I have had a nighttime routine for my relaxed hair since I started getting relaxed as a pre-teen. My mom and my hair stylist at the time made sure I understood that I needed to keep my hair protected to help prevent damage. What I realized over time is that protecting my hair at night doesn’t just help prevent damage, but also other things as well.
Why protecting relaxed hair at night is important
Relaxed hair can be pretty fragile due to the chemical relaxing process altering the protein structure of the hair strand. That means your strands are more prone to dryness, breakage, and split ends. This susceptibility is even greater when you sleep with your hair unprotected.Here’s what can happen when relaxed hair isn’t protected at night:
- Dryness from cotton pillowcases pulling moisture from the hair
- Frizz caused by friction between the hair and the cotton pillowcase
- Breakage and split ends from hair rubbing and tangling overnight
- Loss of moisture from your hair being exposed to the changing air conditions in your house throughout the night
On the flip side, protecting your relaxed hair at night can help:
- Lock in moisture and oils
- Reduce friction and minimize breakage
- Styles last longer
- Keep hair smooth and tangle-free
- Preserve your ends and length over time
How to protect relaxed hair at night
Now that we’ve covered the reasons why and benefits of protecting relaxed hair at night, let’s talk about the options for protection. There are several types of nighttime hair protection to choose from. Depending on your hair length, style, and personal preference, some options may work better than others.1. Satin wrap/scarf
I have been using a satin wrap for years because it does a good job of keeping my hair smooth and straight. If you’re big on this, a satin wrap is also great for laying down your roots and edges. Because satin wraps hug the head closely, they are good for keeping your hair smooth and helping reduce reversion from sweat or humidity overnight.Satin wraps are good for:
- Sleek wrap styles
- Pixie cuts
- Short to medium-length hair
In my experience, I’ve found satin wraps to be one of the lightest overnight protection options, so I don’t get hot and start sweating at night.
As my hair has gotten longer, though, I have more and more hair to cover with the wrap, so they work best when I put my hair in a bun versus cross-wrapping.
2. Satin cap
Another nighttime protection I’ve used on my relaxed hair is a stain cap. There are so many different types of satin caps out there. Some have ties, others have adjustable bands, and some just have a simple elastic band.Satin caps are great for those with a pixie cut, short, or shoulder-length relaxed hair. These do a good job of keeping hair in place while not smushing up your hairstyle. Plus, they keep your hair from rubbing against cotton pillowcases.
When it comes to satin caps, a couple of things to look out for are having a wide enough elastic band and a band that’s not too tight to avoid stress on your edges.
These satin caps are best for:
- Pixie cuts
- Short to shoulder-length relaxed hair
- Roller sets or curls that need gentle coverage
3. Long satin bonnet
I don’t remember when these became a thing, but I see so many being sold now. These bonnets are different than the cap because they are long and hang down the back. This is great for longer hair because it allows the hair to lie flat in the bonnet, keeping it from bending, so it’s still straight in the morning. Plus, the hair gets to hang in its natural position, putting less stress on the hair.Longer relaxed hair needs a bit more room to move, and a longer satin bonnet or cap can help keep your strands contained without bending or flattening them.
The one con I’ve experienced since wearing one is that it can get stuck between your shoulder and the pillow, causing your head to pull down when sitting up. Truth be told, that’s only happened to me once, but now I’m aware of it.
I've found that long satin bonnets are good for:
- Relaxed hair past shoulder length
- Preserving straight styles
4. Doobie wrap
Until a few years ago, I had never heard of a doobie wrap. These appear to be experiencing a steady rise in popularity as a favorite nighttime protection for relaxed hair. The reason is that it makes it easier to wrap your hair to preserve straight styles while helping to maintain body and volume.Just search on TikTok, and you can find several tutorials on how to use a doobie wrap. While I haven’t used one of these yet, but I do own one, I see it as a great way to protect your hair at night, without having your head completely covered. This can help if you experience hot flashes or run hot at night.
One thing to keep in mind is that these are rarely made of silk or satin, which is preferable for relaxed hair. The ones I’ve found and seen are made of polyester.
Tubi wraps work well for:
- Maintaining a salon-fresh look
- Preventing flat or limp hair
- All hair lengths, especially medium to long lengths
5. Satin or Silk Pillowcase
Suppose you don’t like having anything on your head at night. Or find that you wake up with your scarf or bonnet off your head and on the other side of the bed, there’s another option. A satin or silk pillowcase.Yep. You can still protect your hair without wearing anything on your head. The satin or silk materials create less friction than cotton, helping your hair retain moisture and avoid breakage.
I use satin pillowcases, but I also wear a cap or wrap on my head. The reason I still cover my head is that I don’t want the oils and products on my hair to transfer to the pillow and then to my face, causing breakouts.
Using a satin or silk pillowcase is great for
- Those who toss and turn in their sleep
- Anyone who finds scarves or bonnets uncomfortable
- Extra protection under your wrap or bonnet
Final thoughts
Protecting your relaxed hair overnight doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether it’s a satin wrap, bonnet, or silk pillowcase, you can minimize damage, retain moisture, and keep your hairstyle looking fresh longer.The most common places to find some or all of these options are Amazon, your local hair store, or Walmart.
What’s your go-to method for protecting your relaxed hair at night? Let me know in the comments!
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