How Can Wet Curly Hair Affect Sleep?

If you're a girl with curly hair and wish to sleep with your hair damp, you can be worried about a lot of things. This may be the result of repeated warnings about the harm it can do to hair. They are legitimate!

But after a long day, nobody wants to forgo a nice bath. We even think that everyone likes it as a "good medicine."

What then do we do? Thankfully, we have advice on how to sleep with wet curly hair, so you won't have to deal with knots and tangles in the morning.

10 Tips on How to Sleep with Wet Curly Hair

1. Wash Your Hair a Few Hours Before You Go to Bed

Wash Your Hair a Few Hours Before You Go to Bed

No matter how much we try to convince ourselves, sleeping with wet hair isn't recommended. So, while we know how tired you are, we encourage you to wash your hair a few hours before you sleep. This makes your hair properly dried or damp when you want to go to bed.

2. Apply Styling Products on Damp Hair

Apply Styling Products on Damp Hair

Once you're out of the shower, apply a styling product to your curly hair. You don't have to wait for your hair to dry before you apply this. Using your product immediately after showering is always the best way to retain moisture. So, pick up your curl cream or hair oil and use it. Apart from helping you retain moisture, they also fight frizziness and define your curls.

Likewise, you can consider using a leave-in conditioner. It's a good product to start with.

The most important thing is to focus on using products that are good for your hair and help you achieve the results you desire.

3. Go for a Hair Bun

One of the simple yet effective ways to achieve gorgeous-looking curls by morning is to put your hair in a bun. While it is very easy, it helps you retain your curls and protect your hair.

This way, your hair doesn't get tangled up or messy whenever you roll on your bed. Here's how you can achieve it;

  • Gather your hair into a loose ponytail. Make sure it sits on top of your head.
  • Next, use a hair band to hold your hair in place, then fold your ends to form a bun.
  • Try lying down to see if you squish your hair, as you want to be sure that never happens. If that's the case, loosen and make the bun higher.

4. Use a Satin Pillowcase

Use a Satin Pillowcase

A satin pillowcase is a lifesaver. First, it reduces your chances of experiencing friction and tangles. And it can even help retain moisture in your hair.

These pillowcases are unlike your regular cotton ones that suck out the moisture from your hair and cause frizz. So, change your pillowcase to a satin one and have smooth hair by morning.

Tip: Wash the pillowcase after sleeping with wet hair. This is to prevent housing bacteria.

If you don't have a satin pillowcase, use a satin bonnet instead. See the next tip for more details.

5. Wear a Satin Bonnet to Sleep

Satin bonnets are also very effective in protecting your curly hair. Most women opt for this to prevent friction and tangles, and we don't see why you can't use it to protect your wet, curly hair.

This will also prevent dryness and hair breakage. And if you put your hair into a bun style or any other style, the bonnet can keep it in place. It is a good investment.

6. Plop Your Hair

If you don't know, you can sleep with a microfiber towel or an old T-shirt. This method allows you to define your curls while they get dry.

Here's how to go about it:

Get your material of choice, then place your hair in the middle, making sure there are spaces by the sides. Now, cover the back of your head and wrap the sides around each other. Tuck the ends to keep it secured and you're set for bed.

7. Braid Your Hair before Going to Bed

Braids can keep your strands safe, protected, and without tangles. But the best part is once you take them out the following day, you will have a beautiful style.

If it's up to us, we advise that you go for two or more braids, especially if you have short hair. But a single braid is also fine as long as your hair stays intact and doesn't move.

Tip: Make sure your hair is about 50% dry before braiding.

Those that are good with twists can also opt for that instead. Similar to braids, they can prevent friction, retain moisture, and protect your curls.

8. Pineapple Method

This is a method most ladies with curly hair are familiar with. It's one of those ways to keep your natural curls looking good even when you go to sleep with wet hair.

To create it, apply a leave-in conditioner to your strands, then flip your hair by bending your head. Gather your curls on top of your head and hold them with a hair tie before creating a pineapple shape with your ponytail (if you wish).

You can wear a satin or silk bonnet to bed after this and that'll be it.

9. Go for Bantu Knots

Divide your hair into small sections, then braid them to form some Bantu knots.

You can use a rattail comb to section your hair well first and comb to remove any knots before you braid. If you don't want to braid, twist each from the root to form a spiral, then roll them to lay flat on your head.

Next is to secure them further with bobby pins and wear your bonnet.

10. Use Pin Curls

Pin curls are a good solution to keep your curls in shape while you sleep. And all you need are a few bobby pins.

  • First, part your hair into different sections.
  • Take a section and push it upwards to your scalp using your finger.
  • Make sure they are in shape while you do this, then hold them down with a bobby pin.
  • Move to the other sections and do the same thing.

Once they are compressed and secured, wear a satin bonnet to protect your hair further. The bonnet or scalp makes sure to keep them in place.