How to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping

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If you're trying to prevent hair damage and keep your locks healthy and strong, it's essential to protect your hair while sleeping. The friction of your hair against your pillow can undo the effort you've put into your hair during the day. [1] Although protecting hair during sleep is a common practice for people with chemically treated hair or natural African-American hair, treating your hair properly while you sleep is a good idea for all hair types.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Your Hair for Bed

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    If you shower or wash your hair at night, apply a serum or leave-in conditioner while your hair is still damp to smooth and strengthen your locks. This is a good first step to prevent damage while sleeping. [2]
  2. [3] Apply an overnight hair mask or oil treatment, cover your hair with a scarf or shower cap, and wash it out when you wake up.
    • This will reduce friction on your hair while sleeping, especially since you'll have to wrap or cover your hair, and you will wake up to softer, shinier hair! [4]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    Your hair relies on oil from your scalp for natural lubrication. The longer your hair is, the less of this oil will reach the ends of your hair. [5] Applying oil to your ends will enhance your hair's natural protection and prevent split ends from worsening while you sleep.
    • Natural oils, such as almond, coconut and jojoba oils, are an effective and affordable choice that you can find at most health food stores. [6]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    Wet hair is more fragile and elastic, and thus more prone to breaking as it rubs against your pillow. Don't sleep with wet hair! [7]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    After your hair is dry or mostly dry, comb gently from roots to ends to distribute natural oils from your scalp into the ends of your hair. This will protect your hair by restoring oils washed away by shampoo, as well as removing tangles that may worsen as you sleep [8]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Accessorizing to Protect Your Hair in Bed

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  1. Typical cotton pillowcases have coarse fibers that can cause friction and pull on your hair. [9] The smooth texture of a silk or satin pillowcase will allow you to rest your head without worrying about hair damage. [10]
    Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

    Proper hair maintenance takes effort. "The mistake people make is not taking care of their hair the way they do their skin or their body. It’s so important to hold on to the health of your hair, because unlike our skin, once you lose that health and your hair’s damaged, it’s damaged until you cut it off."

  2. Cover your hair with a scarf or headwrap to reduce tangles and frizz caused by motion during sleep. This will prevent breakage and maintain hair texture. [11]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    [12] You may want to tie your hair up before bed, either to prepare it for wrapping or to preserve or create waves. Never use elastic bands, as these can pull on and break your hair. Tie hair loosely with a fabric scrunchie instead. [13]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
    To avoid kinks in straight hair from wraps or hair ties, comb your hair to one side and sweep it around your head in a circle, securing with bobby pins. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you dry your hair so it looks good in the morning?
    Christine George
    Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
    Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.
    Christine George
    Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
    Expert Answer
    It’s best to air dry your hair, but if you are in a hurry, put your hair dryer on the lowest temperature setting to prevent heat damage.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Can I use avocado to hydrate my hair at home?
    Christine George
    Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
    Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.
    Christine George
    Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
    Expert Answer
    It really comes down to your hair maintenance routine. For instance, an avocado mask can be too much for chemically-dyed hair. An avocado mask would work for virgin hair that hasn't been chemically-dyed.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
  • Question
    Does braiding help in hair growth?
    Community Answer
    Technically, braiding at night can prevent damage, which will encourage hair growth, so yes.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/how-to/a44242/how-to-keep-your-hair-from-never-breaking/
      3. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/g4935/best-overnight-hair-masks/
      5. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/dry-hair-causes
      6. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/natural-oils
      7. ↑ http://coveteur.com/2016/12/30/pro-surfer-laura-enever-hairstyles/
      8. ↑ http://coveteur.com/2016/12/30/pro-surfer-laura-enever-hairstyles/
      9. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
      1. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/protect-hair-while-sleeping/
      2. ↑ https://www.allure.com/gallery/bedtime-head-wraps
      3. ↑ Christine George. Master Hair Stylist & Colorist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
      4. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/beauty/protect-hair-while-sleeping/
      5. ↑ https://www.allthingshair.com/en-uk/hairstyles-haircuts/straight-hairstyles/how-to-keep-your-hair-straight-overnight/

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