Looking After Hair Overnight

BEAUTY · GLOBAL

Looking After Hair Overnight

Why friction matters, satin and silk, protective styles and washing frequency

Hair takes eight hours of friction every night, and reducing that is one of the few hair interventions with an obvious mechanism.

Friction and breakage

Cotton is absorbent and has a rougher surface, so it draws moisture from hair and skin and creates friction as you move. Satin and silk are smoother and less absorbent, which reduces tangling, frizz and breakage.

The effect is most noticeable on curly, coily, fine and chemically treated hair, where breakage is already the limiting factor on length.

Pillowcases, bonnets and scarves

A pillowcase is the easiest change and stays in place, which matters because anything that comes off during the night is doing nothing. Bonnets and scarves protect more thoroughly and suit anyone with a set style.

Satin is a weave and silk is a fibre — satin polyester gives most of the smoothness at a fraction of the price. Wash pillowcases weekly regardless, since they also sit against skin.

Protective styles at night

A loose braid, twists or a loose pineapple on top of the head reduces tangling. Anything tight causes traction damage at the hairline over months, which can become permanent.

Never sleep with wet hair tightly bound, since it stretches and breaks.

Washing frequency

Personal, and washing less does not train the scalp to produce less oil, which is a persistent myth. Wash the scalp and condition the lengths.

Washing and drying

Squeeze water out with a microfibre towel or an old t-shirt rather than rubbing with a bath towel, which roughens the cuticle. Detangle wet hair from the ends upwards with a wide-tooth comb.

Air dry where you can, and use the lowest effective heat with a protectant when you do not.

Buying

Check the momme weight for silk, which describes density, and whether a satin item is polyester. Both work; the price difference is considerable.

Pillowcases and skin

A smoother surface reduces friction on skin as well as hair, which may help with creasing from sleeping on one side. Washing weekly matters more than the fabric, since pillowcases collect oils and product.

Anyone acne-prone should change them more often.

Hair ties

Fabric scrunchies and coil ties cause less breakage than thin elastics with a metal join, which snag and snap hair.

Curly and textured hair

Friction matters most here, since the cuticle is naturally raised and the strand is more fragile at the bends. A bonnet, a satin pillowcase and a loose protective style overnight reduce breakage considerably.

Detangle with conditioner in, from the ends upwards, and never dry brush.

When it is not the hair

Sudden or patchy loss, scalp pain or persistent scaling needs a doctor or trichologist.

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