These easy steps will help keep your (curly) hair intact, so you only need minimal styling each morning.
- Pineapple Your Hair
A pineapple is a high, front ponytail using something like a satin or silk scrunchie, a puff cuff, or an invisibobble. Don’t pull too hard or make the pineapple too tight. You are gathering your hair together gently, not squeezing too hard.
Avoid a hair elastic as it often gets tangled in curly hair. By gently gathering the curls on top of your head, you avoid rolling around and crushing them while sleeping or creating frizz. If your hair is too short for one big pineapple on top of your head, you can do a “multi-pineapple” of 2 or 3 smaller pineapples.
- Wear A Silk or Satin Lined Bonnet
Bonnets may not look very sexy at bedtime but are quite effective in protecting your curls while you sleep.
If the bonnet tries to slip off your head overnight, secure it with some hairpins.
Look for a bonnet with a fabric band instead of elastic to prevent pulling of the fine hairs at the temples. You can wear a bonnet over the pineapple or by itself.
- Tie a 100% Silk or Satin Scarf Or Wrap
Many curlies tie a scarf around their curls (or pineapple) before bedtime.
A scarf is both stylish and effective.
- Pull On A Buff
What is a buff? Picture a long, soft, extra wide sock with the toes cut off.
A buff can be quite effective if you use it correctly and is tolerable overnight without your head getting too hot. It gathers the curls nicely without any tightness around the head.
- Braid And Twist
Simple twists and well-secured braids can stabilize your hair through the night.
Tying a silk scarf or using a hair bonnet over your braids, keeps them in place and frizz-free. This is a good one to use for kids.
- Hydrate Your Hair Before Bedtime
Hair ends can get more dry and frizzy overnight. Keep curls hydrated while sleeping with a mini ‘refresh’ before bedtime. Emulsify a small amount of cream or conditioner with a little bit of water in your hands, and glaze it over the drier parts of the hair.
Use very little water to avoid wetting the hair too much. You will wake up with shiny and moisturized hair.
- Last But Not Least: Always use a silk or satin pillow case
Cotton pillowcases tend to absorb hair’s natural oils and rub against your hair strands.
Using a silk pillowcase helps reduce friction on the hair since the hair will glide more smoothly over the silk fabric without creating frizz (and reduce wrinkles in the process!). Silk is cooler at night and prevents damage to the hair follicles.
Satin is a vegan alternative to silk. Combine a silk or satin pillowcase with a pineapple or any of the other techniques mentioned above in case some hair slips out during the night.
Check out our post to the best hair products for Type 3 curly hair HERE.
