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How you should be sleeping to protect your long hair

21Oak Contributor
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If you have long hair, you’ve likely garnered all the essentials for hair care and take great pains to keep your hair healthy and manageable. However, if you don’t have a good nighttime routine to prepare and protect your hair, all those daytime efforts could be wasted. We’ve compiled the best tips for preparing your hair for bedtime. Read on to wake up with beautiful hair.

Brush before bed

Hitting the sack with a tangled mane is asking for trouble. Those knots will only get bigger as you move your head during sleep. Before turning out the lights, brush your hair gently with a soft-bristled brush to removes tangles without breaking and damaging your strands. If you want your hair to be extra shiny, try a boar bristle brush, which is known to distribute natural oils from your scalp throughout your hair.

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Dry before bed

If you wash your hair before bed, be sure you fully dry it before going to sleep. Your hair is weakest when it is wet, so sleeping with damp hair leaves it more vulnerable to breakage. If you don’t want to go through an entire blow-dry routine before bed, use a microfiber towel to get rid of excess water. Microfiber towels are thought to reduce frizz and speed up drying more than a regular bath towel.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sleep on a silk pillowcase

There is some truth behind the myths of silk pillowcases regarding their beauty benefits. Silk or satin pillowcases are much more gentle on hair than cotton and will reduce breakage. The smaller fibers of silk pillowcases prevent your ends from damage and pulling, especially if you are a restless sleeper.

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No ponies in bed

Tying your hair into a ponytail may keep it from tangling but puts tension on your scalp potentially damaging it and your tresses. Instead, opt for a loose bun on the crown of the head or a braid. Braiding will save your ends from excessive breakage and your scalp from damage. Also, if you sleep with your hair in a braid, you will wake up with heatless waves in your hair with no effort at all. If you absolutely must put your hair in a ponytail before bed, use a scrunchie instead of an elastic. Elastic ties hair too tight, which causes breakage. You can also go with a low ponytail at the nape of your neck to reduce breakage.

Use a scarf or sleep cap

Another excellent and less damaging option for getting your long hair off your face while sleeping is to wrap it in a silk or satin scarf or sleep cap. Covering your head in this way is like sleeping on a silk pillowcase while keeping your hair off your face without tying it up. Use a large, square scarf to wrap your hair, and you will find it easy to deal with in the morning; or take the easy way out and tuck it all in a cap. If you have curls, a scarf or cap can help them from getting crushed as you sleep.

Use a treatment

Before bed is a great time to apply a warm oil treatment to your long hair because the treatment will have the time it needs to condition and hydrate your hair while you sleep. Look for products that are paraben- and alcohol-free and won’t transfer to your pillowcase. Many products have a combination of argan oil, vitamin E, and minerals that moisturize without leaving your hair greasy. Most of them will also leave your hair smelling lovely.

We all know that a good night’s sleep does wonders for our appearance, but it can be the enemy of our hair if we don’t do the right prep. Add these hair-loving tips to your nighttime routine so your hair wakes up as happy as your skin.

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

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21Oak Contributor
21Oak Contributor
Former Digital Trends Contributor
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