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Now, who doesn’t like beachy waves? Raise your hands! No one, I presume. Straight hair lacks movement, and intensely curly hair loses its structure and becomes frizzy after the first hour of the day. But soft curls, beachy waves, and bouncy coils spring to life with a less-is-more approach that you can DIY the previous night, making it the right amount of drama you need for any outfit and occasion. As a beauty editor, I know how easy some of the hair styling tools can be to use, but no matter how easy or protective the heating pads are, they still can cause some hair damage with excessive use. So, when your goal is to achieve those elegant, Disney-coded luxurious locks, you need to switch to heatless curls that offer all the beauty with none of the mar.
If you don’t know the right technique to get those heatless curls, we have a few tried and tested ways to achieve them. These methods don’t involve any big or expensive tools, such as a few things from around the house, to get you those effortless, heatless curls. The main thing to remember is that these methods are for people with straight or wavy hair. If you already have curly hair, then we recommend you use our editor-approved curly girl method for those healthy coils. This method and curly girl-approved products are going to keep your curls in place all day long. Before we get into the method of achieving heatless curls, let’s look at why heatless curling is superior to thermal curling.
Why Choose Heatless Curls?
Heatless curls are a boon to your hair; if you have damage-prone or weak hair, your locks will thank you every time you don’t use thermal styling tools. These methods not only ensure that your hair doesn’t break further but also nourish and protect your hair overnight. Here are some more benefits of heatless styling.
Benefits of Heatless Styling
- Here are some benefits of heatless styling:
- Reduced Hair Breakage: Thermal hair styling tools often work at extreme temperatures and can cause damage to your hair strands. There are also chances of your hair burning if it’s not properly dried and coated in heat-protectant serums or oils.
- Preservation of Natural Hair Texture: When you use heatless methods to curl or style your hair, you don’t play around with the natural texture of your hair. On a textural level, your hair remains the same; it simply falls in a different way, adding movement and bounce.
- Moisture & Shine Retention: When you opt for heatless styling, you ensure your hair retains its natural moisture and shine, avoiding the damage that can occur under intensely heated pads.
- Long-Term Hair Health: If hair care is a priority for you, then definitely make heatless styling your go-to option for your mane. With time, heat can do irreparable damage to your strands and in the long run, heatless curls are a more aesthetically sustainable option.
How Heatless Curls Improve Hair Health
By opting for heatless curls, you maintain your hair's health in the long run. It prevents moisture loss and thus breakage and consequent damage. It also doesn’t change the natural texture of your hair and adds a healthy bounce and movement to your hair. Another benefit of heatless styling is that you can wake up to the curls of your dreams without any of the hassle in the morning.
Overnight Heatless Curl Methods For Soft, Long-Lasting Waves
Here are a few ways you can style your hair with heatless methods for those luxurious locks in the morning.
Heatless Curls with Headband
The method of achieving heatless curls with headbands is the easiest because you only need one thing, which is, well, headbands. Here are the steps to try the heatless curls with the headband method.
Step 1: Part your hair in the middle loosely.
Step 2: Wear your broad hairband to set your hair on the scalp.
Step 3: Moisten your hair with water or a texture spray.
Step 4: Twist small strands of your hair and tuck them into your hairband.
Step 5: Add a bonnet to secure the twists in place.
Step 6: Slowly take the strands out of the band in the morning and run your fingers through the shaft to open up the strands.
Heatless Curls with Socks
This method will require a fresh, clean pair of socks because they are going to be in your hair the whole night. Get a pair of socks that match the length of your hair; get longer socks if you have long hair, and vice versa. Along with the socks, have some elastic bands and some no-crease clips to hold the socks. Here are the steps to achieve heatless curls with socks.
Step 1: Part your hair in the middle and bring the two parts in the front.
Step 2: Spritz some water on your hair and dampen it.
Step 3: Clip your socks as close to your scalp on either side.
Step 4: Twist your strands around the socks and secure them with elastic bands on the ends.
Step 5: Open your hair in the morning and wrap multiple socks around for tighter curls.
Twist Braids Overnight
Twist braids are something I used to do as a child, not knowing the benefits they would have on my hair one day. These curls are super simple to achieve, and all you need is one small claw clip in the end.
Step 1: Part your hair in the middle or any partition you like.
Step 2: Spritz some hair hold spray for the twists to take shape.
Step 3: Start twisting your hair right from the scalp to the tips.
Step 4: Secure both twist in the front with a small claw clip so you can sleep without any hindrances.
Step 5: Open your twists and run a wide-toothed comb through your hair to open up your hair
Pin Curls or Rolled Buns
Pin-up curls or rolled buns include a humble scrunchie and a whole lot of arm workout. Here are the steps for you to achieve those elegant, heatless curls.
Step 1: Either part your hair in the middle or just have one high bun.
Step 2: Take a rubber band and tie a high pony.
Step 3: Apply some leave-in conditioner to the shaft and loosely separate them.
Step 4: Take a big scrunchie and put it over the pony.
Step 5: Part your pony into two and twist and tuck the strand into and around the scrunchie with bobby pins.
Step 6: Repeat the process with the other side and cover it with a bonnet.
Bantu Knots for Overnight Curls
This might get a little difficult, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. So, when it comes to really tight heatless curls, opt for the Buntu Knots for overnight curls.
Step 1: Part your hair in the middle, then into smaller parts in every section.
Step 2: Apply some leave-in conditioner on your strands for the knots to take shape.
Step 3: Take small elastic bands and make tiny knots in each section.
Step 4: Open the knots in the morning for undeniable curls.
Apart from these methods, here is one more method you can try, and it’s the one using leggings, yes, you heard that right.
How to Maintain Your Heatless Curls
Here are some ways you can maintain your heatless curls:
Overnight Hair Care Tips
- Make sure your hair is not twisted too tightly, or else it can break apart.
- Ensure your hair strands are aptly moisturised before twisting or braiding them in.
- Apply a hair mousse, hair gel, or a leave-in conditioner so you to wake up with healthy, frizz-free hair.
- Cover your hair with a bonnet to avoid moisture loss.
Refreshing Your Curls in the Morning
- Spritz some water or hair serum on your coils to rejuvenate them.
- Scrunch them using your fingers.
- Apply some product, if needed, to your hair strands for that extra shine.
- Run a wide-toothed comb through your scalp to activate the hair around your roots.
Parting Thoughts
Whether you choose to go for heatless curls with a headband or heatless curls with socks, either way, you are protecting your hair strands in the long run and helping them from breaking and long-term damage due to thermal styling.
FAQs About Heatless Curls
What is the easiest way to do heatless curls?
The easiest way to do heatless curls is to use a pair of leggings or stockings, wrap them around your head and use the legs to twist your hair and wrap the whole thing with the waist of the stockings.
Do heatless curls actually work?
Yes, heatless curls do work; you just need to use ample leave-in conditioner and hair mist and twist and wrap your hair properly so the strands set the way you want overnight.
Why won't my hair hold sock curls?
If your hair has a plastic-y texture and is super silky and straight, it might not hold the sock curls. Your hair needs to be slightly textured for it to absorb the leave-in conditioner and hair mist, and for it to take shape around the socks.
