How To Wake Up With Great Hair

Mornings are for fresh starts, not frantic styling sessions. If your dream morning involves more coffee and less time spent wrestling with heat tools, we’ve got you covered. With a little nighttime prep, you can basically sleep your way to great hair.

Whether you’re rocking curls, waves, coils or straight strands, these simple nighttime tips will help you wake up with smoother, shinier, more manageable hair—so you can hit the snooze button guilt-free.

Here’s how to build a bedtime styling ritual that works with your texture and hair goals (and actually makes mornings easier).

1. Start with a solid foundation.

Even if you're not washing your hair every night (and most of us aren’t!), your wash days still lay the groundwork for how your hair behaves between shampoos. Start with the right cleanser and conditioner for smoother styling.

Tips for choosing your wash-day duo:

• Fine or oily hair? Go for our Volumizing Shampoo + Conditioner. It gently cleanses without weighing your hair down and gives soft, touchable lift you’ll still feel the next morning.
• Frizz-prone hair? Reach for our Smoothing Shampoo + Conditioner to help hydrate, tame flyaways and make hair generally easier to style.
• Dry, damaged or color-treated hair? Try Moisture Repair Shampoo + Conditioner for a nourishing clean that helps restore shine and strength over time.
  
  

Unsure what your hair really needs? Take our quiz to get matched with your perfect routine.

2. Detangle before bed.

One of the easiest ways to set yourself up for a good hair day? Detangle before you sleep. It helps prevent knots, minimizes breakage and saves you serious time in the morning.

Start with damp hair and a product that offers plenty of slip—our Leave-in Conditioner or Leave-in Detangling Tonic are both great options. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently work through tangles, always starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots.

For curly or coily textures, divide your hair into sections to make sure every strand gets some love. Once you’re knot-free, you can loosely braid or twist your hair to keep it smooth overnight.

3. Lock in moisture with a leave-in treatment.

Once your hair is towel-dried (a soft cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel works best to reduce frizz), apply a lightweight leave-in treatment to keep your strands hydrated and manageable by morning.

Choose what works best for your hair type:

• Straight or wavy hair? Reach for our Air Dry Styler—it smooths, softens and enhances your natural texture without weighing hair down.
• Curly, coily or dry hair? Try layering our Leave-in Conditioner with our Flex Hair Gel for definition. You can also add a touch of Hair Oil on the ends for extra moisture and frizz control.
  
  

Let your hair air-dry about 60–70% before putting it up—this helps it hold its shape and dry more evenly overnight.

4. Choose your sleep style based on your hair goals.

Whether you’re going for waves, definition, volume or sleekness, there’s an overnight technique for that. Here are a few sleep styles to try.

For loose waves: braids

• Create one or two loose braids for soft waves, or smaller braids for tighter texture.
• Secure with a gentle scrunchie to avoid creases.
• In the morning, undo, shake and scrunch. Add a touch of Hair Oil to polish and smooth strands.

For defined curls: “pineapple” or twist-out

• Gently gather curls into a high, loose ponytail (aka “pineapple”) using a satin scrunchie. For tighter definition, try two-strand twists or bantu knots.
• In the morning, fluff at the roots and go. For added control, apply a bit of Hair Oil and Cream Pomade to your ends to prevent frizz and dryness throughout the day.

For volume + movement: loose bun

• Twist your hair into a loose topknot or low bun, depending on where you want the most body.
• Use a soft scrunchie to protect from dents or breakage.
• In the morning, let it down and flip your head upside down to boost volume. Finger-comb as needed.

For sleek + straight styles: scarf or bonnet

• Brush your hair thoroughly and apply a lightweight, frizz-smoothing oil.
• Wrap your hair around your head or secure it in a low ponytail. Cover with a silky scarf or bonnet to reduce friction.
• Wake up with smooth, shiny strands that need minimal heat (or none at all).
  
  

5. Use silk or satin to preserve your style.

Banish bedhead by swapping your cotton pillowcase for silk or satin. Even better, try wrapping your hair with a silky scarf (best for maintaining sleek styles) or tucking it into a bonnet overnight (best for keeping curls and waves in shape).

6. Wake up your hair with a quick morning touch-up.

Once you’ve taken down your overnight style, your morning routine should be fast and fuss-free:

• Fluff or separate with fingers or a wide-tooth comb to revive shape and volume.
• Mist lightly with water or smooth in a bit of Air Dry Styler to reset any flattened areas.
• Smooth and define with a dab of Leave-in Conditioner, styling cream or oil—whatever your hair needs.