8 Tips to Tame Frizzy Hair Overnight for Easy Morning Styling
Written by Camelia Smith
Updated on
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Do you always look like the queen of bedhead when you wake up?
Don’t worry, you are not alone!
Many people struggle with frizzy hair in the morning.
Here are the reasons why:
- Hair rubbing against the pillowcase while sleeping.
- Static electricity buildup from synthetic pillowcases or bedding.
- Humidity in the air, causing hair to swell.
- Improper hair care routine before bed, such as brushing, combing, or using the wrong hair products.
To effectively tame frizzy hair overnight and wake up with smooth and manageable hair, a few simple adjustments to your bedtime routine can make all the difference.
Let me throw you some good tips to avoid the dreaded frizzy morning hair …👇
1. Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase
Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase is one of the reasons why your hair becomes dry and frizzy when you wake up.
Cotton pillowcases have a rougher surface, and the material is highly absorbent. They can cause friction between the hair and the pillow and suck up moisture and natural oils from the hair and scalp, leading to dry and frizzy hair.
Michael Dueñas, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Veleur Creative, explains that the rougher fibers of cotton allow the hair to latch on like velcro, pulling them apart to create frizz.
In contrast, silk pillowcases are smoother and softer. They reduce friction and allow the hair to glide over the surface. They prevent your hair from getting messed up when you sleep.
Silk is a highly breathable material. It allows air to circulate, regulating moisture on the skin or hair. It can also absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp or clammy.
Silk can help the hair retain moisture, says Joseph Maine, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Trademark Beauty.
This is why silk is often used in clothing and bedding for hot and humid environments.
If you want to make your hair soft and silky overnight, swap your pillowcase for silk. The material will help keep your hair smooth and tangle-free while you sleep, so you don’t wake up with frizzy hair in the morning.
Mulberry Pure Silk Pillowcase
I’ve been using the SLIP Mulberry silk pillowcases, and I can’t see myself returning to cotton. Even when I travel, I carry one in my luggage.
Mulberry silk is the best you can get. It’s made using silkworms that feed on leaves from Mulberry trees for refined, pure white silk.
2. Brush to Detangle Your Hair Before Sleep
Brushing your hair before bed is a simple step to reduce frizz overnight.
It helps to detangle the hair, which reduces the chances of friction that occurs while you sleep. By doing so, you can undo hair kinks and keep your hair soft and lubricated by distributing natural oils from your scalp through your hair. However, it’s important to choose the right brush for the job. Opt for one with soft bristles that won’t tug or pull on your hair, as using a brush with stiff or hard bristles can harm your hair.
A boar bristle brush is a good option because it’s made from soft natural bristles that can smooth the hair while distributing natural oils evenly along the lengths. Unlike synthetic brushes, which can create static and contribute to frizz, boar bristle brushes work with the scalp’s natural oils to lubricate and smoothen the hair’s cuticle layer. When the hair cuticles are smooth and flat, there is less chance for frizz and tangles to form.
Note: If you have very thick or curly hair, the brush may not work well for you. In this case, combining different brushes or tools may be best to achieve the desired result.Denman Boar Bristle Brush
3. Dry Your Locks Before You Drop Sleep
When you go to bed with wet hair, you’re essentially creating an environment where your hair is trapped against your pillowcase for several hours. This can cause friction and tangles, leading to frizz in the morning.
Wet hair is more likely to cause webbing and wet frizz because water affects the hair’s physical and chemical properties. When hair is wet, it becomes weaker and more elastic. This means that the individual strands of hair can stretch, bend, and entangle.
Water also changes hair’s surface tension, increasing the likelihood of friction. The surface of each hair strand is covered in tiny scales called cuticles – they protect the hair and regulate the passage of moisture. When hair is wet, the cuticles become raised and more prone to snagging on each other, leading to tangles and knots.
That’s why you must ensure your hair is completely dry before bed. This can be achieved using a blow dryer or air drying your hair before hitting the pillow.
If you have curly hair, blow drying with a diffuser before bed helps maintain the shape and texture of your curls without overheating them.
Tip:
If you’re blow-drying your hair before bedtime, don’t forget to use a heat protectant spray. It prevents the hair from becoming too dry and brittle to sleep on.If you’re short on time, use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt to gently squeeze excess moisture out of your hair. Microfiber towels have a smoother drying surface and can absorb excess water easily without rubbing. Avoid using ordinary cotton towels as they are rough, and trust me – they’ll leave you with a tangled, frizzy mess.
Acquis Microfiber Towel
Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser
4. Use a Lightweight, Non-Greasy Oil
Applying oil to hair before sleeping can tame frizz and promote smoother, more manageable hair. The effectiveness may vary depending on the oil and your hair type.
Oil can help reduce dryness, tangles, and frizz. However, using the right oil that suits your hair type and won’t make it greasy is important.
You don’t want to hit your silky pillowcase with a greasy head, would you?
Avoid heavy oils like coconut oil and olive oil. These oils can attract dust and dirt and make your hair look dirty and dull in the morning.
For nighttime, a lightweight and non-greasy oil is recommended. This is especially important for people with curly or wavy hair, which tends to be more prone to frizz due to its shape and inability to retain moisture.
Argan oil is a preferred choice as a nighttime hair oil for several reasons:
- Lightweight: Argan oil is lightweight and easily absorbed by the hair without leaving a heavy or greasy residue. It doesn’t weigh down the hair or make it look oily, even if you apply it before bed.
- Non-greasy: Because of its quick absorption and light consistency, it does not make hair greasy. So you can apply it to your hair before sleeping without worrying about staining or damaging your bedding.
- Hydrating: Argan oil can help moisturize the hair overnight. It’s rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that can help lock in moisture, reducing the risk of dryness, frizz, and other damage.
