Sleeping with braids like box braids or cornrows can seem impossible, but with some tips and advice from celebrity hairstylist Devontae Washington, you can protect your style. Before bed, make sure your hair is dry, not wet. Loose braiding can prevent frizz and damage. Reading a blog post or guide can help you fix your hair.
I’ve been sleeping in braids since high school, and over the years, I’ve learned the best way to keep my strands healthy. Preparation is key: timely and easy braiding helps avoid breakage and stress. Avoid tight ponytails to prevent permanent damage. Truths about wavy hair include the importance of precautions to avoid tiring and stress on your strands. If your curls get messed up during the night, cautious practice will help maintain the style. Waking up with new and perfect braids is effortless with the right fashion. Follow these timesaver tips to keep your hair looking great every day. Consult Lovelyish for more advice on the perfect plait.
Choose the right braid style.
Some braid styles are better suited for sleeping than others. Box braids and Senegalese twists are popular styles often worn overnight. French braids and Dutch braids are also good options. Avoid tight cornrows or other styles that pull on your scalp too much.
Ensure your braids are done with care.
Be sure to get your braids done by a professional stylist who knows how to do them properly. It’s important to avoid over-braiding, which can lead to breakage. Start with small sections of hair and gradually increase the number of braids as you become comfortable with the style.
Use the right hair ties.
The type of hair tie you use makes a big difference. To keep your braids in place overnight, avoid rubber bands that can break and damage your hair. Instead, opt for soft fabric ties or braided bungee cords.
Choose The Right Hair Bands
Choosing the right hair bands is extremely important. Avoid rubber bands that damage hair. Stick with bands that have a fabric texture and are easy to deal with while sleeping. For tips on how to refresh wavy hair, consider gentle methods to maintain your braid style.
Braid All The Way To Your Ends.
It’s extremely important to remember that, unlike curling, hair braiding is different. Try to make the whole section of hair evenly curly. Tie your hair at the bottom and braid as much as you can. This way your hair doesn’t have a weird non-curly section at the bottom of your strands. For tips on how to tie hair while sleeping at night, make sure your braids are secured properly.
Use a silk or satin pillowcase
The best way to prevent frizz while sleeping is by using a silk or satin pillowcase. Cotton tends to make your braids frizzy. Investing in a silk pillowcase can minimize friction, reduce frizz, and help your braids last longer. Washington says it feels luxurious. Curious which to try? Here are some favorites.
Invest In A Silk Pillowcase
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase does wonders for your beauty routine, especially with braids. The texture helps immensely in keeping your hair smooth and texturized. It makes braids appear nicer by morning. Make sure your hair is taken care of all night, even in the middle of the night. For tips on how to brush wavy hair without it getting frizzy, use a gentle brush and a silk pillowcase.
Use a silk scarf or bonnet
Much like using a silk pillowcase, wrapping your braids in a silk scarf or bonnet helps keep them from moving, preventing friction and frizz.
Don’t wrap your hair too tightly
Wrapping hair too tightly can cause headaches, neck pain, and permanent damage to your hair follicles. When braiding hair, leave some slack so it’s not pulled tight. Avoid wearing hats or headwear that put undue pressure on your head and neck. Top tips for sleeping with all types of braids include keeping braids looking great overnight with the right care and styling. If you need advice on how to lighten hair dyed too dark, remember gentle methods work best. Go ahead, put our tips to use, and have sweet dreams!
Loosen your braids before bed
Even though it might seem counterintuitive, looser braids help prevent damaging your scalp and sleep routine. Loosen braids gently before bedtime to alleviate tension on your scalp, ensuring a more restful sleep, Washington recommends.
Sleep With Dry Hair
Braiding or putting hair in a ponytail when it’s wet can cause damage because wet hair is more fragile. Personally, whenever I sleep with wet hair braids, it doesn’t curl my hair much. It’s basically a win-win to sleep with dry hair. It won’t damage your hair and it will look curlier.
Maximize hair moisture
Moisture is key to keeping hair healthy and preventing breakage. Deep condition your hair regularly and use a leave-in conditioner before braiding. Mist hair with water before bed to help keep it hydrated overnight.
