What if we told you that you could style your hair effortlessly while you sleep? Better yet, what if you could prevent damage during those hours of rest? Both are entirely possible, and we’re here to guide you through how you can care for your hair while you drift into dreamland.
What Happens While You Sleep
During sleep, your body cycles between two main stages: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM. Most of the night is spent in non-REM, a lighter sleep phase where you toss and turn. REM sleep is when your eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, your heart rate and breathing increase, and yet your body remains still. Even though you’re resting, your brain is hard at work, ensuring your blood keeps flowing by prompting you to move periodically.
How Does This Affect Your Hair?
Each time you turn over in bed, your hair moves with you—or it doesn’t. Hair can get caught, tugged, or rubbed against your pillow, causing frizz, tangles, or even breakage. But don’t worry, there are simple ways to protect your hair and even style it while you sleep!
Ways to Prevent Hair Damage at Night
1. Loose Braids
Loose braids are an easy and comfortable way to protect your hair overnight. They keep your strands contained, reducing friction and preventing tangles. Just remember to keep them loose if you want to avoid waking up with crimped waves.
2. High Loose Bun
A loose bun keeps your hair from rubbing against the pillow all night, which helps prevent breakage, split ends, and other damage from tossing and turning. Unlike tighter styles, it doesn’t pull on your roots, so you don’t have to worry about stressing your hair or causing it to weaken over time.
3. Silk Headscarf
A silk headscarf is a fantastic option for wrapping up your hair and keeping it safe. It prevents frizz, keeps your hair from snagging, and spares you from being hit in the face by stray strands as you turn in your sleep.
4. Silk Pillowcase
A silk pillowcase allows your hair to glide smoothly without causing friction, helping you avoid frizz and breakage. Silk also doesn’t absorb moisture like cotton, meaning your hair stays hydrated and healthy.
Styling Your Hair While You Sleep
Why just protect your hair when you can style it too? If you love waking up to soft waves, try this easy overnight styling trick:
- Divide your hair into four sections – Part down the middle from the front to the nape of your neck, then split each side behind the ears.
- Wear a headband – Think ninja style! It should sit comfortably around your head, just above the eyebrows. If you don’t have one, use a cut-off leg from an old pair of tights.
- Twist your hair – Twist each section tightly, moving away from the face in the front and towards the face in the back.
- Wrap it up – Take each twisted section and wind it around the headband. Once done, your hair will cover the headband entirely.
Now, all that’s left is to drift off into a peaceful sleep, knowing you’ll wake up with gorgeous, soft waves.
Enjoy your beauty sleep, and say goodbye to bedhead!
Victoria is a Master Stylist at The Hair Movement, where her lifelong passion for hair blends creativity with care. With nearly 20 years of experience, she has mastered precision cutting, the nuances of colour, as well as wedding hair and hair-up styling. Inspired by evolving trends and her guests’ individuality, Victoria crafts styles that reflect unique personalities and knows how to create long-term, healthy hair.
