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Put waves or curls in a loose pineapple

A loose pineapple keeps longer waves or curls gathered above your head while you sleep. Try it only if the hair reaches comfortably and the tie feels loose at your roots.

Step by step

  1. A woman places a soft satin scrunchie on her wrist before gathering her dry curls.
    STEP 1 OF 9

    Prepare the hair and tie

    • Check that your hair is dry, including the roots and inner lengths. Remove any clips or pins.
    • Choose a soft fabric-covered tie that can hold your hair loosely. Slip it onto the wrist of the hand you will use to hold the gathered hair.
  2. A woman gathers her dry curls high with both hands, with a satin scrunchie ready on her wrist.
    STEP 2 OF 9

    Gather the lengths high

    • Lean forward only as far as comfortable and sweep the loose lengths toward the top of your head with both hands.
    • Hold the gathered hair with the hand wearing the tie. Leave shorter pieces out rather than pulling them up.

    You can stay upright and bring the hair up from each side if bending forward is uncomfortable.

  3. A woman holds a high bundle of curls while her other hand stretches the scrunchie from her wrist over the supporting hand.
    STEP 3 OF 9

    Move the tie from wrist to hair

    • Keep one hand loosely around the gathered hair. With the other hand, stretch the tie away from your wrist.
    • Ease the open loop over your supporting hand and onto the hair. Keep holding the lengths so the roots are not pulled.
  4. A woman steadies a high bundle of curls with one hand while the other adjusts the scrunchie at its base.
    STEP 4 OF 9

    Let the tie rest around the base

    • Guide the single loop to the base of the gathered hair. Let go gradually so it rests around the hair without squeezing.
    • Leave the ends free above it. Do not twist the tie for another turn; choose a different size if it is tight or will not stay.
  5. A woman checks the roots and loose scrunchie beneath a high pineapple while the curly ends fan freely.
    STEP 5 OF 9

    Check for pulling

    • Stand or sit upright and feel around your hairline, sides and nape. Let any pulled short section slip free.
    • A fingertip should fit under the tie without forcing it. If the roots pull, or you feel pressure, pain or stinging, remove it and choose another tie or method.

    Room under the tie does not cancel out discomfort at the roots.

  6. A woman rests on her pillow with the loose high tie above the contact area to check comfort.
    STEP 6 OF 9

    Check it against your pillow

    • Rest your head on your pillow in your usual sleeping position. Notice whether the tie presses or the gathered hair pulls.
    • If it does, sit up and remove the tie. Try a more comfortable loose placement or use a different sleep arrangement.

    The side-lying photo is one example. You do not need to change your sleeping position to make the style work.

  7. A woman supports her high curl bundle and widens the scrunchie loop away from the hair before removal.
    STEP 7 OF 9

    Open the loop in the morning

    • Sit or stand up. Support the gathered lengths with one hand so their weight does not pull at your roots.
    • Hook the other hand under the tie and gently widen the whole loop away from the hair.
  8. A woman holds a removed satin scrunchie clear of her curls while supporting the loose lengths with her other hand.
    STEP 8 OF 9

    Ease the tie off

    • Keep the loop open and work it up toward the ends until it comes free. Support the hair rather than dragging the tie through it.
    • If curls catch, pause, widen the loop and ease those strands out with your fingertips. Do not yank the tie.

    The photo shows the tie just after it has cleared the hair.

  9. A woman lets her loose curls settle around her shoulders with the removed scrunchie resting on the dresser.
    STEP 9 OF 9

    Let the hair fall and settle

    • Set the tie down and let your hair fall around your shoulders. Give the lifted sections a moment to settle before judging the shape.
    • If a few sections need reshaping, use the linked refresh guide. You do not need to add water or product automatically.

About 30 seconds–2 minutes of handling for gathering, one tie loop, comfort checks and morning removal, plus overnight wear. Drying and any refresh are separate.

Untimed editorial estimate. Familiar handling can be brief; checking a new tie, pauses or freeing caught curls can take longer.

You’re done when…

At bedtime, the tie holds loosely without pulling at the hairline or pressing against your pillow. In the morning, the tie is fully removed and the hair hangs free.