Our nighttime habits play a major role in practically every aspect of our life, from our mental wellbeing to our physical health—and, as it turns out, they can also greatly affect our appearance, including that of our hair. Maybe you’ve heard that you shouldn’t sleep with wet hair, that sleeping in braids can help reduce shedding, or that using a silk pillowcase is the best way to go. On top of all of this, beauty experts say there’s one more technique you may want to give a shot, and it’s simpler than ever: just sleep with your hair in a bun!
To learn all about the benefits of tying your locks up at night, we spoke to celebrity hairstylist Janine Jarman of Curl Cult and dermatologist Ksenia Sobchak of Loxa Beauty. These experts told us that this technique isn’t only great for the appearance of your hair, but can also help fight oily skin.
Increase Volume, Reduce Tangling And Frizz
We've all fallen victim to the dreaded "bed head": You wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and are met with a beast of tangles and frizz. Luckily, Sobchak says that sleeping with your hair in a bun "reduces hair messes caused by tossing and turning in bed" and "prevents frizziness and tangling due to less rubbing against the pillowcase." Not only that, but it can also help to boost volume, which can be a total game-changer if you typically wake up with flat, lifeless hair after sleeping all night. The key here is to twist it: "If your hair flattens or reduces in size following a night’s sleep of turning and tossing, I recommend twisting it to build some bounce," Sobchak says. "You can start by washing it with volumizing conditioner and shampoo before the twists and a bun."
In addition to keeping frizz under control and adding volume to the picture, this technique is also extremely helpful if you have curly hair by adding more definition and consistency. "Twisting hair and tightly coiling it around itself, securing it with a silk scrunchy before sleeping will give you more formed and consistent waves come morning," Jarman explains.
To create an "S-wave," she suggests another bedtime hair hack, too: "Do a mid back of head pony and don't pull all the way through on the last pull so there is a soft flop of the mid shaft/ends." Nice! We're trying this ASAP.
Prevent Oily Skin
Sleeping in a bun won't just do wonders for your hair; it can also help keep your skin happy and healthy, especially if you struggle with breakouts and an oily complexion. As you sleep at night, it's likely that your hair will frequently brush up against your face. As Jarman notes, "hair product can rub off your hair onto your face when you are sleeping," which can worsen your oily skin and breakouts.
Luckily, wearing your hair back (such as in a bun) is one of the best ways to avoid this issue. "It is a good way of reducing oil accumulation in your skin that might cause pimples," Sobchak notes. We would have never thought about that!
Of course, everyone's hair is unique, so your nighttime hair ritual should be personalized to suit your needs. However, if you have curly hair, want to keep tangles to a minimum, or are just looking or a way to avoid breakouts, sleeping with your locks in a bun is one great option to try! For the best results, Jarman suggests using a large silk scrunchie like the one from KITCH, which will lead to "less breakage, tangles, and frizz." Perfect!
