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How often do you wake up with tangled and frizzy hair or with a bunch of hair strands on your pillow? If the answer is frequent, it’s high time that you figure out the right way to tie your hair and prevent hair loss while sleeping.
Good hair days don’t happen by chance. Following a proper hair care regimen can strengthen your hair and protect it from damage.
Before going to bed, you can braid your hair, tie it in a ponytail, or keep it loose, depending on your hair type.
Article Contents
How to Prevent Hair Breakage While Sleeping at Night
To prevent undue hair breakage while you’re asleep, do any of the following:
- Tie a braid: Before dozing off to sleep, make a braid to prevent breakage. The next day, your hair might turn wavy, but you will not experience hair fall.
- Make twisted braids: Another way to protect your hair from damage is to make rope-like braids and secure them with satin bands.
- Tie ponytails: You can make two pigtails to protect your hair from damage. Part your hair in the middle, and tie two pigtails.
- Create loose buns: There’s a myth that it is terrible to sleep with your hair in a bun. However, it is actually beneficial to tie a loose bun and secure it with silk scrunchies to prevent hair fall while sleeping.
You can alternate using hair scrunchies with silk hair wraps if your hair is susceptible to damage. You can even use hair silk scarves/pillowcases and other hair fixers to keep your hair secured and increase the lifespan of your braids. (1)
Is It Okay to Tie Your Hair While Sleeping at Night?
Fixing your hair in ponytails or buns before sleep has benefits and disadvantages, and you must consider your hair type before taking the final call.
You can loosen your hair strands if they are short; it will let the airflow through your tresses, making your sleep comfortable.
However, if you have long hair, it is recommended to secure it to prevent tangles and breakage. Leaving your long hair open increases frizz and causes hair fall.
Also, note that tying your hair tightly can damage your hair roots and cause alopecia. (2) Traction alopecia is caused by pulling your hair tightly when creating a braid or a ponytail. It increases the tension within the hair and causes damage to hair follicles, which aggravates hair fall. (3)
Hence, wearing a ponytail or braid is advised but without applying too much force.
Does the Hair Get Damaged at Night?
Yes, your hair gets damaged if you do not tie it correctly at night. Also, if you share a bed with someone, they can accidentally pull strands of your hair, or your hair can tangle on its own.
Some of the common hair problems that arise while sleeping are:
- Hair breakage
- Split ends
- Pulling out of hair
- Brittle hair
- Dull and frizzy hair
- Flyaways
General Queries Related to Tying Your Hair Before Sleeping
Is it reasonable to leave your hair open while sleeping?
Sleeping with open hair seems like a naturally suitable practice, but it can damage your hair if you have long tresses. Your hair will get tangled, and combing it would be a nightmare and cause hair damage.
Hence, it is best to tie your hair in a loose bun or braid when sleeping, if you have long hair to prevent knots and breakage. And if your hair length is short, it is best to sleep with your hair down.
Why should I not sleep with a tight ponytail?
You should not sleep with a tight ponytail because it can cause hair loss, breakage, and constant traction that can damage your hair follicles. You can prevent and/or reverse hair loss by letting your hair down if you have short hair.
You can also tie a loose ponytail if you have long hair; doing so will prevent your long tresses from getting tangled, thus preventing them from falling out.
Final Word
An improper hair care routine can damage your hair health. When you are sleeping, your hair doesn’t; it undergoes various processes such as repair, growth, and reinforcement.
So, tie your hair in a loose bun or a braid while sleeping. Comb your hair gently and use soft pillows and hair fixtures to give your hair adequate protection.
References
- Mayo TT, Callender VD. The art of prevention: It’s too tight-loosen up and let your hair down. International journal of women’s dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072502/. Published January 29, 2021.
- Traction alopecia: A neglected entity in 2017. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. https://ijdvl.com/traction-alopecia-a-neglected-entity-in-2017/. Published October 31, 2017.
- Billero V, Miteva M. Traction alopecia: The root of the problem. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5896661/. Published April 6, 2018.
