Slaying with long hair all day, that’s the kind of hair goal I always wanted. Going to sleep with the free-flowing tresses, competing with Rapunzel, everything is so dreamy, right? But waking up with all tangled, messy and knotted hair the next morning? Ouch!
Long hair can be luxurious and stunning but protecting it from damage is the biggest challenge, especially while sleeping. Trust me, I know the struggle. And it is real!
Do you also feel like your hair doesn’t hold up very well overnight, finding the solution of how to sleep with long hair without getting damaged? just hold on there. Here are some of my favourite techniques that I feel don’t mess up my hair. You can also try these so that you can give your hair some extra love before calling it a night and waking up with your long hair in excellent condition.
Why does your hair need extra care while sleeping
Before diving into the solutions, here is a quick glimpse of the challenges you can face to sleep with your long hair and why your hair needs extra care before bed.
Hair strands are delicate. And long hair is particularly more vulnerable because it’s older and management is way more difficult than shorter hair. When you move around in your sleep, your long hair can easily become tangled. Also, friction between your hair and pillowcase can cause hair breakage and split ends. So what is the outcome? Frizzy and damaged hair the next morning.
How to Sleep With Long Hair
Just a few pre-sleep do’s and don’ts can make a significant difference in maintaining the health and manageability of long hair. What are they? Let’s see
Brush your hair before bed
Don’t just jump to bed without detangling your hair, no-no. Spend a few minutes brushing your hair. Use a wide-toothed comb or brush to remove any knots and tangles. It will prevent matting and reduce the chances of waking up with a tangled mess. Start from the ends and work your way up to the roots to minimize breakage.
Apply a leave-in conditioner
Since long hair, especially the ends tends to become dry, I always try to apply a leave-in conditioner to keep my hair strands hydrated overnight. Instead of a leave-in conditioner, you can also apply a small amount of lightweight oil like jojoba oil or argan oil to the ends of your hair. It will keep your hair moisturized and prevent breakage and frizziness.
Wear a silk or satin bonnet to sleep
If you move around a lot in your sleep, consider using a silk or satin hair wrap or bonnet. It will provide an extra layer of protection, keep your hair secure and reduce the likelihood of friction against your pillowcase.
I can remember the first time I wore a bonnet to sleep. As a person who likes to go to sleep with my hair loose, I found it a little bit uncomfortable at first. But for the sake of healthy hair growth, I stayed dedicated. In the morning, when I opened my hair, it looked a little weird at first glance but then after giving it a little shake, it was losing up. The thing that made me happy was I only lost one hair strand that day. So even if it takes time for you to get used to it, it’s worth wearing I guess.
Swap your cotton pillowcase with a silk or satin one
With your long open hair and cotton pillowcase, what else is needed to make your hair worse? Instead of a cotton pillowcase, go for a silk or satin one. These materials are much gentler on hair. You’ll find much less friction on a silk pillowcase than on a rougher cotton pillowcase.
The second thing you should be concerned about is that cotton absorbs your scalp’s sebum (natural oil of hair), which leads your scalp to produce more oil and causes a greasy scalp. Silk doesn’t absorb hair oil as much as cotton does which makes it a good option to maintain your hair’s moisture, and prevent dryness and frizz.
Protective sleep hairstyles
Wearing a protective hairstyle to bed is really important to prevent breakage and split ends, especially if you have long hair. I would personally never wear my hair down to bed because I would walk up with so many mattes and tangles that it just wouldn’t be a good hair day. Here are a few different hairstyles, I think you should try to protect your hair from nighttime damage.
Braid
Braids are a wonderful hairstyle while you sleep. Try a regular loose braid tied off with a soft scrunchie instead of elastic. If you sleep on your back, I recommend putting your hair in a side braid so it doesn’t rub. And if you sleep on your side, I recommend wearing a braid to the back or to the opposite side. You can also put a dab of nourishing oil in the ends so that soak while you sleep.
Twisted rope braid
A hairstyle that is kind of similar to the braid. This is really great for sleeping. It won’t leave your hair too wavy. All you do is divide your hair into two sections, twist these sections in the same direction and then twist them around each other in the opposite direction. It is a really easy hairstyle to do.
Twisted bun
This one is my favourite way to wear my hair to bed. Just try a twisted bun held with a claw clip. This is one of the best and easiest hairstyles while sleeping. It will really protect your hair and you’ll wake up with lots and lots of volume.
The pineapple bun
A loose bun on the top of your head is called a pineapple method. Gather your hair into a high, loose ponytail on top of your head. This style is particularly popular with those who have curly hair. It will keep your hair secure and out of the way.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not wear your hair in a really tight bun or ponytail at night. The reason is you don’t want that tightness straining your hair for a longer period every single night while you sleep. It will lead to your hair straining. Your follicles become weaker over time and they’ll be more prone to shedding or falling out.
- Don’t go to sleep with wet hair. Your hair is in a more vulnerable state when it’s wet. So sleeping with it will just lead to more tangle and damage. Try not to wash your hair before bed. Or if you must, ensure it’s fully dry before bed.
So why wait to implement these tips and tricks? Just follow what your hair requires and soon you will be your own version of Rapunzel!
