Who doesn't want to flaunt soft, smooth, and beautiful hair every day? But, your good hair days might be occasional if you don't care for your hair at night. Surprised?
A proper night hair care regimen not only encourages healthy hair growth, but protects it against any damage while sleeping.
Scroll down to learn about some of the best night hair care tips.
Highlights:
Does Your Hair Get Damaged At Night?
Your hair at night is exposed to physical damage, especially if you have long hair or hair prone to tangles. Also, if you share your bed, there are chances someone might accidentally pull out or tear a few of the hair strands, or you might yourself unconsciously tangle the hair.
Some of the most common hair problems caused by failing to effectively protect hair while sleeping are:
- Hair breakage
- Split ends
- Pulled out hair
- Brittle hair
- Dry, frizzy hair flyways
- Hair creases
Ways To Protect Your Hair At Night
Like your body requires rest to feel revitalized in the morning, your hair also needs pampering to look healthy in the morning. Remember that your hair needs to breathe, so make sure you don't have it tied in a tight hair-do while sleeping. Below are a few steps you should include in your nighttime hair care routine.
1. Moisturize
Your hair needs to stay hydrated. Moisturizing helps seal in moisture into your hair strands. You can apply a leave-in conditioner, serum, or an overnight hair mask and rinse it out in the morning with lukewarm water.
Moisturizing your hair before bed can prevent breakage, reduce dryness, and makes it easier to style in the morning.
2. Avoid Sleeping With Wet Hair
If you prefer washing your hair at night, it is essential to dry it properly before you hit the pillow. Do not sleep with sopping wet hair as your hair is more vulnerable to damage when it is wet.
Ensure to gently towel-dry your hair. You can also use a blow-dryer occasionally, provided you first use a heat protectant on your hair.
3. Detangle Your Locks Before Bed
If you go to bed without detangling your locks, it's time to rethink this. All it takes is a few minutes of brushing to ensure your scalp's natural oils reach the hair strands and ends. It is recommended that you use a wide-tooth comb to avoid issues such as hair fall and breakage. Remember to be gentle while brushing.
4. Apply An Overnight Treatment
The best time to treat your scalp and hair with masks or serums is before your bedtime. Apply a nourishing serum to your scalp overnight to stimulate the hair follicles and boost hair growth. You may also use a hair mask, leave it on as an overnight treatment to repair and hydrate your hair. You can do this twice a month, depending on your hair type.
5. Apply Oil Treatment
Treating your hair with oil before bed is a sure-shot way of infusing life into your hair, taming frizz, and treating damage. Hair oils are packed with nourishing ingredients such as vitamin E and essential fatty acids that can help lock in moisture in your hair through the night.
Before you sleep, apply the oil of your choice evenly throughout your hair and massage it into your scalp.
6. Use A Silk Pillowcase
Consider investing in a silk pillowcase to protect your hair from the damage caused by tossing and turning in your sleep. Due to its smooth surface, silk helps prevent frizz while allowing your hair to retain its moisture. You also wake up with hair that is less tangled.
7. Massage Your Scalp
Massaging your scalp has amazing benefits. It increases blood flow to your hair follicles, allowing them to absorb more nutrients, thus stimulating their growth. According to experts, standardized massaging of the scalp may even help in treating hair thinning. [1]
For best results, you should ideally massage your hair with warm oil before going to bed. [2] You can do this once or twice a week.
8. Avoid Tight Hairstyles Or Don’t Tie Your Hair At All
It's best to leave your hair untied at night. If you're using an overnight product in your hair, first comb it with a wide-tooth comb and tie it in a loose braid. Remember not to use metal or rubber hair ties. Instead, go for a soft, silk scrunchie or headwrap. Avoid tying your hair up too tight as it will only lead to hair breakage and damage.
9. Use A Dry Shampoo
Your hair is most vulnerable when wet. Excessive shampooing can strip your hair of its natural oils, thus making it dry and brittle. Use a dry shampoo and apply it to your roots at night to clean and protect your hair. The shampoo will absorb the natural oils or sweat your scalp produces while you sleep.
10. Use Hair Cap For Sleeping
Wearing a silk hair cap can protect your hair overnight, prevent tangling of hair, and reduce friction between the hair strands and pillowcase.
How To Tie Your Hair At Night To Prevent Hair Loss?
The choice of tying hair while sleeping differs from person to person and depends on the type of hair you have. While those with short hair may choose to sleep with their hair down, those with long hair may favour tying their hair to prevent breakage.
Here are some of the ways you can tie your hair to avoid damage:
- Loose braid: If you've long hair, a loose braid is ideal to secure all your hair in place. Also, it won't cause unnecessary pressure on your hairline.
- French braid: This hairstyle is ideal to layer the pressure around your head and help avoid breakage.
- Loose bun: Tying a high yet loose bun will not cause damage to your hair roots.
- Hair wrap: In case you experience severe hair fall, put your hair in a loose bun and wear a silk hair wrap.
Effects Of Not Protecting Your Hair At Night
Like your skin, your hair has to weather the damage caused by pollution and harmful UV rays. If you miss out on giving your hair proper care and nourishment during the nights, you will likely wake up with dry and dull hair. It can also negatively impact your scalp and lead to hair loss.
Wrapping Up
Ignoring the health of your hair can lead to breakage and other damages. While you may already have a night skincare routine, establishing a hair regimen for the nights will ensure you wake up with softer and more manageable hair. With the help of a well laid out plan for hair care and taking a few extra measures each night, you can make sure that your hair is protected, so it stays long, healthy, and frizz-free.
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