How to Wrap Short Hair

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 23, 2021 References Tested

Wrapping is a popular, easy, and comfortable way to keep short natural hair or a pixie cut styled overnight. If don’t want your short hair to look messy and frizzy when you wake up, wrapping it can help. With basic hair preparation along with a satin scarf or head wrap, you’ll be ready to start the new day with a beautiful look! Check out the tips below to learn how to easily wrap short hair overnight.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Prepping Your Hair

1
Add a styling product to your hair after washing it. Follow your normal hair care routine with shampoo and conditioner before rubbing a coin-sized amount of styling product into your hair. Add a few squirts of foam or gel to the palm of your hand and rub it into your hair with long, smooth strokes. Towel dry your hair so it’s damp but not dripping wet.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- To get the product into your hair more thoroughly, consider brushing it in with a long, thin comb. This method works especially well with straight hair.
2
Get out any knots and tangles with a brush or comb. Ensure that your hair is tangle-free by guiding a paddle brush or comb through it. Although a head scarf or head wrap covers most (if not all) of your hair, you don’t want there to be any uncomfortable knots or tangles underneath.^{[2]
X
Research source} Consider using special detangling products so that the process is as painless as possible.
- Feel free to comb your hair in whatever way you’d like! Create your own unique style by combing in the direction you’d like your hair to go.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- For instance, combing your bangs to the right might make your hair curl slightly to the right after you remove the headscarf.
Advertisement
3
Section off your hair using your brush and hair clips. Use a brush or comb to separate your hair into several large pieces. Ideally, your hair will be split into 4-5 large chunks, before pinning them up with a hair pin. This makes it easier to wrap your hair, especially if you’re using a headscarf.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- If your hair is ear-length or shorter, don’t worry about this step.
- Use long, narrow clips for this step. Ideally, they should look and work like clothespins. Be sure to center each clip when you put your hair up.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Covering Your Head with a Satin Scarf

1
Pinch the fabric with your fingers so that it’s only one layer. Take a rectangular headscarf in your hands and extend your arms while pinching the fabric. The fabric is easiest to wrap over your head when it’s flattened. To ensure that all of your hair is wrapped, the surface area of the satin should be as large as possible.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Satin is a great headscarf fabric because it keeps your hair from frizzing, while also keeping your hair style consistent.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
2
Lay the fabric along the center of your forehead. Take the single layer of satin and wrap it around your head. The longer edge of the rectangular scarf should be snug and rest directly above the eyebrows. Feel free to adjust the scarf as needed—what’s most important is that your hair is covered, and that you are as comfortable as possible.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- It might be easier to put the scarf on in front of a mirror.
3
Tie both ends of the scarf at the nape of your neck. Take the 2 ends of your scarf dangling down either side of your face and tie them into a loose knot behind your head. It doesn’t matter if the tied scarf ends are exactly even in length, as long as the headscarf is securely wrapped over your hair.^{[8]
X
Research source}
4
Take out any remaining hair clips. Use one hand to hold the scarf in place while tucking the opposite hand beneath the fabric’s edge to pull out any hair clips. Since your headscarf is now tied, you don’t have to worry about large pieces of hair falling out. Ask a friend or family member for help if you’re having trouble getting any of the clips out.^{[9]
X
Research source}
5
Adjust any loose hairs so that they’re all in the scarf. Push any loose hairs or tendrils back into your headscarf with your fingers. Don’t worry about using bobby pins or anything small to keep them in place—since you’ll be sleeping with this scarf on, the goal is to be as comfortable as possible. Ultimately, the purpose of the wrap is to cover your short hair while you sleep, so that your hair looks as smooth and stylish as possible.^{[10]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Head Wrap

1
Take a head wrap and align it behind your ears. Extend a head wrap lengthwise in your hands and pull it over your head. Ideally, the wrap should be parallel to your ears, and snug against the back of your head. If you don’t have a head wrap on hand, it’s easy to find one online or at a department store.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- A head wrap resembles a disconnected headband, or a long strip of cloth. Try to use one that’s around 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide.
2
Tuck the center of the wrap behind your ears and bring the ends to your forehead. Secure the wrap by placing the fabric behind your ears and bringing the ends to the front. By doing this, the back of the wrap should be snug against the nape of your neck. Tug on both ends of the wrap to make sure that they’re even in length.^{[12]
X
Research source}
3
Cover the base fabric with another head wrap and secure it into place. Use one hand to hold the first head wrap steady as you loop a second head wrap around the first layer of fabric. Start by wrapping from the back, once again keeping the fabric close to the nape of your neck. Use a head wrap that has a Velcro strip or some other securing material that you can use to hold both wraps into place. ^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Try to find a head wrap made of a sheer material, like satin.