How to Moisturize Natural Hair At Night for Luscious Morning Curls
Written by Jane Schlosser
Updated on
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There may not seem like enough time in the day to provide your natural hair with the moisture it needs, but who said moisturizing curls is only for daytime?
Providing your hair with moisture and hydration can be done while you’re sleeping too.
Let me show you how to moisturize your natural hair at night so that you can avoid having to squeeze it into your hectic day.
My tips will not only give you a couple of extra minutes throughout the day but will also provide you with relief, knowing that you did a thorough and effective job at making sure all your hair strands get that extra hydration.
Moisture for curls is like air to the lungs.
Well, your locs may survive without moisture, but it would be just that – Surviving!
A living curl and a surviving curl are two very different things.
A living curl has all the definition, moisture, bounce, and body. Those are the curls we love to see, and those are the curls every curly gal lusts for. To achieve that type of curl, you need to supply proper nutrition and constant hydration.
Now, a surviving curl is one you look at and almost feel bad for because it has beautiful potential but has not had the proper moisture and care it needs. Therefore, that sad curl is left surviving a frizzy and thirsty life with no end in sight.
But don’t despair.
I am here to help you transform those parched curls overnight. Literally.
We all know that natural curly hair is difficult enough to deal with, but DRY natural hair is even more challenging. Not giving your curls the moisture protection they need will leave you with damage as well as frizz for days, something all curly curls aim to avoid at all costs.
The following are the best moisturizing hair care tips to use overnight that will save you a lot of time.
Table of Contents
Incorporate the tips below into your regimen and you’ll notice:
- Improved moisture retention
- Improved hair length
- Better scalp health
- More growth and less breakage
So let’s get started …
1. Understand Your Hair’s Porosity First
Porosity is the measurement of the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. By understanding your curl texture and porosity level, you can determine what products will work well in your hair care routine.
Get this wrong, and you’ll be throwing money on useless products that won’t do your hair any good.
So first off, do a hair porosity test to assess what your hair needs.
The process is simple. Just drop a strand of clean hair into a glass of water and wait for a few minutes.
- If the strand floats, your hair is low porosity
- If the strand drops to the bottom, it’s high
- And if it stays in the middle, it’s normal
Now, follow the steps below depending on your hair porosity results:
High Porosity
High porosity hair has raised cuticles, which means it absorbs water instantly. But the problem is, it also leaks out easily. Think of it like a sponge with big holes. If your hair is highly porous, it may be damaged. It will absorb moisture but won’t retain it for long.
The best way to make moisture stay in this type of hair is to use a sealant. Thick butters, oils, and creams are excellent moisture sealants to apply to your hair at night for adequate hydration.
Low Porosity
Low porosity hair floats at the top because the cuticles are tightly packed, preventing moisture and liquid from penetrating. But once the moisture is in, the hair will hold on to it.
The best way to tackle this problem is to use a deep conditioner with the help of steam or vapor that gently opens up the cuticles to allow the nourishing ingredients to seep in.
Using a bonnet at night, for example, is an excellent way to allow the goodness of a deep conditioner to melt into your hair while you ZZZ.
Normal Porosity
Normal hair can absorb and hold on to any moisturizing products you throw at it. Just make sure you keep it healthy by using curl-friendly hair products that are sulfate-free.
You can simply apply a non-greasy leave in conditioner to your hair at night, and that should be enough to revamp your curls the next morning.
2. Use Moisturizing Oils for Natural Hair
When it comes to curly hair, oil is a necessity and will always be the best go-to moisturizer.
For those who have straight hair, sebum (the oil produced naturally on your scalp) is able to slip down the shaft to coat the length of the hair.
For those with curly hair, it’s a different story. The various patterns and textures make it difficult for the oil to reach your ends, almost like a difficult passage for the sebum.
This is a common reason why those with natural hair tend to struggle with dry hair.
Sebum gives your hair hydration, shine, and strength.
It’s vital that you use oil to replace the sebum that does not reach your ends to make up for the lack of natural oils and their ability to lubricate the lengths of the hairs.
Before bed, use an oil (I recommend coconut oil, castor oil, Moroccan oil, avocado oil… there are so many but make sure you confirm you are using an oil suitable for your hair before you apply).
Put it on the mids and ends of your hair. The roots do not usually need any added oil because the sebum is produced right from the scalp.
You will want to use a reasonable amount, but not so much that you drench your hair and wake up looking like Elvis Presley. You will see way happier curls and enhanced definition when you give them the hydration they lack.
Repeat this moisturizing routine at bedtime a few times a week, or as you see fit, and you’ll notice amazing improvements in your curl pattern and texture.
Incorporating oil into your routine will also:
- Strengthen your hair strands
- Reduce breakage
- And enhance your natural hair growth
Again, remember that you want all of your curls to be LIVING and not just SURVIVING.
