This High-maintenance Night Routine = Low-maintenance Mornings

Wash day isn't the only time you can nourish damaged hair. If you want to really get to the root of stressed strands – and save yourself time in the morning – you need a night-time hair routine. Not only will it mean you wake up to silkier, more manageable strands, but you'll also keep night damage at bay. (Because, guess what? Tossing and turning is one of the biggest culprits for breakage and frizz.)

So, let's explore the dos and don'ts for morning-ready hair strands, guarantees nourished locks when you wake up...

 

DON'T DO THIS...

First, let's start with the 'don'ts' of your bedtime routine. To avoid hair damage or stop making it worse, these are the nightly habits you need to kick...

1. SLEEPING WITH WET HAIR

Your hair is at its most vulnerable when it's wet, so rubbing damp strands against your pillow as you snooze is going to roughen up and weaken the hair shaft. Plus, all that trapped moisture can lead to fungal scalp infections or exacerbate irritating skin conditions like dandruff and psoriasis. But this doesn't mean you can't wash your hair in the evening – just make sure you thoroughly dry locks afterwards.

2. USING COTTON PILLOWCASES

Even the softest cotton might be too harsh for dry, damaged hair. While you sleep, you might toss and turn, causing friction between your pillowcase and fragile strands. Cue hair breakage. So, upgrade your bedtime routine with silk pillowcases or satin pillowcases that won't catch on and harm already-frizzy hair. If you tie or wrap your hair up overnight, you might also want to invest in silk scrunchies or a satin scarf. 

3. FORGETTING TO DETANGLE

If you're a pull-out-the-pony-and-crash kind of sleeper, you might notice your hair feels dry and brittle in the morning. This could be because you're skipping a detangling session. By letting knots stay intact – and get even more knotted! – while you sleep, you risk matted strands that, when untangled, may be weak, brittle and easily snapped. That's why a quick detangling session is a must before bed. Work through strands with a wide-tooth comb from the ends first, going section by section, and gradually make your way up the hair shaft until every strand is tangle-free. 

 

DO THIS INSTEAD...

A night-time hair routine might seem high-maintenance, but it's the secret to low-fuss mornings. You can save yourself time in the AM by tackling hair damage before bed with these easy tips and tricks...

 

      1. APPLY AN OVERNIGHT SERUM

The first rule for repairing damage overnight? Use a night-time hair serum. Come morning, you'll have six times smoother hair plus. All you have to do is smooth it through detangled, dry hair from mid-lengths to ends. 

      2. USE A WEEKLY HAIR MASK

Another wash day must-have is a hair mask. Using a deep conditioning treatment once per week will give broken bonds the support they need for repair, so hair looks and feels more lustrous. 

      3. TURN DOWN HOT TOOLS

Many of us don't think about the temperature of our heat styling tools, but you may be using excessive heat for the thickness of your hair. The thinner your locks are, the lower the temperature should be on your blow dryer, straighteners or curling iron, so if your tool has a heat setting dial, make sure you've turned it to the right level. As a general rule, you should aim for 120-150°C for fine or damaged hair, 150-180°C for Medium or wavy hair or 180-200°C for thick or curly hair.

      4. TRY HEATLESS HAIRSTYLES

Trending on TikTok – and for good reason! – heatless hairstyles are the ultimate overnight hack, letting you coif locks, damage-free, before you go to bed, and shake your style loose in the morning. From heatless blow dries to plopping, both techniques can be perfected with a t-shirt and some spare hair ties. So, whether you have straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair or coily hair, there's an overnight style for you.

 

TO GIVE STRAIGHT AND WAVY HAIR A HEATLESS BLOW DRY

1. Start by rolling up your t-shirt to make a round doughnut shape. Use hair ties to secure it into a ring and place it on the top of your head like a crown.
2. Comb hair and part it as usual. Then apply Night Serum through the mid-lengths and ends to fight frizz and treat locks overnight. It creates the ideal canvas for heatless styles.
3. Use the end of a pin-tooth comb to create a triangle section of hair at the very front of your head. Pull this section up and over the t-shirt 'crown', and start wrapping until the full length of hair has been wrapped around the ring.
4. Take the next piece of hair and follow the same process. Continue section by section until all of your hair has been wrapped around the ring. Use pins to secure any loose ends where needed.
5. Go to sleep with your style in place.
6. In the morning, gently remove the ring and shake your hair loose with your hands. Finish with a light misting, and you're ready to go. 

 

TO PLOP CURLY AND COILY HAIR

1. Apply Night Serum in sections through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair.
2. Lay a long-sleeved t-shirt on a table in front of you, with the sleeves and neck closest to you.
3. Flip your curls forward and lay them across the center of the t-shirt (on the ‘torso’).
4. Fold the bottom of the t-shirt back on the curls, to the base of your neck.
5. Tie the long sleeves around your head to secure and keep curls wrapped up while you sleep. 
6. Once you’re sure hair is 100% dry in the morning, release your curls and style with fingertips.

 

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