Oh, how I wish I could wake up with lush, shiny, perfectly styled strands. If I were presented with a magic wand that could either A) *poof* my hair into submission or B) leave me with celeb MUA–level makeup, I’d choose the former every single time, as styling my 2c waves is by far the most laborious undertaking of my beauty routine. Not to mention that I wind up with an unpredictable result despite having my lineup down to a science. (Fellow wavy and curly girls, you feel me.)
Now, I’m not saying an overnight hair mask or serum will solve all your styling woes—but it will make your strands softer and healthier, which means they’ll likely be easier to manage. Since getting my hands on a few stellar formulas, I seldom go to bed without massaging some moisturizing, repairing solution into my scalp and strands, and my mane (plus my chaotic morning routine) is all the better for it. Below, I compiled the overnight hair treatments I’ve personally found successful, along with some helpful application tips from two pro hairstylists: Stacey Ciceron and Stephane André. Keep scrolling for the silky hair of your dreams (sorry, had to!).
The Best Overnight Hair Treatments, at a Glance:
The Best Overnight Hair Treatments of 2025
Best Overall: Oribe Gold Lust Restorative Night Crème for Hair
Oribe
Gold Lust Restorative Night Crème for Hair
Pros: Rich formula that absorbs quickly, seals split ends
Cons: Pricey
Size: 5 ounces
Key ingredients: Plant-based collagen, caffeine, biotin, niacinamide, biomimetic repair technology, lupine flower peptides
Trust, my tresses have never looked or felt softer since I got my hands on Oribe’s latest launch. Like its name suggests, this is essentially the haircare version of a thick, buttery face cream. It coddles your strands with a signature biomimetic repair technology to smooth the hair cuticles and restore softness, and according to Ciceron, it’s “specifically formulated to work with the body’s natural overnight renewal cycle.” A bonus? It has eucalyptus oil for a calming, spa-grade experience. “[It] makes your nighttime hair ritual feel like true self-care,” Ciceron adds.
Customer review: “The Oribe Gold Lust Restorative Night Cream is like beauty sleep for your hair. I wake up with my strands feeling softer, stronger, and way less frizzy. It’s rich but never greasy, so my hair feels nourished without being weighed down. The signature Oribe scent makes the whole experience feel extra luxurious. Honestly, it’s my secret weapon for keeping my hair healthy between washes.”
Best Serum: Fekkai Super Strength+ PM Repair Sérum
FEKKAI
Super Strength+ PM Repair Sérum
Pros: Absorbs instantly, doesn’t weigh hair down, can be used every night
Cons: Smaller size
Size: 1.7 ounces
Key ingredients: Squalane, Powerbond technology, SalSphere technology
If you’re looking for a lightweight serum as opposed to a dense, creamy confection, I can’t recommend Fekkai’s repairing formula enough. The milky consistency absorbs into my strands immediately upon application with zero greasy residue thanks to squalane, which mimics your skin’s and hair’s natural oils. Despite the thinner consistency and smaller bottle, this formula puts in the work: It has a potent “Powerbond” technology to penetrate and repair broken hair bonds, as well as a “SalSphere” technology to protect against breakage.
Customer review: “Hair feels amazing after using! No need to wash out and no transfer onto my pillow (LOVE that!) Also smells so so so good.”
Best Lightweight: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Hair Serum
Redken
Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night & Day Hair Serum
Pros: Can be used multiple times per day; has a fresh, invigorating scent; enhances shine
Cons: Contains silicones if you avoid those
Size: 3.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, citric acid, squalane
Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate line contains specific acids (duh) to bring the hair’s pH back to its healthy, slightly acidic range. (The pH can go awry due to coloring, excessive heat styling, and environmental aggressors.) The citric acid in this serum also helps fortify weakened hair bonds and repair existing damage by penetrating deep within the hair fibers. The result? Smooth, shiny hair with notably less frizz. The serum is so light and airy that you can use it multiple times per day if you please—once in the morning and again before bed.
Customer review: “This has completely replaced my need for morning and nightly oil in my ends, leave-in, heat protection, you name it. This checks every box with its detangling, high shine, smoothing, and pH balancing properties. I can use 5 pumps in the morning and 5 in the evening on my fine hair and still go 3 days between washes. I fear I’ll need a gallon-sized option soon!!!”
Best Hydrating: Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment
Amika
Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment
Pros: No risk of protein overload, amazing scent
Cons: Has a thicker texture that could weigh down fine hair
Size: 3.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, bio-fermented coconut water, polyglutamic acid
If you’re hoping to drench your lengths in moisture before hitting the hay, look no further than this ultra-hydrating mask. It doesn’t have any protein-rich ingredients—just moisturizing players, like hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and coconut water—so you don’t have to worry about potential “protein overload” (yes, unfortunately that’s a thing) while you snooze.
