How to protect curly hair while you sleep
Hands up all you curlies out there who have gone to bed with gorgeous curls—only to wake in the morning with crushed tresses and a mane of untameable frizz.
Luckily, there are ways to turn your curly-haired nightmares into sweet dreams. And with just a little preparation before you hop into bed, you can protect your hair and wake up with gorgeous, bouncy curls.
Minimise hair breakage and keep curls hydrated
While we sleep, we tend to toss and turn which is not good for our curls. Not only will you wake up with flat hair, if you are not using the right pillow material, your night-time movements will break and split your tresses.
We recommend a silk pillowcase which can help you to banish bad hair days, keep your hair hydrated and minimise split ends. How? Here’s the science bit… A cotton pillowcase is more porous than silk and will absorb moisture from your hair. A silk pillowcase keeps the moisture where it belongs—in your curls. It’s also thought that a silk pillowcase can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, which is another top reason to invest in one.
What is the ‘pineapple technique’?
The pineapple hair technique is one of the best ways to protect curls overnight. By loosely piling your curls into a pineapple shape on the top of your head before you go to bed, your hair will be less prone to tangles and your curls will not get squashed.
We love this method of curl protection, because it’s easy and effective. Simply gather your hair into a high ponytail and gently secure with a fabric band or scrunchie. Keep the ponytail loose and let your curls spill to the sides. In the morning, carefully remove the scrunchie and shake your curls loose for fabulous waves that won’t need restyling.
Wear a bonnet to bed
We know loads of curlies who won’t go to sleep without their bonnet on! A silk or satin bonnet is a great option for shorter hairstyles if the hair is not long enough to pineapple.
The bonnet will help to keep your hair in place, reduce friction and stop your curls from dehydrating while you get your eight hours of beauty sleep. There are many stylish bonnets available—so you can stay stylish while you sleep! Wrap your hair in a plush fabric bonnet and wake up with kinks, curls and waves that are easy to style.
Waking up with your curls
How amazing would it be to have more time in bed—and not have to set the alarm extra early to tame your curls? By following some of the techniques we’ve described, you can rise and shine with bouncy curls that require minimal maintenance.
When you wake up, carefully remove your hair from the pineapple or bonnet and give your curls a shake. If there are any flat areas, use your fingers to revitalise them. Then leave your hair to settle and don’t be alarmed that your locks may resemble a lion’s mane—they will usually settle after roughly twenty minutes—and if they still need a little attention let the steam from your morning shower reform your curls.
Protect your curls every night
If you’d like to make your curls last for days, then establish a nightly routine that works for your hair type. A little bit of effort at bedtime will protect your hair and leave you with more time in the morning for a lie-in or an extra cup of coffee before you start your busy day.
