Wake up with a head full of soft, bouncy wavy curls by preparing your hair the night before. This tousled waves look is simple, and not harmful on your hair because you’re “cold styling” it rather than applying heat to manipulate your hair.
Start with clean, damp hair. Not too damp to where it won’t dry fully throughout the night, but damp enough for it to finish the drying process while it is in the braid. You might find it easier to handle your hair and keep stray strands in place while braiding if you apply a very small amount of either smoothing serum, or a light hold styling balm to your hands before handling and braiding each section. Depending on the thickness and amount of hair you have, you may choose to use either one, two, or three french braids. French braid each section from front to back and secure ends with hair ties. If you do not know how to french braid, you can learn with this simple tutorial. Or, if french braiding is too difficult, you can opt to divide each section that would be a french braid into three sub-sections that you could just braid in the regular three strand method. Now you’re ready to let it dry. When you wake up in the morning spray your braids with a light, flexible hairspray before removing the hair ties and undoing your braids. In fact, before you separate the braids, pat them down with your fingers and feel for any dampness there, and if there is, turn your hair dryer to the lowest setting and dry any damp spots. Once you’re sure that all your hair is completely dry, separate your braids gently with your fingers. Do not brush your hair with a brush or comb. Do not even run your fingers through your hair, yet. Separate each braid and then lightly mist your hair with another layer of hairspray. Allow hairspray to dry and then separate the thick wavy strands by turning your head upside down and fluffing your hair at the roots. Only at the roots! Simply bend over and with your head upside down slide your fingertips into your hair at the scalp and roots and use brisk back and forth movements to fluff your roots. That will cause your strands to separate naturally rather than causing them to get fluffy or frizzy all over by brushing your fingers through your hair. Finish the look to your liking by framing your face as you see fit. Top it all off with a final mist of hairspray.