There is nothing worse than having a perfect wash day routine and curly hair regimen...only to ruin it with a bad nightly routine. Like, I just completed my hair care routine to the T.
Went to sleep and woke up the next morning with flattened hair that is tangled and in a knotted mess. When you are asleep, your hair is literally smashed under the weight of your head.
If you're anything like me, you move around and toss and turn. This can lead to breakage as your curls snag on your pillowcase, dryness as your hair loses moisture overnight typically from the material your pillowcase is made from, matting and tangling from the friction of you tossing and turning, and unmanageable hair when you wake up in the morning.
I don't know about you, but that is a “no go” for me sis. So, here are 3 steps to how I protect my curly hair at night to minimize frizz, retain moisture, and maintain curl definition:
Moisturize and Seal
Curly hair dries out super easily overnight. Take time before bed to spritz your hair with water and seal in that moisture with your favorite oil. I personally love Jamaican Black Castor Oil. If you have wavy or curly hair, you may want to go for a more lightweight option like almond or coconut.
Use Low Manipulation Styles
I know this may seem like a pain, but if you are rocking a bomb twist out or braid out, take a moment to retwist/rebraid/pinnedcurl your hair before going to sleep. This will decrease frizz and keep your curls defined when you take them out again in the morning. Now, Normally when I wear a bomb twist out, I do not like to retwist on the first night. I will use a headband and very loosely tie my hair up in a pineapple.
For those of you who don’t know what a pineapple is.. Yes, it's a delicious tropical fruit, but it is also a low manipulation style, great for a day at the beach and bedtime. It's a great style for protecting your curls because all of your hair will be sitting on top of your head. The curls won't get squashed or matted as you toss and turn at night. It's also EASY! We’ve all had days when we could NOT spend hours in the mirror retwisting or pin curling our hair before bed.
Now, for my coily ladies, if you are wearing a stretched style, preserve it for the night by tying your hair in loose, chunky, twists or braids, buns, or even top/bantu knots before putting on your scarf or bonnet.
Using Satin or Silk Pillowcases/Bonnets/Scarves
One of the most popular ways to protect your curls while you sleep at night is by using a silk scarf. Now, I have a love hate relationship with the scarf because let's be honest, I'm a “bad sleeper” as my mom would say. I always had to tie my scarf super tight so it wouldn't fall off. Or, atleast, that was the goal. They still fell off most times, especially if my hair was pulled back into a low pony. My curls still ended up exposed throughout the middle of the night. But, I came across a hack that changed my life forever.
I began to double up, the silk scarf and silk pillowcase. My fav is Marisilk’s Silk Pillowcase. A silk pillowcase is a must have for ANY curly girl, or any hair type or skin type for that matter.
When choosing a silk pillowcase, you must make sure the quality is top-notch! Marisilk’s Silk Pillowcases are made of 100% Mulberry Silk and are super affordable. Their website even includes Care Instructions to increase the longevity of your Pillowcase.
Mulberry silk is one of the most durable natural silks available. It's also naturally hypoallergenic and breathable. This was great for me because ya girl gets hot during her slumber, so I had to make sure I was investing in a very breathable material. Mulberry silk also helps maintain moisture in your skin and hair, keeping you hydrated and nourished.
Normally, a traditional pillowcase will absorb all of your oils and moisturizers before your hair and skin get a chance to. But, that is no longer a problem for me since I’ve started using the Marisilk Silk Pillowcase.
Honestly, if you do nothing else in your nightly routine, you should invest in a great quality silk pillowcase. This will protect and preserve moisture in your curls and reduce frizz, even when your bonnet falls off because you're not so great of a sleeper.
By: Tyra The Creative