The Nighttime Mistake You're Making If You Have Curly Hair
Picture this: You wake up, fresh-faced and with your curls perfectly intact. You take out your scrunchie to reveal a perfectly coiffed cascade of tendrils. Sounds great, doesn't it? Now back to reality. It's no secret that sleeping on curly hair can have you waking up with some serious frizz on your hands. But luckily, there's a quick fix that will have your curls looking perfect without the fuss.
One of the biggest mistakes that can leave your hair frizzy or flat is sleeping on a cotton or rough fabric pillowcase. In addition to being a perpetrator of split ends, fabric pillowcases absorb the natural oils your scalp produces overnight to moisturize your hair, drying out your strands and leaving them tangled (via Bustle). And this is particularly bad for curly hair, because more moisture is needed to keep curls healthy.
Plus, cotton tugs on hair while you toss and turn all night long. Breaking weaker strands and flattening curls, these pillowcases belong on the shelf rather than underneath your head.
Update your pillowcases to protect your curls
When choosing a new, curl-friendly pillowcase, you'll likely find your options narrowed to silk or satin. While both are great options, here's how to find the best bedtime plan for your hair.
Both of these fabrics allow hair to slide easily all night long without friction (via Cosmopolitan). The main difference stems from the fact that silk is a naturally occurring fiber, while satin is synthetic and spun from a blend of other fabrics. Basically, you can choose a thread count of silk based on the level of softness you would like, while satin comes as is. They work the same, but if you have sensitive skin, it may be better to choose the naturally occurring silk variety of pillowcase. If you're on a budget, satin might be the way to go, as it's less expensive than silk.
You can also use a satin or silk scarf by wrapping it around your hair before you sleep if you're not looking to ditch your old pillowcases (via Naturally Curly). The best part of making the switch? You get the bonus of protecting your skin from cotton's tugging and pulling too. Hello, glowing skin!