7 Tips for Sleeping With Long Hair to Prevent Damage and Breakage

Medically reviewed by Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD

Whether your hair reaches past your shoulders or your sporting a length that rivals Rapunzel, your hair is considered long. And with long hair comes the responsibility of protecting it. The right products and care when it comes to styling is key in maintaining strong strands, but what do you do with your hair when you sleep? Pulling, Tugging, and getting caught on everything are the struggles that people with long hair face. From sleeping on silk to wearing your hair loosely tied up, there are several ways to sleep comfortably while maintaining the longevity of your hair health.

We spoke to three hair experts, who shared their best tips and tricks to keep long hair healthy and protected while sleeping.

Meet the Expert

• Shab Reslan is a certified trichologist and hairstylist.

• Castillo Bataille is a hairstylist and Matrix Brand Ambassador.

• Abe Ayesha is a hair restoration expert and the owner of Eternal Hair and Esthetics.

Sleep With Silk

You've heard it before, and we're here to remind you again. Silk is your hair's best friend. "Silk pillowcases are an absolute game-changer as they don't pull and absorb moisture from your hair and your face," says certified trichologist and hairstylist Shab Reslan of the material that helps to prevent frizz. "Unlike regular pillowcases, the smooth silk fibers don't cause damage to your hair by creating friction and roughening up your hair’s cuticles. They also maintain better temperature control that helps prevent sweating from your head or neck that can ruin any hairstyle."

Alternatively, silk and satin bonnets and scarves are a great option to protect your hair when you sleep. "Wrap your hair in [a] silk or satin turban before sleep," says Ayesha. "While sleeping, we turn our heads back and forth throughout the night against abrasive pillow covers, and this can cause moisture loss and hair breakage."

Wear Your Hair Up

Sleeping with your hair down may seem the most comfortable, but the experts agree, sleeping with your hair up is an important step in keeping your hair healthy.

"Keeping your hair up at night is crucial for two reasons," says Reslan. "One, it protects fine and fragile hair at the nape that is prone to tangling. Two, it preserves your hairstyle or blowout by preventing kinks from sleeping on and sweating on hair. Gathering your hair up in a loose bun using french hair pins is a demarcation-free method of keeping hair up in place. The key is to make the bun high enough on top of your head to not feel it when laying down."

Wear Your Hair in a Braid

If you don't mind waves and kinks and are looking to cut out a step from your hair routine the next morning, you can protect your hair by pre-styling it before bed.

"A great way to sleep with long hair is by parting your hair down the middle then doing two braids that start just behind the ear. This will add some great texture in the morning without having a big tangled mess," says hairstylist Castillo Bataille. "Kitsch also has a foam-like head band that you can wrap your hair in at night then wake up with beautiful curls," he adds of the brand's heatless curling set.

Avoid Sleeping With Wet Hair

This one might feel obvious, but not for the reasons you think. Sleeping on wet hair is not only uncomfortable, but can also cause damage.

"We recommend that people with long hair not sleep with wet hair," says Ayesha. "Sleeping with moisture in your hair can contribute to additional breakage and damage as you move throughout the night." Other risks include getting sick, or even developing a fungal infection. "Sleeping with wet hair can cause some unwanted problems at the scalp area, and in some cases, leaving a foul mold-like smell," says Bataille. If you find yourself in a bind and do need to sleep with wet hair, studies show that coconut oil can protect wet hair from breakage.

Utilize Hair Masks

The only thing better than a good night's sleep is a good night's sleep and hair repair. "Sleep time is a great opportunity to strengthen and repair long locks with an overnight repair mask, leave-in conditioner, or hydrating serum," says Ayesha.

Ditch Elastic Hair Bands

You've heard it before and we'll tell you again, elastic hair bands are simply not it when it comes to keeping your hair healthy. Some hair ties can cause damage by pulling or harming the cuticle, but luckily, there are options to help avoid such issues.

"Using elastic hair bands always results in hair being pulled from the follicle, so it’s not recommended," Ayesha says. "Instead, try a spiral cord hair tie rather than elastic or fabric."

Detangle Your Hair Before Bed

If you shower at night or want to give one last brush to dry hair, detangling your strands before sleeping is critical to preventing damage. "Two great products for long hair would be the Original Detangling Hair Brush ($8) by Wet Brush and a great leave in conditioner," says Bataille, who recommends the Matrix Miracle Creator Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray ($24). "These two power products will keep your hair detangled and healthy just before you head to bed."

Up Next: 14 Ways to Improve Overall Hair Health, According to Dermatologists

Read the original article on Byrdie.