The overnight hair hack your stylist wishes you'd start doing

Written by: Samantha K. Paris

Most people spend hundreds-to-thousands of dollars on their hair every year... only to unknowingly damage it while they sleep. We know that's upsetting to read, because how could sleeping possibly be bad for your hair?!

There's good news: One of the easiest ways to protect your hair from unnecessary damage, reduce breakage, and make your style last longer takes less than five minutes, right before you go to bed.

Sleeping with your hair in a loose braid or flexi rod such as Overnight Rods, paired with a lightweight oil (come ask your stylist which one is best for you specifically!), can make such a huge difference in the overall health and feel of your hair. This is especially important for our blondes and extension girlies, as well as those who heat style regularly!

Why Sleeping with your hair down can damage it

When we toss and turn at night, the hair rubs against pillows for hours. This damages the salt and hydrogen bonds in our hair as well as causes breakage by way of friction. This friction can lead to:

• tangling

• matting

• frizz

• dryness

• split ends

• breakage

• and even faded color

Hair is actually way more vulnerable than people realize, and smushing it around all over a cotton or fabric pillow case all night is so bad for it.

Blondes and extensions in particular tend to be more delicate because the hair has already been processed or is lacking natural oils from the scalp.

Why Braids and Flexi Rods Help

Putting your hair into a loose braid or soft flexi rod set before bed helps keep the hair more controlled and protected overnight.

This helps:

• minimize tangling

• reduce friction (can't move all about!)

• preserve blowouts and curls (hello, easy mornings!)

• create smooth hair in the morning

• and reduce the amount of heat styling needed the next day

Less heat = healthier hair!

A loose braid is perfect for effortless waves and general protection, while flexi rods are great for maintaining volume and curls without adding heat.

Why Hair Oil Matters

Adding a lightweight oil before bed helps nourish and protect the hair while you sleep. It smooths the cuticle down, reduces frizz, adds moisture back into the ends, keeps your hair soft and shiny, and protect your dry strands from snapping!

The key is using a small amount, emulsifying in between both hands, and gently running the oil through the ends, working into the mid shafts, never at the root.

Small Habit, Big Difference

Healthy Hair usually comes from small consistent habits, not just salon appointments and crossing our fingers in between.

Taking a few minutes before bed to protect your hair can help extend the life of your color, reduce breakage, and keep your hair looking softer, shinier, and healthier overall.

Sometimes the little things in life truly make the biggest difference.

Come to Storybook Salon for a shampoo, blowout, and style, and we will walk you through how to prep your hair for bed, which oil is best for your texture, density, porosity, and hair history, and help you customize a care routine that is perfect for you.