Adding this step into your routine will restore life into that once lifeless hair!
3. Sleep In Protective Styles
After applying the oil, putting your hair in a protective style is an essential step that will protect your hair and allow them to absorb the oil at the same time.
There are a variety of protective styles for different curl patterns. It all depends on your hair length and which one suits your lifestyle better.
For tighter curls and a thicker head of hair, twists are the way to go.
Simply section off your hair into 6-8 parts and take a section to twist. Separate that into two pieces and twist one piece around the other. Twists will keep your hair secured throughout the night and will make for a quick style routine in the morning.
For looser curls, a simple pineapple bun will do the trick at protecting those locks overnight. All you have to do is flip your hair to the top of your head and secure it all in a loose bun with a hair tie.
Protective styles are essential because they prevent potential damage that can occur when sleeping, and they also help maintain your curl pattern and hair length.
A protective hairstyle enhances your curls so that you spend less time stressing about your hair routine in the morning.
4. Try The Baggy Method
Another excellent method to protect your hair overnight is by doing the baggy method.
This technique is simply sleeping with a plastic grocery bag on your head to lock in moisture. I recommend this for anyone who is struggling with dry natural hair or breakage. The technique avoids any excess friction, and you can also spritz a little water onto your hair before using the baggy method.
The heat radiating off your scalp helps the oils melt, penetrate, and moisturize your natural hair at night more effectively!
Read more: The baggy method for hair.5. Use A Silk/Satin Pillowcase or Bonnet
If you’re looking for a simple change to see notable differences in your curls, you should invest in a satin or silk pillowcase or bonnet for more protection.
Silk and satin are materials with a soft surface that allow your hair to glide over without causing friction.
Cotton fabric, for example, causes friction between itself and your hair which creates a frizzy and tangled mess. Also, cotton pillowcases are made from absorbent fiber materials that draw moisture out of your hair. Using a silk or satin bonnet pillowcase while you sleep will allow your curls to retain their moisture.
Switching from a cotton pillowcase to a satin or silk is one of the best techniques for seeing improvement in your curls, as well as hair growth. It will help you speed through your morning hairstyles in half the time.
Related: Best sleep bonnets for natural hair.6. Lock In The Post-Shower Moisture
This next tip is so easy that you probably do it a few times a week without even realizing it.
After your shower, a quick and simple step to achieve an abundance of moisture is to let your natural hair soak up the steam.
So break the regular wash-n-go with an occasional steaming spa therapy for your hair before going to bed.
Once you finish showering, let your dry hair down and shake it out so the steam can seep into them for maximum hydration. This will motivate the curls to clump together, supplying them with fantastic definition as well.
Steaming your curls is an excellent way to enhance the effectiveness of hair oils and conditioners.
The hair cuticles open up while you steam, so applying your oil directly after a shower can be a great way to let the nutrients soak into each strand and improve your curls’ health and moisture balance. You can also invest in a steamer explicitly made to enhance natural hair moisture, and use it to intensify the hydrating and clarifying effects.
Curly hair is such a blessing that many would kill to have, so don’t skimp on your hair products.
You only get one hair type, and yes, you can do chemical treatments to get your desired hair, but at the end of the day, you were given your specific hair type for a reason, so you might as well rock it and appreciate what you’ve got.
7. Try A Hair Grease
If your hair struggles with butter or creams, try a hair grease like the Softee Indian Hemp to layer on top of your conditioning treatment. This process adds an extra seal to ensure the nourishing products you apply to your hair don’t escape.
8. Use a Humidifier
A humidifier can help your natural hair at night by suppressing dry air, which is common during the winter period.
One of the main reasons why curly hair feels dehydrated at night is because the air in our heated homes is dry during the winter period. When you use a humidifier, it helps to replace the dry air with moisture, which helps your hair, scalp, and skin stay hydrated throughout the night.
GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifiers for Bedroom & Essential Oil Diffuser
9. Deep Condition at Least Once a Week
Deep condition your curls once a week with hair-slurping nourishing masks or oils to make them resilient against breakage and shedding.
You can try the LOC method or sit under a hooded dryer with a deep conditioning hair mask.
Whichever method you prefer, just make sure you make it an essential part of your natural hair care routine.
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Hair Masque
Wrapping It Up
When daytime is not enough to make amends for your dry curls, use these excellent overnight tips to keep your natural hair moisturized.
The confidence I found from building security and love for my hair changed my life, and I wish you the same. Hydrate those locks, give them immense love, show them off, and keep them protected, and you will soon find yourself with a pretty happy head of natural hair.
About the Author
Jane SchlosserJane is a freelance writer who occasionally writes for us.