Heatless Curls Overnight with Pillow Rollers on Natural Hair (3-Day Wash and Go Refresh)
Looking for a way to refresh your natural curls without heat? Here’s how to do heatless curls using satin pillow rollers for an easy overnight reset.
My wash-and-go was three days old, and instead of starting from scratch, I used my pillow-curl rollers, which I bought my freshman year of college over 10 years ago, for an easy overnight reset.
This step-by-step guide for overnight heatless curls for natural hair yielded soft, bouncy results…
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and love.
What You Need for Heatless Curls on Natural Hair
Each product below played a key role in this routine, from hydration to definition to frizz control. I’ve included descriptions, pricing, and links so you can shop the exact tools I used. These are products I’ve personally tested and trust for curly hair care.
Mist spray bottle (filled with distilled water)
A continuous mist spray bottle is a curly hair essential for refreshing your curls between wash days. Fill it with distilled water to gently rehydrate and revive your curls without frizz or buildup.
ORS Olive Oil Curl Style Mousse
This lightweight mousse helps define curls without crunch. Infused with olive, coconut, and avocado oils, it provides moisture, hold, and shine—perfect for wash-and-go styling or twist-outs.
Denman brush dupe
This affordable Denman brush alternative glides through hair, helping to detangle and evenly distribute product before styling. It’s perfect for prepping curls before setting them in your favorite heatless style.
Red by Kiss detangling brush
This triple-function detangling brush from Red by Kiss is great for sectioning, smoothing, and prepping curls for rollers or pillow curls. The flexible bristles help reduce breakage during detangling.
Alligator Clips
These strong-grip alligator clips make sectioning hair a breeze when setting your curls. Ideal for keeping hair in place during detangling, styling, or overnight heatless curl wraps.
Barrette clips
Use these lightweight barrette clips to secure each curl without flattening it. They’re perfect for holding rollers, pillow curls, or twists as they set.
Satin pillow rollers
These soft satin rollers are among the best heatless curlers I’ve used. They’re gentle on curls and ideal for creating overnight volume and definition.
Redken Spray Wax
Add flexible texture and definition to your curls with this lightweight spray wax. Perfect for separating curls post-styling without stiffness or crunch.
Olaplex Bonding Oil
Lightweight yet powerful, this bonding oil adds shine, reduces frizz, and strengthens hair—making it the perfect finishing touch for heatless curls that need smoothness and definition without weighing them down.
Obliphica Seaberry Hair Serum
Infused with seaberry oil, this serum seals in moisture and tames flyaways. Ideal for prepping your hair before styling or refreshing curls the next day for a frizz-free finish.
Bonnet (Similar)
A satin bonnet helps preserve your curls overnight by reducing friction and moisture loss. Perfect for keeping heatless curls smooth and defined while you sleep.
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Why I Use Distilled Water on My Curly Hair
Living in Texas, I deal with hard water, and it’s rough on curls. Hard water can cause buildup, dryness, and dullness. That’s why I only use distilled water in my spray bottle. I’ve even created a comprehensive guide to help you recover from hard water damage and revive your curls. Click here to access it in my Freebie Library.
My Step-by-Step Heatless Curls Tutorial
Night Before: Setting the Curls
- Lightly mist detangled hair with distilled water (not soaking wet).
- Apply mousse section by section, then detangle with a Denman-style brush.
- Use the Red by Kiss detangling brush to smooth and separate sections.
- Clip each section with alligator clips to stay organized.
- Roll the back sections away from the face, and the front sections toward the face.
- Use larger rollers in the back (purple), but I recommend smaller ones (green) if your hair is wavy for better hold.
- Style bangs separately with a finger coil and pin in place.
- Cover your hair with a bonnet and sleep overnight.
Morning: The Heatless Curls Reveal
- Remove the bonnet and lightly mist Redken Spray Wax over the set curls.
- Use Olaplex Bonding Oil while removing curlers to help reduce frizz and add slip.
- Instead of separating after all curlers are out, I separate each curl immediately after removing it—this helps avoid missing hidden pieces.
How I Use Mousse and Foam for Tighter, Heatless Curls
Here’s another way to get the same heatless curls style, just with a tighter, longer-lasting hold. In this updated method, I used Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Mousse and Foam together for extra definition and durability.
Before setting, I sprayed my hair generously with water to rehydrate it. This step is particularly beneficial for overnight heatless curls, as hair can dry out and flake quickly during the styling process. If you have longer or thicker hair, apply the mousse and foam in sections as you navigate through them to prevent your strands from hardening before all the pillow curls are in place.
This version is great if your curls tend to fall quickly or you’re working with mixed textures.
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Mousse
Lightweight and buildable, this mousse gives soft definition without crunch. Perfect for layering with foam to create long-lasting heatless curls that hold their shape.
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Foam
This lightweight foam enhances curl shape while reducing frizz. It layers well with mousse for added definition and is perfect for heatless styles like pillow curls.
FAQs: Overnight Heatless Curls
Can I do heatless curls on wet or dry hair?
For best results, start with damp—not soaking wet—hair. This helps the curls set without overextending the drying time or risking frizz.
How long should I leave the rollers in?
It’s ideal to leave them in overnight, but if you’re short on time, aim for at least 4–6 hours to allow the curls to hold their shape.
Will heatless curls work on thick or textured hair?
Yes! The key is using the right styling products for your hair type and sectioning your hair correctly. Tools like mousse and spray wax can help curls last longer.
Can I do heatless curls with socks instead of rollers?
Yes! Heatless curls with socks are a popular DIY method for achieving curls without heat. If you don’t have pillow rollers, socks can work in a pinch—just be sure they’re soft and long enough to wrap the sectioned hair securely.
Final Styling Tips
- Twirl bangs away from the face for a soft finish.
- Apply Obliphica Seaberry Hair Serum for a shine boost.
- Finish with a light mist of hairspray to set the style in place without stiffness.
This method provides long-lasting, heatless curls without heat damage—perfect for maintaining healthy hair between wash days.
Shop the Routine
Want to try this routine? Save this post for your next wash day and grab the complete product list above. Every item is listed with a brief description to help you select the right one for your specific curl type.
Tap the product boxes to learn more or purchase through my affiliate links. Save this post for your next wash day and grab the complete product list below. You can shop for the products that interest you, but if you have similar products at home, you can make it work.
Do you have questions or would you like more tutorials like this? Leave a comment or follow me on Instagram @curlymamachronicles!
Check out my latest article: How to Protect Curly Hair from Hard Water Damage.
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