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A woman with silver-streaked hair cupping warm water at a stone basin, a towel and a wooden brush beside it

Skin & hair · 5 min

Protect your hair overnight

A loose braid, a soft tie or a smooth scarf before bed. Five minutes that can mean fewer tangles and less breakage in the morning.

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We spend about a third of our lives with our hair rubbing against a pillow. For many hair types, especially long, curly, textured or fragile hair, that friction leads to tangles, frizz and breakage. A simple routine before bed can help.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Before bed, brush or finger-comb your hair gently to remove tangles.

  2. If your hair is long enough, gather it loosely: a soft braid, a low loose ponytail, or a loose twist on top of the head. Avoid tight bands.

  3. Use a fabric-covered tie rather than a bare elastic band, or none at all.

  4. If you like, wrap your hair in a smooth scarf or bonnet, or sleep on a smooth pillowcase. In the morning, undo it gently with your fingers.

The reason

Why it helps

Smooth fabrics create less friction than rough cotton, so hair rubs less and tangles less. Keeping hair loosely gathered stops it twisting into knots as you turn in your sleep. Tight styles, on the other hand, can pull at the roots over time, so loose is better.

A gentle variation

If your hair is short, a smooth pillowcase or a soft cap on its own is enough. If tying up your hair makes it hard to sleep, simply brush it and lay it above your head on the pillow.

Neighbours setting a long table in a green garden

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

Brushing and braiding someone's hair before bed can be a calm, close end to the day for a child, a partner or someone you care for. Let them choose the style.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

Tonight, before bed, gently detangle your hair and gather it in a loose braid or twist with a soft tie.

Add it to your day

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