If you have long tresses, then it is most likely that you have wondered how to sleep with long hair so that you do not wake up with a full head of tangles and knots. There are several easy yet essential tips that will help you to keep your mane protected during sleep, such as using special hairstyles, wrapping your hair and moisturizing it while keeping dry. Sounds confusing? Then wait no longer to explore our guide.
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- Why Is It Important To Protect Your Hair While Sleeping?
- Sleeping With Long Hair – Essential Tips
- Best Way To Sleep If Your Hair Is Long And Curly
- FAQ
Why Is It Important To Protect Your Hair While Sleeping?
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There are many reasons why you want to protect hair while sleeping. Long hair tends to get tangled easily if you leave it unprotected during sleep, especially when you toss and turn. You find it difficult to brush in the morning and it may break off or fall out severely. As a result, you end up with damaged hair. It becomes brittle, its ends split and you experience a massive hair loss. Thus, it is vital for a healthy and beautiful mane to protect it at night.
Sleeping With Long Hair – Essential Tips
So, what is the best way to sleep with long hair? Below we have put together the most effective tips on sleeping with long hair.
Credit photo: shutterstock
Replace Your Regular Pillowcase With A Satin Or Silk One
If you still sleep on a regular cotton pillowcase, no wonder your hair is frizzy, brittle or shedding. With your every move during sleep, you create friction and strain on the hair. A satin or silk pillowcase, on the other hand, helps you to avoid such negative consequences. Besides, your skin will benefit from it too. Because you will get fewer creases on your face, as well as less stretching, it will allow you to keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay too. On top of that, fibers of silk and satin pillowcases have a cooling effect and they are also known to be hypoallergenic.
Adjust Your Washing Schedule So You Never Sleep With Wet Hair
Keep in mind that to avoid brittle and matted hair in the morning, you need to go to bed only when your locks are absolutely dry. The thing is your hair is weaker when it is soaked with water. And when you turn or even move just a little while sleeping, your wet hair becomes tangled easily. So, make sure to go to the shower early enough for your hair to get fully dry before hitting the pillow or if it is already late, it is better to enlist the help of dry shampoo.
Also, it will not hurt if you rinse your strands with cool water as you finish washing them. This will close hair cuticles, thus locking in moisture. If you do not have enough time to dry your tresses or just generally prefer to use a blow drier, feel free to give it a go.
Add Brushing The Hair To Your Bedtime Routine
Not only does brushing your mane before bed is one of the best ways of how to keep hair from tangling at night, but it also ensures that it is going to be less frizzy or matted in the morning. So, if brushing is not a part of your evening beauty routine, it is high time to include it. Do not worry though that it is going to be time-consuming. You just need to run a comb or a brush several times through your tresses to make sure there are no tangles left in them and you are good to go.
Protect Your Locks With A Hair Wrap Or Scarf
Wearing a scarf or hair wrap for sleeping is how to protect your hair at night when you have styled it. This will help you to avoid dents and you will not crush your hairstyle when sleeping. Choose a headwear made of either satin or silk so that there is less friction. Do not forget to tack in the hair that is at the back of your head too. Wrapping hair at night is how to sleep with long hair to keep it frizz-free, as it is not affected by your sweating or humidity. Besides, this is how to keep your hair straight overnight as well. If needed, you can fasten the wrap with bobby pins.
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Tie Your Hair With A Scrunchie
No matter what bedtime hairstyles you opt for, you should switch your regular elastic band for a soft scrunchie. Scrunchies do not create friction on your hair, so it does not get frizzy and brittle. Besides, they do not pull it back nor do they tear it out when you remove them. Finally, they do not leave dents on your hair, thus there is no need for extra styling the following day.
Apply Essential Oils To The Tips For Extra Protection
Regardless of your preferred sleeping position, the tips of your hair remain extremely fragile. To protect them from friction and breakage during sleep, apply essential oil of your choice beforehand. You can choose from almond, argan, coconut or jojoba oil, depending on your preferences. So, rub several oil drops between your palms and spread them over your braided or tied hair, paying more attention to the tips.
Use A Hair Conditioner Before Bed
Although you need to dry out your locks before going to bed, you should also make sure they are not overly dry in the morning, which can result in unruly and frizzy hair. Hence, use a leave-in conditioner before you put your locks in any hairstyles for sleeping. Based on your hair porosity and type, you may want to use lightweight or rich formula, containing keratin, protein, and various additives.
Braid Your Hair Before Sleeping But Keep It Loose
Braids are one of the most popular hairstyles to sleep in and no wonder. In addition to keeping your hair tangle-free the whole night, it allows you to achieve neat waves in the morning. You can choose any braid type you like, from a classic three-strand braid to multiple fishtail braids. Yet, do not tie your hair too tight not to damage it. There is hardly a way of how to sleep with tight braids safely. So, it is better to make them a bit lose. To fasten the braid, you should also use a soft scrunchie. Ideally, you should protect the braids with a hair wrap.
Apply Hair Masks And Serums Overnight
You can also apply a hair mask or serum before bed to keep your tresses free from frizziness. Look for a product that does not contain acids or heavy proteins. So, no apple cider vinegar, citric acid, eggs, or suchlike ingredients should be present in your mask or serum. These components tend to weigh your locks down and make them fragile.
Do Not Underestimate The Benefit Of Scalp Massages
Massaging your scalp before bed is highly beneficial, especially for hair growth. As you massage your head, the blood vessels located all over it expand, which is known to stimulate hair growth. Besides, this is also considered a great way of how to exfoliate the scalp, helping to remove buildup and dirt from your hair roots. Also, as a result of massage, the hair follicle cells are extended, thus your hair starts to grow thicker.
What Is The Best Way To Sleep If Your Hair Is Long And Curly
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Curly hair women who have long locks should adapt the way they sleep to their hair type. So, how to sleep with long curly hair? If you want your curls to remain defined and bouncy when you wake up, you should not lie on them while sleeping. So, either turn to your stomach or use one of the protective hairstyles for curly locks, like flower curls, pineapple hair or similar. A hair scarf or wrap is also very advisable to keep your curls in place at night.
What Is The Best Way To Sleep If You Have Long Hair Extensions
Now, how to sleep with long hair if you have extensions? Hair extensions have a tendency to become matted more severely compared to natural locks. If this is the case for you, then you should stick to a specific nighttime routine to stop it from happening. First, remember to always brush your stennies with a special hair brush. Secure them with a protective hairstyle, like a mid-length or turned under ponytail, a braid, or pigtail braids, and put a hair wrap on.
At first sight, it may seem that there is too much to how to sleep with long hair correctly. However, once you incorporate these tips into your daily routine, you will get used to them pretty soon. And the benefit that your long locks will get from such care cannot be overlooked.
Credit photo: shutterstock
FAQ
Is it better to sleep with long hair up or down?
For long hair, it is better if you tie it when sleeping. The hairstyle depends majorly on the type of your hair as well as your personal preferences. Thus, before going to sleep hair can be tied in a top knot, braided or put in a ponytail.
Does sleeping with your hair down make it grow faster?
As promising as it sounds, there is no evidence that wearing your hair down during sleeping will boost its growth. On the contrary, sometimes it is even more beneficial to tie your hair up for the night.
How to sleep with long hair in summer?
Tying your hair in a bun or a high ponytail is the best way of how to sleep with long hair in summer. They keep your locks away from the sweat that can penetrate them at night.
- Best tips on sleeping with long locks. Source
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