Pick a Braid, any Braid
Braid your hair before going to sleep. This old trick works every time and is one of the best ways to wear your hair when sleeping. It not only protects your hair – stopping it from tangling and breaking – but also gives you gorgeous beachy waves the next day and cuts down on frizz.
It is best to sleep with your hair down if your hair length is short. This also lets the air flow freely through your hair, which makes you sleep more comfortably. On the other hand, if you have long hair, it is recommended to tie your hair loosely to prevent knots and breakage.
The best pillow cover for your hair is silk or satin. If your budget does not have room for silk or satin pillow cases, you can get the same effect by wrapping your hair in a silk or satin scarf, says Rascon.
The low bun is an absolute classic hairstyle for healthy hair. With that bun sitting nicely on the nape of your neck, gravity won't be tugging on your hair follicles anytime soon. If you've done a low bun before, you might like to create a ponytail before twisting your hair around itself.
Sleeping in braids can help prevent tangles and knots, which can cause breakage and split ends. Braids can also help distribute the natural oils produced by the scalp evenly along the length of the hair, which can help keep hair moisturized and less prone to breakage.
Aside from cutting down on frizz, less friction means your hair stays tangle-free and protected from your nighttime tossing and turning. Using hair wraps for sleeping, especially in conjunction with an overnight conditioning mask, also helps to reduce dryness.
Protective Hairstyle #1: The Loose Plait
A really easy way to manage your hair overnight is with a loose plait. If you sleep on your back, this protective sleep hairstyle will sit flat against your back, but you can always do a side plait or two side plaits if you're worried about it being annoying.
Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night is vital to maintaining a full and healthy head of hair.
But since your metabolism slows down at night, so does your hair growth, explains Waldman. Goddard adds that the primetime hair growing hours are between 10-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
Cutting Your Hair at Night Means a Family Member Will Die
While rather harsh, and definitely not true, this hair superstition may actually have an origin. It's been said that this myth was started as a way to deter people from cutting their hair after the sun had set.
When to wash. Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
Mythbusting: Braids & Hair Growth
But unfortunately, braiding hair does not speed up growth rate. Your hair grows at a rate determined by genetics, while lifestyle factors like your diet and stress levels can cause thinning and breakage. But the way you wear your hair is not a factor in your hair growth rate.
Sleeping with your hair in a ponytail can cause damage.
Speaking to Allure, Francesca J. Fusco, a New York City-based dermatologist specializing in hair loss said, "If someone wore their hair tightly pulled back every night for years, traction alopecia could could occur along the hairline."
Keeping your hair in braids reduces friction between your hair and pillow, reducing hair breakage. Amp it up, and get silk pillowcases for even less friction! It also keeps your hair tamed and more structured, resulting in less snarls and frustrating tangles when you wake up in the morning.
The Low Ponytail
The reason stylists recommend you forego a tight ponytail is because the tighter the ponytail, the greater the risk your hair tie will pull at your strands, putting unnecessary stress on your roots and scalp. A low, loose ponytail relieves that stress. Plus it looks good!
When you braid your hair too tightly or sleep in a ponytail, it can tangle your hair and cause breakage. Hence, a top bun covered with a satin scarf is how you should tie your hair while sleeping. Using Metal or Rubber Hair Ties: Never, we repeat, never tie your hair with a metal or a rubber hair tie.