Customer review: “I actually really love this product! First of all, it smells amazing and secondly, it makes your hair feel so hydrating and when you wake up in the morning, your hair is super hydrated!”
Best for Split Ends: Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Overnight Hair Serum
Aveda
Botanical Repair Strengthening Overnight Hair Serum
Pros: Smells great, lightweight consistency, can be applied during the day too for immediate split-end mending
Cons: Some reviewers say it’s a bit sticky
Size: 3.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Avocado oil, green tea oil, sacha inchi oil, nangai oil, corn- and coconut-derived bond-building molecule
No, nothing can ever truly “heal” split ends (the only way to truly rid them is to snip them off), but certain products can disguise their appearance. This Aveda number is one of those products. It features sophisticated plant-based bonding technology to strengthen the hair cuticles, along with nangai oil—a botanical rich in fatty acids—to reduce the appearance of pesky frays by 84% in just one night.
Customer review: “I wasn’t sure how this would work as it’s a little sticky, but it has worked wonders on my split ends. A little bit goes a long way but the other day I put loads in, almost like a mask on my ends, but I could easily [have] gone the day without washing it out. It’s not greasy at all. Although it’s not my usual go to as I do prefer oils, I liked this product and it smells lovely too!”
Best for Shine: Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum Hydrating Treatment
Kérastase
Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum Hydrating Treatment
Pros: Provides incredible slip to the hair so it doesn’t tug against your pillow, great for reducing frizz
Cons: Contains silicones if you avoid those
Size: 3 ounces
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, hydrolyzed wheat, corn, and soy proteins
This Kérastase serum provides an overnight halo effect—that’s the only way I can describe how shiny my hair looks in the a.m. Each strand appears noticeably more vibrant, and the formula itself is pillow-soft with tons of slip, so you don’t have to worry about any friction (and frizz) as you toss and turn.
Customer review: “Amazing! I recommend this product to everyone I know. I like to brush my hair out at night and apply this after and the shine it gives my hair in the morning is incredible. I have thicker hair that is down to my lower back and one bottle will last me months. I use one-ish pumps on each side of my hair before bed.”
Best Budget: Not Your Mother’s Sleep on It Overnight Hydrating Serum Cream
Not Your Mother’s
Sleep on It Overnight Hydrating Serum Cream
Pros: Can be used every night without fear of protein overload, smells amazing, super-lightweight consistency
Cons: Contains silicones if you avoid those
Size: 4 ounces
Key ingredients: Mushroom extract, squalane, olive oil
Here’s another strictly hydrating formula you can slather on as often as you please—every night if you wish! (Protein-infused treatments, on the other hand, should be spaced out so as to not overload your strands.) And since it’s tagged at $10, you don’t have to be too precious about blowing through bottle after bottle. Trust me, after seeing the silky, shiny results from the formula’s ultra-hydrating mushroom extract, squalane, and olive oil, you won’t want to take any nights off.
Customer review: “I cannot BELIEVE how good of a product this is. I tried it for the first time last night on my fine, wavy/curly hair, and woke up this morning with the most controlled curl definition I think I’ve ever had. Nothing will ever beat this, I think. It smells great, works great, and generally is an incredible product. I love that I can just put it in my hair at night and then wake up and literally not have to worry about messing with styling. Absolutely unreal, I will always repurchase. If I could give this 10 stars, I would.”
Best Strengthening: Joico Defy Damage Sleepover Overnight Nourishing Treatment
Joico
Defy Damage Sleepover Overnight Nourishing Treatment
Pros: Strengthens hair while you sleep and during the day, has UV protection
Cons: Contains silicones if you avoid those
Size: 3.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Moringa seed oil, arginine, rosehip oil, keratin
At first I was a little confused by this formula’s UV protection. After all, why do you need to shield your strands from the sun’s rays if you’re applying it at night? That said, you can technically rake this treatment through your strands right before stepping out into the heat (a beach day, perhaps). Then at night, you can apply once again to let the arginine and keratin repair broken bonds while you snooze. The formula even has a slow-release technology to ensure those beneficial players seep into your strands all night long. Neat, no?
Customer review: “I have thick medium length hair. This hair treatment is so easy to apply. I applied 3 pumps of treatment on the bottom half of my hair and put on a silk cap to protect the hair overnight. In the morning, my hair feels smooth and shiny after styling. Highly recommended.”
