal length hanging down each side.
3. Make your first section. Take a piece of hair near your face, about one to two inches wide. Thinner pieces give tighter curls.
4. Wrap away from your face. Wind the section around the rod, working from the ends toward your scalp, or from the scalp down, depending on the look you want.
5. Keep going. Wrap section after section around the same side, each one sitting next to the last.
6. Secure the end. Tie the end of the rod with a scrunchie so nothing slides loose.
7. Repeat on the other side so both sides are wrapped the same way.

If you want your curls to point the same direction, wrap both sides away from your face. For a more tousled look, mix directions.

Flexi rods are shorter bendy rods that you roll one section at a time.

1. Take a section about one to two inches wide.
2. Put the rod at the ends of your hair and tuck the ends around it.
3. Roll the rod down toward your head until it sits against your scalp.
4. Bend the two ends of the rod together to lock it. Kitsch says its flexi rods bend to hold in place without pins or clips.
5. Repeat around your head. Four rods covers a smaller number of larger sections; if you have thick hair you may want more rods or a second set.

Kitsch's jumbo flexi rods are 10 inches long and 1.2 inches in diameter, so each section forms a loose curl or wave rather than a tight ringlet. Smaller rods give tighter curls. The flexi rod guide covers sizes and placement in more detail.

The goal is to stay comfortable and keep the rolled hair undisturbed.

• Cover your hair. A satin bonnet or a satin pillowcase reduces friction, so the set stays smoother.
• Sleep on your back or side. Rolling over onto a stiff rod can leave a dent or a bend in the curl.
• Keep the rods soft. Fabric-covered rods and ribbons are designed to be slept on; both Kitsch and The Hair Edit describe their tools as comfortable for day or night.
• Tie a scarf over everything if you are a restless sleeper.

More on this in how to sleep with heatless curls.

Patience pays off here.

1. Check that your hair is dry. If it still feels cool or damp at the roots, give it more time or aim a cool blow-dryer at it. Taking damp curls down is the number one reason they fall flat.
2. Unwind slowly. Release the scrunchie, then unwrap one section at a time without pulling.
3. Do not brush. A brush breaks up each curl into frizz.
4. Separate with your fingers. Rake gently, or flip your head over and shake your roots.
5. Style. A tiny amount of lightweight oil on your fingertips can smooth the surface. A light mist of hairspray holds the shape.

If your curls dropped within an hour, why heatless curls fall out walks through the usual causes in order.

• Rolling hair that is too wet. It will not dry in the shape.
• Using sections that are too big. Large sections give very loose waves; if you want curls, go smaller.
• Wrapping loosely. Loose wraps slip during the night. Keep a firm but not tight hold.
• Brushing the curls out. Use your fingers.
• Skipping the cover. Cotton pillowcases create friction that can rough up the hair surface.
• Going straight from bed to the mirror. Give the curls a few minutes after unwrapping to settle.