Moisturize your scalp
Applying nourishing oil before bed helps keep hair and scalp hydrated, prevents breakage, and promotes overall hair health. Davontae recommends using argan oil or aloe vera gel, which you can dab along your hairline and scalp between braids.
Apply Leave-In Conditioner
Applying leave-in conditioner before bed has helped my hair tremendously. Since my hair is long and thin, I make sure to apply it to keep my strands hydrated, smooth, and silky.
Anti-Frizz Spray Is A Must
If you don’t want to apply leave-in conditioner, I highly recommend using an anti-frizz spray. It will keep your hair from being frizzy when you let your hair braids loose and give it the proper moisture it needs all night long.
Keep your scalp and scarf clean
An unclean scalp or scarf can lead to scalp irritation and dandruff. Be sure to wash your scarf frequently and cleanse your scalp. Avoid using products with harsh chemicals or fragrances near your scalp.
Sleeping With Different Types of Braids
Now that you’re familiar with the fundamentals, let’s delve into the specifics of sleeping with various types of braids.
Long Box Braids
Here are some tips to help you sleep with box braids. Divide your hair into two sections. Braid each section and secure with a hair tie or scarf. Wrap your hair with a silk scarf and sleep on a satin pillowcase.
Short Box Braids
Sleeping with short box braids can be a bit more difficult due to the weight of the braids. Here are some tips to make it easier:
Divide your hair into four sections and braid each section. Secure each braid with a hair tie or scarf. Wrap your head in a silk scarf. For added comfort, sleep on a satin pillowcase to ensure maximum comfort.
French or Dutch Braids
Sleeping with French or Dutch braids might seem complicated, but it can be easily done. Here are some tips: Braid your hair in a French or Dutch braid that is loose to avoid strain on your scalp while you sleep. Tie the ends of the braids with a thin scrunchie to prevent flyaway hairs. Wrap the end of your braid and secure it with a clip for extra protection. Wrap your head in a silk scarf or bonnet to keep your hair from unraveling. Sleep on your back or side to prevent the braid from being pulled and under tension. Following these tips will ensure you wake up with undamaged hair. Wrapping braids at night is a must.
How to fix braids after sleeping on them
So, you did everything right, but your braids still look a bit messy in the morning. Don’t worry! You can make them look good as new before you head out the door.
Re-braid loose or frizzy braids
No matter how much care you take with your braids before bed, some may still unravel at night. Washington recommends identifying the loose or frizzy sections and re-braiding them to restore their structure.
Smooth down flyaways
Noticing a few flyaways? There’s a simple fix for that, says Washington. Mist your braids with water to smooth them down. Apply a leave-in conditioner like Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydrating Hair Mist to rehydrate your hair.
Add shine and tame strays
For a polished finish, Washington recommends using hair oil or serum. Apply a small amount to your fingertips and run them along the length of your braids to add shine and tame any stray hairs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sleeping with braids can be manageable and even beneficial with the right techniques. Using a silk pillowcase, wrapping your hair in a scarf or bonnet, and ensuring your hair is dry before bed can help reduce damage and frizz. Looser braids can alleviate scalp tension, and light oil application can maintain moisture.
FAQ’s
Is it okay to sleep with a Braided hair?
Sleeping in braids can reduce hair damage. Tossing and turning at night can cause breakage and damage. When you sleep in braids, you get less tangles or snags in your hair.
How to relieve pain from tight braids?
Consider these five tips to master the art of taking care of too-tight braids properly. Wear your hair down. Reach for a tension spray. Give yourself a scalp massage. Wet your hair with warm water. Remove the braids.
How do you sleep with new tight braids?
Use a silk scarf to keep your style intact. Wrap your hair neatly in a bonnet or scarf to avoid tugging and pulling during sleep. Avoid tying your hair too tightly to prevent pulling at the roots or edges, which can cause discomfort and damage.
How to Care for Braids at Night?
Wrap your braids every night. Dudley suggests using a silk pillowcase if wrapping your head is uncomfortable. Use light oil applied a few times per week. Avoid heavy oils to prevent clogging the hair follicles.
