If you frequently sleep with wet hair, we suggest investing in a silk pillowcase. Silk doesn't retain moisture well, thereby allowing your hair to dry faster. More importantly, it's slick and produces less friction when compared with a cotton or flannel pillowcase.
If you're someone who goes to bed with wet hair often, you might want to consider resting your tresses on satin. Unlike cotton, which can cause damage to your hair if you sleep with it wet, satin pillowcases will be more forgiving and allow your wet hair to move more freely and prevent creases while you sleep.
“Finger comb your hair up into a loose twisted bun at the crown and tie with a wide soft elastic tie,” says Pamela Neal, celebrity hairstylist. “When you take it down in the morning, you will get a beautiful, shiny natural-looking, sexy bedhead look.” Emi Jay Hair Ties ($11 for five, emijay.com) won't cause any dents.
Sleep with a silk pillowcase or with a silk scarf
Sleeping on silk allows strands to slide as you toss and turn while sleeping. Silk prevents friction, which leads to pulling, tugging, tangling, and breakage. Cotton pillowcases are extremely rough on your hair so try to avoid them if at all possible.
Silk pillowcases fight frizz by helping your hair retain moisture. Silk is also a friction-free material that allows your hair to glide and move freely over the pillowcase while you sleep. Meaning less snagging and damage which, as you've probably guessed, means less frizz.
Silk pillowcases, like your other bed linens, come into direct contact with your skin every night, so it's important to wash them regularly — typically about every seven to ten days. To learn more about washing bed linens, check out this guide to washing and properly caring for bedding.
Hair and skin help – When choosing between a satin vs silk pillowcase for skin and hair, you win either way, as satin also has the benefit of low friction.
Hair is at its most fragile when wet, so if you go to bed with it damp and proceed to toss and turn against a pillow, you run a higher risk of breakage. But aside from being rough on your delicate strands, hitting the pillow with damp hair puts you at risk of developing skin infections, primarily on your scalp.
Bowman suggests flipping your head upside down—it may dry faster this way—and blasting it with a hair dryer until it's damp, not wet. Then, twist your hair into four loose buns (secured with scrunchies), and call it a night. If you have naturally straight hair, a single bun will give you a looser wave.
Separate hair into two sections, then twist in opposing directions and fold into a bun, suggests beauty expert Christina Marrale. Secure loosely with ponytail holders and release both buns in the morning. Apply a bit of texturizing spray to hold the bouncy style — and you're set to go!
“Silk helps negate frizz,” she explains. “Twist your hair in a top knot and wrap it into a bun while going to bed. Use a silk scarf or cloth and tie it like a hairband to make sure your hair does not touch the pillowcase. Once you wake up, flip your hair upside down, gently separate the hair and flip it back up.
If you have short hair, sleep with it down since tying it up would cause too much friction and pressure on your scalp. If you have long hair, you're going to want to tie it up to protect your strands, especially the ends, from getting snagged or pulled as you sleep.
Keep hair moisturized after shower
Moisture in your hair makes it easier to combat frizz and detangle any knots after a shower. Many hairstylists recommend hydrating with a conditioner before applying your oil of choice. If you have tight curls, use heavier emulsifiers like shea butter to loosen the knots.
Despite their similar appearance the biggest difference is that satin is a weave and not a natural fibre, whereas silk is a natural fibre fabric.
If your hair is damp, then you can wrap your strands in a silk or satin hair scarf or bonnet before going to bed. This will prevent any friction between your strands and pillowcase and will eliminate any added frizz in the process. In the morning, you can also use the scarf to style your strands.
Set hair in a lose plait and wrap it around your head as much as you can. To prevent even more frizz, you can also wrap your head in a silk headwrap and gently dry when you wake up. In the morning, remove your braid and comb through your hair with you fingers. Set with your favorite hairspray.
“Going to sleep with wet hair is not often recommended because it limits your styling options in the morning in most cases,” shares Stenson. “Soaking wet hair can lead to unwanted mold and mildew in your pillows.” Saviano agrees, adding that sleeping on wet hair can harm the hair cuticle and create lasting damage.
Leaving your long hair open while sleeping can increase frizziness and cause hair loss eventually. “Tying your hair tightly can damage your hair roots and cause traction alopecia [1]. Hence, you need to wear your hair in a loose ponytail or braid which does not apply much pulling force on your scalp,” says Dr.
Sleeping with wet hair and scalp can cause scalp issues, such as flakes, irritation, itchiness, or even fungal and bacterial infections. It may lead to skin concerns such as scalp and hairline pimples, or even "fungal acne."
1 Most people go to sleep in the most comfortable position they can find, but promising research is showing that some positions may be better for you than others. Side sleeping can cause or exacerbate shoulder and neck pain, and contribute to muscle imbalance.
While excessive heat can cause damage to the surface layer of the hair, air-drying can cause trauma to that inner lipid layer, which will make your strands weaker as a result.
Silk absorbs less moisture than other popular bedding materials like cotton. This allows the skin to retain more moisture, which in turn helps prevent dry or itchy skin. Silk is also less likely to absorb any lotions or serums you might use in your bedtime skincare regime. These benefits extend to your hair as well.
Satin is slightly similar to silk at first glance but it has a noticeable difference up close. Satin has both glossy and shiny sides, while silk is lustrous all the way. It can retain its shape and doesn't wrinkle or frizz the hair, unlike other fabrics. However, It's not as breathable as silk.
The Benefits of Wrapping Your Hair at Night
“Bonnets keep your hair in place and make it easier to refresh and fluff your hair in the morning. They do all this because they are an extra layer between your hair and your pillowcase. Less friction means less frizz.”