Protecting Relaxed Hair While You Sleep: The Best Night Time Routine

Relaxed hair needs special care during the day, and especially at night. While you’re getting your rest, your hair is dealing with friction, dryness, and breakage. A solid nighttime routine can make all the difference.

Here’s how to build one.

1. Start with Moisture

Relaxed hair tends to run dry, so nighttime is a good time to add moisture back. Before bed, lightly mist your hair with a water-based moisturizing spray, or use a leave-in that won’t weigh your hair down.

Seal it in with a light oil like jojoba, argan, or grapeseed. Focus on your ends, since they’re the oldest and most fragile part of your hair.

Tip: Avoid heavy products at night, especially near your scalp. They can cause product buildup.

2. Wrap or Set Your Hair

Wrapping helps your hair keep its shape, prevents tangles, and cuts down on daily heat. Use a wide-tooth comb or brush to smooth your hair in a circular motion around your head. Secure it with bobby pins if you need to.

You can also try loose braids, bantu knots, or a low bun, depending on your length and the look you want in the morning.

3. Cover with Satin or Silk

Cotton pillowcases are rough on your strands. They pull moisture from your hair and cause friction. A satin or silk scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase gives you a smooth surface that protects your style.

• Silk scarves or bonnets: Best for wrapping or setting styles.
• Satin-lined caps or pillowcases: Great if you toss and turn or don’t like anything on your head.

Look for options that won’t slip off during the night.

4. Protect Your Edges

Your edges are delicate. Before bed, apply a little light oil to keep your hairline soft, and avoid tight styles that pull on it while you sleep. Keep your scarf snug, not tight.

5. Go Easy While You Sleep

If you toss and turn, use a satin pillowcase along with your scarf or bonnet for double protection.

Try not to go to bed with wet hair unless it’s set in braids or twists. Wet hair is more fragile and breaks more easily.

Sample Nighttime Routine

1. Moisturize: Light spray or leave-in conditioner
2. Seal: A small amount of oil on your ends
3. Style: Wrap, braid, or bun your hair
4. Protect: Cover with a satin or silk scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase
5. Edges: A little oil if needed

Final Thoughts

Caring for relaxed hair doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. With a few steps and a little consistency, you’ll wake up with smoother hair and less to redo in the morning.

We want to make every part of caring for relaxed hair easier. We’re building our Signature Relaxer System with that in mind, and it’s still in development.

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