Be a product junkie
First, be sure to take your favorite products to bed each night. If you have straight or oily hair, spraying dry shampoo on your roots before bed will be more effective than doing so in the morning. You can be generous and don’t have to massage it in. As you sleep, the dry shampoo will absorb your hair’s natural oils and you’ll have fuller looking roots and balanced strands when you wake up. If you have dry or curly hair, opt for a touch of oil or leave-in conditioner before your head hits the pillow. The products’ hydrating ingredients will absorb into wiry ends and parched follicles. For curly girls, this means your coils will be separated and full of bounce when you rise.
Pro tip: If you go to bed with the right amount of oil or leave-in conditioner, you may not have to wash and condition your hair as rigorously as you normally would. High quality hair oil or leave-in will help you achieve the perfect balance overnight.
Get materialistic
Get-up-and-go hair is just as much about the accessories you style your mane with as it is about the products you put into your hair. Silk or satin scarves and bonnets, longtime go-to’s within the African-American community, are excellent ways to prevent hair of all types from drying or breaking overnight. Scrunchies without hard elastic can work wonders, too, like the silk and plastic varieties. When used to pull hair up, scrunchies can help you maintain volume at the root, giving hair an instant lift when taken down. If you’re someone who gets their hair blown out once a week, ask your stylist to teach you how to properly pin your hair. Once you master the technique, all you’ll need is a good brush and a few pins to maintain the same body and movement as when you left the salon.
Pro tip: For those who want overall protection, it may be worth investing in bed sheets and pillowcases made of silk or satin. Not only do they provide full protection from nighttime nape damage by keeping oils locked into the hair and scalp, but they can also have positive effects on the skin and face.
Treat(ment) yourself
Sleep is all about giving your body a break and allowing it to recharge. While you sleep, your cells are given a chance to turn over, free from the harsh conditions of the outside world. This includes the cells that make up your hair, so popping on a hair mask before bed is ideal. Overnight hair treatments work best when they are suited to your specific hair type and left to soak in, but be sure to stay away from moisture-sucking fabrics like cotton and wool. Opt for a silk or satin situation to lay your head down on instead.
Lock in moisture
While it’s true that sleep gives hair a chance to repair itself in a neutral environment, its benefits can be stripped away during hot summer nights or frosty winter evenings. Air conditioning and forced heat can be devastating to sensitive strands. If you have curly hair or hair that tends to be dry, excessive heat from radiators and heating units can suck the moisture right out of your strands. So, adding a bit of moisture to your hair before bed during the cold seasons is essential.
Pro Tip: Investing in a humidifier during the winter months can help replenish skin and hair with additional moisture overnight.
If you love being outdoors in the summer months, beware. Hair that has been exposed to harsh UV rays and wind all day and then surrounded by forced cold from fans or ACs can turn brittle overnight. So, you’ll need to add moisture back into your hair in this situation, too.
Looking for hair care that will keep your strands nourished all night long? Get started with customized products by taking your Prose consultation here.
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