Best Natural: Ranavat Mighty Majesty Fortifying Repair & Shine Hair Serum
RANAVAT
Mighty Majesty Fortifying Repair & Shine Hair Serum
Pros: Versatile for everyday styling and as an overnight treatment, smells amazing, organic ingredients
Cons: Strong jasmine smell (I personally love it, but those sensitive to jasmine may not)
Size: 1.7 ounces
Key ingredients: Jasmine oil, amla extract, sunflower oil
Technically, this serum isn’t specifically marketed for overnight use, but that doesn’t mean you can’t let it marinate for eight-plus hours. While you shouldn’t leave on just any hair treatment overnight (more on that in just a moment!), this natural blend of jasmine oil, amla, and sunflower oil (and nothing else) only continues to nourish over time. It’s also so versatile: Feel free to use it on damp hair to seal in moisture, on dry ends as a quick refresh, or root to tip as a pre-shampoo (or overnight) treatment. I’ve gone through three bottles and will always continue to restock.
Customer review: “I have been using this on a range of curly hair, types 3-4, for the past month. This is amazing and smells so good!! Softens my chronically dry hair when used as a sealant. I can also use on my children’s curls with beautiful results! Reduced shedding and reduced breakage. It’s staple status!”
What to Consider in an Overnight Hair Treatment
- Moisturizing MVPs: Above all, look for a product with tons of moisturizing power. “Growing up, I saw women in my family use rich, natural oils like coconut and shea butter. They knew how to lock in moisture before we even had the science to back it up,” shares Ciceron. “Today, I look for treatments that pair that same kind of moisture with advanced, targeted ingredients.”
- Hair goals: Aside from moisture, you may want to look for certain ingredients that align with your specific hair goals. Dealing with breakage? Opt for strengthening formulas with plant-based proteins, biotin, and plenty of antioxidants. Struggling with frizz? Load on the smoothing hydrators, such as botanical oils, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. Those with mature strands can even look for formulas with retinol, says André, to help with hair density. Caffeine, biotin, and niacinamide can also help restore a “youthful, healthy look to the hair,” adds Ciceron.
- Formula type: Overnight hair treatments come in many forms—some prefer a featherlight, water-based serum, while others are hoping to saturate their lengths in a rich, buttery mask. This will ultimately depend on your hair type and lifestyle. “Whether your hair is relaxed, natural, fine, or coily, the right overnight treatment should absorb easily, deeply nourish without weighing your hair down, and leave your strands noticeably softer and smoother by morning,” notes Ciceron.
- Consistency: “Lightweight yet nourishing formulas are ideal for overnight use,” adds André. After all, no one wants to wake up to a greasy pillow. Even if you have a denser formula for thicker, coarser hair, make sure it can absorb fully into your strands before tucking into bed.
How to Use Overnight Hair Treatments
- Section the hair: First, separate the hair into sections, as this will ensure you saturate every single strand. “It helps with even distribution, especially for dense or curly textures,” adds Ciceron.
- Apply your product: “For optimal application, I recommend distributing the serum evenly from roots to ends,” explains André. You might want to focus a bit more on the mid-lengths to ends, though, especially if you’re dealing with dryness; but feel free to massage a little product into the scalp as well.
- Set the style: “After application, I recommend setting your hair in a low-tension protective style like loose braids or twists,” says Ciceron. “This keeps your strands secure, helps reduce friction and breakage, and gives you beautiful waves or definition by morning.”
- Protect against friction: “Wrap your hair with a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to seal in moisture and protect against frizz,” Ciceron adds. The softer, less-porous fabric minimizes the amount of friction on your strands while you inevitably move in your sleep, which results in way less frizz. You can also opt for a silk or satin pillowcase for extra protection.
- Catch Z’s: Drift off, and you’ll wake up in the morning with soft, silky, healthy strands. No need to rinse!
Can You Leave Any Hair Mask on Overnight?
Both stylists recommend sticking to products specifically formulated for overnight use. “Not all masks are created equal,” Ciceron shares, so you should always read and follow the instructions provided on the label. For example, some protein-rich formulas are designed to strengthen the hair in 20 to 30 minutes max. “Leaving those on too long can lead to dryness, buildup, or even breakage,” Ciceron warns.
Not to mention “regular hair masks can be too heavy and may clog the scalp or leave unwanted residue if kept on all night,” André shares. Overnight treatments, on the other hand, are typically more lightweight and easily absorbed by the strands and follicles.
Should You Wash Your Hair Before Applying an Overnight Hair Mask?
Not always! “If your hair is full of buildup, washing first helps the treatment penetrate better,” says Ciceron. If your hair is freshly washed or styled, however, you can apply your overnight treatment directly on dry strands, from root to tip.
Explore More:
