Believe it or not, most of our hair breakage and split ends occur when we’re having our very important beauty sleep. Preparing your hair for bed can drastically improve the quality of your hair, minimizing hair breakage, rough follicles, and even the need to use heated hair tools. Keep reading for classic and fresh ideas on how to sleep with long hair.

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How to Protect Hair While You Sleep

Whether you’re looking to improve the condition of your hair or you’re looking for a suitable hairstyle to wear for bed, these 7 tips to protect your hair while you sleep will help you wake up with softer, healthier and more manageable hair in the morning.

#1: Never Attempt to Go to Bed with Wet or Damp Hair

Hair is the most fragile when it is wet or damp. This is mainly because the proteins (known as keratins) present in each follicle form a much weaker bond when wet. When you brush, sleep or play with wet hair, the hair stretches and deforms the follicle rather than snapping back into shape. This unnecessary stretching and friction damage the hair follicle, leaving you with rough, broken, and damaged hair.

After washing your hair, use a microfiber towel to gently pat dry and remove excess water. You may want to finish drying your hair with a hair dryer, but don’t put it on the highest heat option. Also, avoid brushing your hair when wet and, instead, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to remove the tangles.

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#2: Apply Hair Oil Before Bedtime

Applying hair oil to dry hair will help keep your strands hydrated overnight. Oils create a protective layer around each follicle, which help minimize breakage and split ends. If you tend to wake up with dry and unmanageable hair in the morning, applying everyday hair oil before bedtime can really help tame the dryness and hair friction overnight, plus preventing any further breakage from happening while sleeping.