how to sleep with 4c hair
As someone with 4c hair, you know how important it is to maintain a good natural hair care routine. But did you know that having a night routine is just as crucial as your daytime routine?
A night routine can help you protect your 4c hair from damage but also helps you wake up with hair that’s easier to manage and style.
Because when you sleep, your hair goes through a lot. Tossing and turning can cause friction and tangling, leading to breakage and damage. Additionally, your hair is more prone to dryness, as it loses moisture while you sleep.
This is especially true for 4c hair, which tends to be more delicate and prone to breakage. So, today I’m sharing how to sleep with 4c hair at night.
How do you keep 4c hair moisturized overnight?
One of the biggest challenges with 4c hair is keeping it moisturized. When you sleep, your hair is more susceptible to dryness, so it’s essential to moisturize it before bed.
The best way to keep your 4c hair hydrated overnight is by applying moisture before bed. Use a mix of water and leave-in conditioner in a water spray bottle and gently mist your hair. Make sure to spray your hair thoroughly with the water mixture from root to tip.
By applying a leave-in conditioner to your hair before bed you can help lock in moisture overnight. And if you want to seal in the moisture even more, you can apply a natural oil like coconut oil too.
This will help prevent moisture loss and keep your hair hydrated.
What is the healthiest way to keep your hair at night?
The healthiest way to keep your hair at night to prevent tangles and breakage while you sleep is by using protective styles. Two-strand twists are a great protective style for 4c hair that can be worn for several days at a time, but also only overnight.
They not only protect your hair while you sleep but are also a low-manipulation style that can help promote healthy hair growth. By twisting your natural hair for the night, you protect your hair ends which are more prone to break off from friction.
And of course, the added bonus is, that you can simply unravel the twists in the morning and have a perfectly wearable twist-out hairstyle.
4c hair night routine
As you can tell, sleeping with 4c hair can be a bit of a challenge and work, because it takes a lot to maintain the health and appearance of afro hair. However, with a few simple tips and tricks, you can make sure your hair stays healthy even while you’re sleeping.
Here is my detailed 4c hair night routine:
1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
As established by now keeping 4c hair hydrated overnight is essential for maintaining healthy, moisturized hair. Therefore, the first step in your 4c hair night routine is to moisturize it before bed.
You can use water only, a leave-in conditioner, natural oils, or all three to do that. Whichever method you choose, make sure to apply it thoroughly from root to tip to ensure that your hair stays moisturized throughout the night.
2. Detangle your hair
The second step in a successful nightly routine is to detangle your 4c hair before bed to prevent knots and tangles from forming while you sleep.
Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to gently comb through your natural hair. Make sure to start from the ends and work your way up to the roots.
3. Protective style your hair
If you want to wake up to a good hair day, with your hair looking neat and tidy, consider protective styling your hair before bed. You can put your hair in twists, braids, or even Bantu knots.
Each of these protective hairstyles will keep your coily hair stretched and prevent tangles while you sleep, and simplify your morning routine.
4. Protect your hair
Protecting your hair while you sleep is crucial, especially if you’re a restless sleeper like me. Instead of sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, you want to use satin and silk materials that are gentle on natural hair.
You can use a satin bonnet, a satin scarf, or a satin pillowcase to protect your hair from damage. Those materials won’t cause friction or pull on your hair while you are asleep.
5. Optional: Pineapple your hair
Another way to protect your hair at night is by pineappling your 4c hair. Pineappling is a popular technique for preserving curly hairstyles overnight, where you gather your hair into a loose ponytail.
It’s especially effective when you just got a wash-and-go on your 4c hair. By using a scrunchie to create a loose bun at the top of your head, you preserve your curls and prevent them from becoming flattened or frizzy while you sleep.
By incorporating these tips into your nighttime routine, you can help keep your 4c hair moisturized and healthy, even while you sleep.
How do I get my 4c hair to lay flat at night?
Getting 4c hair to lay flat at night can be a challenge because it is naturally prone to shrinkage with coils and kinks. However, if your hair is blow-dried or straightened, the way to keep it flat while you sleep is by wrapping it.
Wrapping 4c hair at night is a great way to preserve your straight hairstyle, prevent tangling and matting, and maintain moisture.
All you need to do is gather all of your hair on one side of your head and smooth it out with a brush. Then you wrap your hair around your head in a circular motion. Once it’s all wrapped, tie a silk scarf around your head to secure the hair in place. That will help preserve your hairstyle and keep it hydrated overnight.
The next morning, simply untie the scarf and gently unwrap your hair and you will find that your hair still lies flat.