Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
Just a moment ago, my hair was a real dream of curls, but then the night came and in the morning everything suddenly looks completely different:
- Tousled strands,
- lost definition,
- the curls are full of knots,
- the annoying frizz has struck
- or your hair is simply flat.
In short, your curly hair didn't survive the night well. When you try to get the hair catastrophe that occurred during the night back under control, you're usually in a lot of trouble in the bathroom in the morning.
In the long run, this nightly state is also a stressful affair for your curls and, in the worst case, an incorrect overnight care routine can even damage your hair. Unfortunately, we don't even notice it. We spend a third of our lives sleeping.
That's why we should do as much good as possible for our curls at night . Below we want to give you a few simple tips on how you can preserve and protect your beautiful curls overnight .

How to sleep best with curly hair? Our 7 tips
So how exactly do you do this with the curls overnight? To avoid a rude awakening in the morning, there are a few tried and tested tips and tricks on how to protect and care for your curls while you sleep .
Use a silk pillowcase
A silk pillowcase may seem like a luxurious purchase at first, but the precious natural fiber offers many benefits for hair health.
A mulberry silk pillowcase for curls is ideal for the special needs of curly hair . The smooth surface of the silk pillow protects your curls optimally, as the hair glides easily over the pillow.
The surface of a normal cotton cover, on the other hand, is slightly rough, so that the hair literally gets stuck on it. On top of that, cotton also removes the moisture that is so valuable to the curls.
That's why switching to a silk pillow in your curl care routine can be a real game changer with a big impact!
Silk as a luxury treatment for skin & hair
Silk is also a real luxury treatment for our skin and its surface prevents wrinkles in the morning. Just like hair, the skin loses less moisture .
But silk can do even more. It regulates temperature and is ideal against sweat . It also has a cooling effect in summer. Furthermore, the natural material
- hypoallergenic,
- antistatic,
- antibacterial
- and even repels dust mites.
The smooth silk also has a soothing effect on the skin and we even find it soothing as it feels so great to sleep on.
The “pineapple” as a sleeping hairstyle
Sleeping with your hair down can have a negative effect on the condition of your curls. Even if you are very careful not to lie on your curls when you go to sleep, it can still happen unconsciously during the night and in the morning your hair is flat and out of shape.
Due to the natural movements that occur during sleep, long hair in particular is more frequently exposed to friction , which can weaken the structure of your hair in the long term.
The “ pineapple ” has made a name for itself as the optimal sleeping hairstyle for curls.
- The hair on top of the head is loosely tied into a braid so that the hairstyle resembles the shape of a pineapple.
- In this way, all the hair is collected on the top of the head and even if you turn and twist in your sleep, your hair will not be flattened against the pillow
- and your curls remain completely protected.
- When tying the pineapple, make sure not to use hard or stiff hair ties and to make the braid really loose.
We recommend pure mulberry silk scrunchies made from real silk. These are available in large sizes, as you would expect from most scrunchies, but also in small and narrow sizes.
Use a sleeping cap
It may sound a little strange, but many Curlies swear by the use of a sleeping cap . What was once an essential accessory for the night may sound a little antiquated today, but a sleeping cap offers a
- great protection for your curls,
- keeps moisture in the hair
- and prevents frizz.
- Knotty or matted hair can also be avoided by wearing a sleeping cap.
When buying, make sure you choose a breathable material , as your curls like air to pass through. As with pillows, the best material is the antibacterial natural fiber silk .
However, there are also versions of sleeping caps made of satin. A silk or satin cap can be really comfortable, especially in the colder seasons.
Gelcast
Excuse me? Yes. Word of the Gelcast has already spread among curly-headed people.
- After washing your hair, a special curling gel is applied to your hair.
- When it dries, the gel hardens into a rigid protective layer – the so-called gelcast – which protects the curls and keeps them in shape.
- The gel cast can then be "crunched out" with your hands. The result is not stiff curls, but a smooth curl structure full of bounce and definition.
If you want to protect your curls in a gelcast overnight, simply save the kneading until the next morning .
The rigid protective film keeps the curls in place overnight and protects against friction and the appearance of frizz. However, make sure that the gel cast is completely dry before going to bed, otherwise your curls will lose their shape and you will spread a damp gel film on your pillow.
Your perfect duo for the gel cast and the subsequent kneading:
The correct sleeping position
The right sleeping position can also make a difference when it comes to maintaining curls. In fact, sleeping on your side or stomach is an ideal position to disturb your curls as little as possible.
You can place the hair above your head and, depending on the length, simply let it fall loosely over the pillow. This way you are not lying directly on the length of your hair.
Most of the hair is at the back of the head , so sleeping on your back is the least suitable position for curly hair. The weight of your head pushes the hair into the pillow and the curls can look flat or brittle in the morning.
It is advisable to use a flatter pillow rather than one that is too high. With a lower pillow, the curls will stay in a position where they do not fall towards your face and get caught between your shoulders, for example.
Clipping for shorter hair
If you have shorter or medium-length hair and can't pin it up on top of your head, a pineapple braid is n't a nighttime option for you.
In this case, you can try the “Medusa” clipping . This will also allow you to get through the night without any worries and without damaging your curls.
- With this method, the individual curls are pinned to the head section by section using clips or small hair clips.
- This way you avoid lying on your curls and your curls will retain their definition while you sleep.
- Place the hair clips as high as possible on your head, otherwise they may disturb you while you sleep.
The technique is intended to be visually reminiscent of the sea goddess Medusa with the snakes on her head.
Hair Plopping
Popping hair is a well-known method in curly hair care to gently dry natural curls and waves after washing. But popping can also be used to protect curls overnight. You don't have to set aside a special day to wash your hair for this.
- Simply moisten your hair, for example with a spray bottle, because plopping works best with damp hair. A microfiber towel or a T-shirt is usually used for the plopping method.
- You spread this out in front of you, put your hair in it upside down and then tie the fabric above your head or at the nape of your neck. This way, the curls are defined and held in shape on your head.
- In addition, the hair is protected from friction. A little curl styling cream - Les Secrets de Loly Smoothie Litchi-Mure curl cream - or a small dab of leave-in conditioner in damp hair are also very good for enhancing curls with this method.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to do your curls good overnight and actively keep them in shape and protect them from stress and damage. Just try out which method can become your favorite at night. Maybe you'll even discover the sleeping cap for yourself, who knows?
In any case, a good curl protection overnight can also help you save a lot of time and hassle when freshening up your curls in the morning.
Whatever you decide, your hair will definitely be delighted with a curl-friendly sleep and will definitely look its very best in return for your efforts!
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