Loving your curly hair can be a rollercoaster ride with only a few good hair days and lots of not-so-good ones!
Some days, your curls behave and look amazing, but on other days, they can be wild and tricky to handle.
Curly hair is like a lovely imperfection – just when you think you've got it figured out, you have to figure out how to keep it looking great even after a night's sleep.
It is agreeable that a bonnet might not be suitable for everyone. If you experience headaches with a bonnet or find it awkwardly placed when you wake up, there's an alternative solution.
You can use a satin or a grey silk pillowcase, which serves a similar purpose as the bonnet but is more comfortable.
If you're concerned about your hair falling off the pillow, you can wear a bonnet first and then use the pillowcase as an added layer of protection. This approach works either way!
While this tip may not be rocket science, its importance cannot be overemphasized for those of us with curly hair.
The first thing you should do after your nighttime hair care routine and before going to bed is to wear a silk or satin bonnet. The key emphasis should be on using silk or satin, as they work wonders.
Curly hair is prone to dryness due to its oval-shaped hair follicles, which can lead to the unwanted frizzy look in the mornings. However, these bonnets can help greatly in preventing that and minimizing frizz.
Because of their incredibly smooth surface, the curls can glide freely, especially when you toss and turn in your sleep.
There is minimal friction, and the moisture in your hair isn't absorbed as it would be with cotton materials. Your hair will literally have the time of its life, and your curls will be preserved.
This tip doesn't mean you literally put pineapples in your hair. If you're familiar with curly hair care, it won't be new or surprising.
It involves bending forward and gathering all your curls into a high ponytail, which might make you look like a pineapple afterward. If your hair is shorter, you can split it into two sections and work with that.
Once you've done the pineappling, you can either wrap your hair in a silk scarf or simply go to bed and wake up to lovely curls. It really works! Just remember to use silk scrunchies to gather your curls, as they help prevent hair breakage and frizz
Scarves are an absolute favorite! You can wrap your hair at night in a silk or satin scarf; there are several methods to explore, but essentially, you just need to get all of those curls in the scarf, and you are good to go, really.
For some people with curly hair, sleeping with loose braids or twists works wonders. They find that it helps maintain their curls' pattern, retain its shape, and minimizes friction while sleeping. The best part is that it's easy to achieve and can be done effortlessly.
Split your hair into large sections, depending on the thickness and length of your hair. You can have two, four, or six sections.
For braids, take one section and divide it into three equal parts (or close to equal). Then, layer the strands over each other. Hold the first strand with your left hand and the third strand with your right hand.
Cross the third strand over the middle one to the left hand, and then cross the first strand over the middle one to the right hand. Repeat this process, working your way down the braid. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth or neat; remember, you're going to bed with it!
For twists, the process is similar, but you'll be layering two parts instead of three, as you did with the braids.
See our post about how to make your hair curly over night here
After waking up, you'll need to give your curls a little wake-up call and shake them out. If you've followed the tips and kept your hair protected overnight, it should still be in good shape.
All you'll need to do is spritz your curls with a leave-in conditioner, or a water and conditioner mixture, or a curl refreshing spray—whichever one works best for your curls.
Apply your chosen product, then give your hair a good scrunch(wrap it upwards and squeeze). Style your hair as desired, and you're good to go!
