Keep your curls overnight: pineapple, silk and the morning refresh

You spend an hour on wash day and then lie on it for eight. It’s no wonder curls can look flat, frizzy or lopsided in the morning. The good news: a few small habits can help you keep more of your definition.

Why curls get crushed at night

Cotton has a slightly rougher surface, so it can catch on curls as you turn. As you turn, your curls rub and stretch. Silk is smoother, so many people find their curls slide rather than snag.

The pineapple

Flip your head forward and gather your curls loosely at the very top of your head, like the leaves of a pineapple. Secure with a soft scrunchie or a silk scarf. Your curls rest on top of your head instead of under it.

• Keep it loose. A tight hold leaves a dent.
• Very short curls? Skip the pineapple and use a silk scarf or bonnet.
• Long curls? Try two pineapples, or a multi-pineapple with three small ones.

Wrap it in silk

A silk scarf tied over the pineapple keeps everything in place and adds a smooth layer between your hair and the pillow. If your scarf tends to wander overnight, the styling accessories from your box help the silk hold.

The morning refresh

• Take the scarf off and let the pineapple down. Shake gently from the roots.
• Mist with water, or water mixed with a little leave-in.
• Scrunch, and reshape any curls that went rogue around your finger.
• Fluff the roots with your fingertips for volume.

Five minutes, and you are out the door with curls that remember who they are.