Wearing long hair to bed can be tricky. Long hair tends to get tangled and messy while you sleep. It can also feel hot and uncomfortable. However, with some preparation and care, you can wear your long locks to bed in a way that is comfortable and keeps your hair looking great. Here are some quick answers to common questions about wearing long hair to bed:
How do I keep my long hair from tangling at night?
– Braid, twist or pin up your hair before bed. This keeps it contained and tangle-free.
– Use a silk or satin pillowcase. The smooth fabric doesn’t cause friction like cotton.
– Apply a light leave-in conditioner or hair serum before bed. This helps reduce tangles.
Should I sleep with my hair down or up?
– Sleeping with your hair down risks more tangles but may be comfortable. Use a silk pillowcase.
– Putting hair up in a loose bun, braid or twist keeps hair neat and contained overnight.
What kinds of accessories help when sleeping with long hair?
– Satin or silk scrunchies, headwraps and pillowcases decrease friction.
– Invisibobbles and spiral hair ties reduce dents and creases in hair.
– Sleep caps and buffs keep long hair covered and protected.
Preparing Your Hair for Bed
Getting your long locks ready for sleep takes a little extra care. Follow these tips for preparing your hair for bedtime:
Cleanse and Condition
Shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would in the shower or bath. Be sure to concentrate conditioner on your ends where hair tends to be driest. Thoroughly rinse out any buildup. Hair free of dirt and residue is less prone to tangling overnight.
Apply a Leave-In
Once hair is clean, gently work a lightweight leave-in conditioner or protective hair serum from roots to ends. Focus on the length of your hair rather than scalp. This helps nourish strands and acts as a barrier against friction that causes tangles.
Let Air Dry
Allow your hair to air dry fully before going to bed. Damp or wet hair is more vulnerable to damage. Air drying also cuts down on potential breakage compared to rubbing with a towel. Diffuse hair gently on low heat if you want to speed up drying time.
Style in a Protective Updo
Create an updo like a loose braid, twist or bun to keep hair protected overnight. Tie back gently with a silk scrunchy to avoid dents. Position your hairdo high on your head so you don’t lay directly on it. Or, simply gather hair into a loose ponytail.
Sleeping Positions for Long Hair
The way you sleep can impact your hair. Pay attention to your sleeping position and make adjustments to prevent harming your long locks.
On Your Back
Sleeping on your back works well for maintaining long hair overnight. Make sure to keep your hair contained in a braid, silk cap or protective updo so it stays untangled. Having hair extensions? Keep your head elevated on a pillow to avoid tangling the extensions.
On Your Side
Side sleeping has the risk of compressing hair on one side, leading to indents and flat sections. Put hair in a loose braid, use a satin pillowcase and keep braid forward over shoulder and away from underneath your head.
On Your Stomach
Stomach sleeping crushes hair underneath your head all night, often resulting in flattened areas. If you must sleep this way, contain hair in a very loose, low braid or hair wrap. Protect the braid by pinning up and away from your body.
Choosing the Right Accessories
Certain accessories can really help when it comes to maintaining your long hairstyle overnight. Look for these hair-friendly options.
Silk or Satin Pillowcases
Pillowcases made of silk or satin provide less damaging friction on hair than regular cotton cases. The slippery texture of the fabric allows hair to glide smoothly rather than get tangled and pulled.
Scrunchies
Scrunchies covered in silk or satin are gentler on hair than regular hair elastics. They help avoid dents and creases from tighter hair ties. Scrunchies also stay put well overnight.
Hair Buff
Wearing a hair buff keeps all of your hair contained inside during sleep. Look for a style made of soft, silky material. Make sure it’s roomy enough for a comfortable fit without tugging on hair.
Sleep Cap
A cap crafted specially for sleeping helps protect long tresses at night. Opt for a cap with a soft liner that feels good against your hair. Some even have a rear opening for a ponytail or braid.
Hair Wrap
Long hair can benefit from wrapping it up in a hair wrap, silk scarf or turban before bedtime. Not only does this prevent tangles, but it helps maintain moisture in your hair overnight.
Low-Manipulation Styles for Sleep
Some simple styles are less prone to damage overnight because they require minimal handling and manipulation of hair. Here are some go-to low-maintenance looks:
Braids
Basic braids are easy yet keep hair very tidy for sleeping. For best results, braid hair when slightly damp and use silk scrunchies to secure ends. Try a loose fishtail or basic three-strand braid.
Buns
Any sort of messy bun, topknot or twisted bun makes a good bedtime style. Pull hair gently into a bun shape and wrap a soft scrunchie around ends to hold in place. Position at the crown of your head.
Twists
Flat twists and two-strand twists contain hair well for nighttime. Part hair into sections then twist strands close to the scalp and fasten ends with tiny rubber bands.
Ponies and Pigs
For seriously lazy nights, a ponytail or pigtails work beautifully. Use soft scrunchies, spin pins or spiraled hair ties to avoid dents and creases in hair. Let pigtails fall loosely on each shoulder.
Caring for Hair in the Morning
Your mane likely needs a bit of refreshing after a night’s sleep. Gently bring hair back to life in the mornings with these tips:
Undo Styles Slowly
Carefully remove any hair elastics, pins, scarves or wraps from the night before. Try to avoid yanking or tugging hair as you take down styles. This can cause damage or even hair loss over time.
Apply Heat Protectant
If you plan to use any heated tools, evenly apply a heat protectant spray or serum first. This helps minimize burning and breakage when using hot tools. Focus on your ends and length rather than roots.
Gently Detangle
Use a wide-tooth comb or gentle brush to lightly detangle hair, working in sections from bottom to top. Never start detangling at the roots as this can cause unnecessary breakage.
Refresh Style
How you revive your hair in the AM depends on your plans for the day. You may lightly curl, straighten or diffuse dry certain sections. Or, simply finger-style hair back into place.
Conclusion
Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your long locks. With a little extra TLC like protective styling, proper accessories and smart sleep habits, you can wake up with hair that looks salon-fresh. Pay attention to things like hydration, limited friction and minimizing tangles. Your luscious long hair will thank you!
| Tip | Reason |
|---|---|
| Use a silk pillowcase | Causes less friction and damage overnight |
| Braid hair before bed | Prevents tangles and knotting while you sleep |
| Position hair carefully | Avoids flattening and crushing of hair |
| Tie up hair gently | Reduces stress on hair follicles and eliminates pulls |
| Sleep cap or wrap | Keeps all hair protected in one place |
| Satin scrunchies | Gentler and less damaging than regular hair ties |
| Limit tossing and turning | Less friction and tugging on hair |
| Detangle gently | Avoids unnecessary breakage |
| Use hair protectant | Safeguards against heat damage from hot tools |
| Air dry hair before bed | Lessens chance of damage from wet combing or rubbing |
