| Whether you're a calm or adventurous sleeper, it's | | | | the thread count, the tighter the weave, making for |
| always best to take precautionary measures to | | | | a smoother, softer pillowcase that won't catch on |
| protect your hair replacement system from tangling, | | | | your hair. So, combed cotton at thread counts of |
| matting and shedding while you are sleeping. | | | | 600 or greater should be just fine for your hair too. |
| Thankfully, this is an easy task, one to simply add to | | | | 2. Braid your hair |
| your nightly bedtime routine. | | | | If your hair is long enough, braid it into one or two |
| The 3 ways best to protect your hair system while | | | | braids that you can sleep comfortably in. This keeps |
| you sleep are: | | | | the hair safe and sound, free from tangles, while you |
| 1. Use a silk or satin pillowcase | | | | sleep. Typically, I do a low side braid (or ponytail) to |
| Having the right pillowcase is an absolute MUST. If | | | | keep things neat and comfy while I sleep. |
| you're wondering which type is better, silk or satin, | | | | If your hair is long enough, wear it in a bun (neat or |
| truthfully it doesn't really matter to your hair. Just go | | | | sloppy) high on top of your head. This keeps the |
| with your personal preference. | | | | lengths and ends in place and away from the sleep |
| Technically speaking, silk is a naturally smooth fiber | | | | surface on the back and sides of your head. |
| and satin is a type of weave that is made with silk or | | | | 3. Wear a sleep cap |
| synthetic fibers such as polyester or acetate. All of | | | | If you can't put your hair up because it's too short, |
| these fibers are smooth and won't catch on your | | | | or you don't want to use one of the recommended |
| hair. | | | | pillowcases for some reason, grab yourself a satin |
| Cotton is a natural fiber and usually contains short | | | | sleep cap, scarf or hair wrap. Many women tout the |
| microscopic fibers that can catch and tangle with | | | | amazing benefits of wearing a sleep cap or scarf, |
| your hair, causing excessive and unnecessary matting | | | | such as preventing tangling and breakage while |
| and pulling on your hair. Essentially, the not-so-smooth | | | | keeping your hairstyle relatively in tact. |
| fuzzy fibers act like Velcro and catch on the hair | | | | Bonus Tip: When using any of the above methods, |
| cuticles in your hair system creating havoc as you roll | | | | be sure to give your hair system a healthy spritz of |
| around in your sleep. It's most easily illustrated with | | | | your favorite alcohol-free leave-in conditioner and |
| the extreme fuzz of cozy flannel. Flannel and hair are | | | | comb it through. This is especially beneficial when |
| NOT friends. Sleep on a flannel pillowcase and your | | | | combined with braiding the hair as the braid locks in |
| hair system will be indistinguishable from a rat's nest | | | | the conditioner keeping the hair well-moisturized and |
| in the morning. Enough said? | | | | making morning comb-through a breeze. |
| However, there's always an exception to the rule, | | | | So, it's easy to protect your hair investment while |
| right? I have a 600 thread count Egyptian "combed" | | | | you sleep. Treat yourself to a new pillowcase or a |
| cotton pillowcase which is woven so tightly that it | | | | sleep cap, braid your hair if you can, and always |
| feels very similar to satin. In the cotton "combing" | | | | condition before bed! |
| process, the short fibers are removed creating a | | | | Sweet dreams! |
| longer, smoother cotton fiber. In addition, the higher | | | | |