do you put a lot of effort into your nighttime skincare routine but often leave your hair hanging? don’t worry, we’re guilty of it too! it’s just as important to give your strands a little love before bed. while you snooze, any tossing and turning could be causing strain on your strands, leaving them prone to tangles and damage! stay tuned as we share our go-to hairstyles for bed so you can rest easy knowing your mane’s protected.
what are protective hairstyles?
protective hairstyles are designed to keep help prevent damage from happening while you sleep. this could be done by helping to reduce the friction created as you toss and turn or to keep your hair secure in one style, so tangles are at bay. whether you choose to loosely plait your hair or use a bonnet, these easy protective hairstyles could help you protect your hair during the night, they even work for extensions too!
should you sleep with your hair up or down?
letting your locks flow at night could reduce tension on your scalp. but beware of tangle city—especially if you're prone to tossing and turning like you're auditioning for cirque du soleil.
however, loosely tying your hair up could help protect your strands from breakage and keep them smooth. plus, no waking up with hair in your mouth. but too tight? that’s a one-way ticket to headaches and cranky mornings. the compromise? try a happy medium with a soft scrunchie and a style that’s gentle on your hair. we'll guide you through some styles for every hair length.
1. plait it
we get it–throwing your hair into a high ponytail or messy bun before bed is tempting, but these styles could cause unnecessary strain. a loose plait is a much better option, helping to minimise tangles while you sleep and giving you effortless waves by morning (talk about a win-win). we recommend sticking with a classic three-strand braid.
2. use a satin bonnet or scrunchie
securing with a scrunchie may be a great option to kinks or friction. just tie your hair into your loose hairstyle, and you’re good to go. for even more protection, consider a satin bonnet.
it’s especially handy if you’ve styled your hair the night before. whether you’ve got curls, waves, or a fresh blowout, this nighttime essential could help to keep everything in place while preventing bedhead. gather your hair, slip it on, and enjoy the feeling of working to protect your strands at night.
3. heatless curls
if you’re on you’ve probably seen the heatless curls trend–it’s viral, and for good reason! this style gives you bouncy curls by morning-and it takes no time! to try it, there are satin curling rods available, but for ease, your dressing gown belt will do the trick.
simply place it on top of your head, just behind your ears, and wrap sections of your hair around it, away from your face, introducing new sections until you’ve wrapped all your hair–the smaller the sections, the tighter the curl. secure each end with a scrunchie. it may look a little questionable but trust us—it’s totally worth it by morning!
with these bedtime hairstyles, you could help protect your strands.
for even more care, check out our guide on why you should always use hair protection.