In terms of its efficacy and ability to prevent frizz, here are the reasons why it works:
- Rich in vitamin E: A natural moisturizer that keeps the hair hydrated.
- High in fatty acids: They nourish and moisturize the scalp, promote healthy hair growth, and improve the overall appearance and texture of the hair.
- Contains squalene: A natural compound that regulates oil production in the scalp. This can prevent excess oiliness or dryness in the hair, reducing frizz.
Josie Maran Argan Oil
If you don’t like to oil your hair a night, consider a lightweight anti-frizz serum like Redken Frizz Dismiss to smooth the hair cuticle layer or leave-in conditioner.
5. Treat as You Sleep to Stop Frizzy Hair Overnight
Treat as you sleep with an overnight hair mask.
You can leave a hair mask on overnight, but it’s important to choose one designed for overnight use and to follow the instructions carefully to avoid over-moisturizing.
A hair mask can prevent frizz by providing the hair with nutrients and moisture.
But wearing a hair mask overnight can be uncomfortable and cumbersome as it can feel heavy and sticky on the hair. This can make it difficult to sleep and may cause the mask to transfer onto your pillowcase or sheets, which can be inconvenient to clean. Plus, let’s not forget that some hair masks can have a strong scent, which may be bothersome or overwhelming.
Some hair treatments are specifically designed to be left on overnight, as they contain gentle and safe ingredients for extended use. Some may contain more potent ingredients that could cause irritation or damage if left on for too long.
Leaving a hair mask on overnight may not be necessary or beneficial for all hair types, depending on individual hair concerns and preferences.
To make it easy and comfortable, apply the hair mask and cover your hair with a shower cap to help prevent the product from getting on your pillow or bedding.
Best Overnight Hair Mask
Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Mask
6. Tie Up Your Tresses Before Sleeping
Tying hair up while sleeping can help reduce frizz in several ways. Firstly, when hair is left loose while sleeping, it can rub against the pillowcase and sheets, causing friction and leaving your hair in a mess when you wake up.
Tying hair up in a loose bun or braid can reduce frizz by preventing friction and tangling. Loose hair can get caught under your pillows or sheets and become matted overnight. To prevent this from happening, put your hair up neatly and keep it under control.
From loose buns to practical plaits, you can help to prevent breakage by using satin scrunchies or a silk scarf to keep your hair under wraps.
7. Choose a Night-to-Morning Style
A night-to-morning style is a hairstyle that you can wear while you sleep to make your hair less frizzy in the morning. The idea is to help keep your hairstyle overnight so that when you wake up, your hair is ready for minimal fuss styling.
Here are some overnight hairstyles to prevent frizzy hair:
- Pineapple Method:The Pineapple Method helps people with curly hair maintain their curls overnight. Gather your hair at the top of your head and secure it with a scrunchie or soft hair tie. This technique works well for those with longer hair or tighter curl patterns.
- Two-Strand Twists:Divide your hair into sections and twist each into a two-strand twist. This helps keep your hair in place and minimizes friction against your pillowcase.
- French Braids:Braid your hair into two or three French braids before going to bed. This technique keeps your hair in place and helps prevent tangling and frizz.
- Loose Bun:Tie your hair up in a loose bun on top of your head. This technique helps keep your hair in place while minimizing tension and friction.
- Satin Bonnet:To keep your hair smooth and untangled while you sleep, try wearing a satin bonnet. This will assist in minimizing any resistance and keeps your hair from forming knots.
- Use Hair Rollers: Hair rollers can make your hairwavy or curly while you sleep instead of using a curling iron in the morning.
Remember to keep your hair slightly damp or apply a leave-in conditioner or oil to help the overnight style take hold. Using these night-to-morning styles, you can wake up with beautiful, defined curls ready to style for the day.
You can also use a texturizing spray in your nighttime hair care routine to give your curls more volume and hold. Just remember that if you want to keep your hair curly, you must use products designed for it.
8. Reduce Humidity in Your Bedroom
Humidity is the hair’s worst enemy.
And it’s everywhere, even in your bedroom. You simply can’t escape it.
Using a dehumidifier in the bedroom at night can tame frizz naturally by lowering the humidity level in the air (the main cause of frizz). A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air. It creates a more controlled environment that is less likely to cause frizz while you sleep.
You should place a dehumidifier in the middle of your bedroom to use it effectively. This will allow the dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air in a large area, and it will work more efficiently than if you place it near a wall or corner. You should also keep your bedroom door open at night so that the cool air from outside can circulate into your home. This is especially important if you live in a humid climate.
Dehumidifier for Bedroom
Tame Frizz Overnight for Smooth Morning Styling
If frizzy hair is putting a damper on your mornings, try these overnight tips to fight frizz while you sleep:
Start by brushing out tangles before bedtime to reduce knotting and friction overnight. Allow hair to fully dry before going to sleep. Sleep on a silk pillowcase, which is smoother than cotton and won’t cause as much disruption to cuticles.
Apply a lightweight, non-greasy oil to your ends before bed – this will seal the cuticle. For added conditioning, do an overnight deep treatment. Pull hair up into a loose topknot or braid so strands stay aligned as you sleep.
Reduce bedroom humidity by keeping the air conditioner on. In the morning, opt for low-maintenance styles like a messy bun or soft waves. With these simple tricks, you can wake up to smoother, frizz-free locks ready for styling.
About the Author
Camelia SmithCamelia Smith can color hair, perform keratin treatments, bleach hair, and even cut curly hair. She is our go-to person whenever we have hair treatments and styling questions.
She's also currently training as a freelance makeup artist and is passionate about helping others feel beautiful in their skin. When she's not writing or doing hair, she's usually spending time watching British period dramas.