Waking up in the morning with dry hair can be frustrating, especially when you’re pressed for time and can’t fix the dull and frizzy mess. I’ve done some digging and here’s what you need to do!
If you’ve experienced dry hair after sleeping, it may be caused by friction and dehydration. The friction between your hair and your pillow can disrupt and damage the hair cuticle and cause the hair to lose moisture. That said, invest in a silk pillowcase and wear a satin bonnet or loosely braid your hair when going to bed to prevent dry hair.
Keep reading to learn how you can quickly fix dry hair after sleeping this without spending too much time or money!
How To Fix Dry Hair In A Hurry: 4 Simple Steps
If you have woken up to a bad hair day and you have no idea how to make your dry and dull hair presentable, try out the tips below.
The quickest way to fix dry hair in the morning is to spritz your hair with some water till it’s only 80% dry, then apply a leave-in conditioner to your hairs ends and length before using a wide-tooth comb to comb through your hair, starting at the ends of your hair working up to your roots.
These tips will help you to fix up your hair temporarily so that you can get on with your day before putting in some extra care and using a hair mask when you have more time!
Step 1: Brush your hair
Firstly, you need to brush your hair from root to tip using a wide-tooth comb to reduce breakage. Brushing your hair from root to tip will help you to distribute any natural oils you may have on your scalp through your hair.
The tips of the hair are always the driest as they are furthest away from the scalp where the oils are produced. By combing your hair you will be able to at least distribute any oils that are on your scalp, evenly through the drier sections of hair.
Step 2: Do a conditioner rinse
If your hair is feeling very dry and not fresh, you may feel as though washing it again will help to bring it back to life and give it some moisture. Do not do this!
If you wash your hair again when it is already feeling dry, you may make it worse. Washing it again with shampoo may strip the hair of any remaining moisture and oils and this could damage your hair further.
Instead of washing your hair, you can attempt a conditioner rinse. This is when you wet your hair and apply conditioner without washing the hair first. Allow the conditioner to coat your hair and rinse it out completely. This will inject an extra dose of moisture into the hair without stripping it of any oils.
Do you constantly experience dry hair after washing, but aren’t sure where you are going wrong? Check out our article here for some helpful tips and tricks!
Step 3: Stay away from heat tools
If you did a conditioner rinse, allow your hair to air dry completely. Avoid using a hairdryer on your wet hair or any heat tools once your hair is dry, as this can dry the hair out even more.
Instead, allow your hair to dry naturally and style it using braids or accessories. If you are already struggling with dry hair you want to avoid heat tools at all costs, as this can lead to heat damage.
Step 4: Apply a hair oil or serum
Once your hair is completely dry, apply a few drops of hair oil or hair serum through the lengths and ends of your hair. This will give the hair a nice sheen and glossy look and give the appearance of healthy and moisturized hair. Aside from making it look healthy, it will also add some moisture to the hair and prevent it from drying out further.
Opt for a hair oil or serum that contains ingredients such as avocado oil, shea butter, coconut oil or argan oil as these have moisturizing properties. If your hair starts to feel dry as the day progresses, you can apply more of these products to the ends of the hair to keep it hydrated.
I recommend an Argan Oil Deep-Conditioning Mask for the best results, which you can order off Amazon!
5 Ways To Prevent Your Hair From Drying Out While You Sleep
The best way to avoid any dry hair hassles is to prevent it! Prevention is always much easier and less time-consuming than restoring dry hair. The key to avoiding dry hair while you sleep is keeping your locks hydrated and reducing friction.
The best way to prevent your hair from drying out while you sleep is to secure your hair before you go to sleep. This entails tying your hair in a loose bun or braids, then wrapping in a silk scarf or satin bonnet. This will prevent your hair from drying out or tangling while you sleep.
01. Invest in a silk pillowcase
When you sleep and toss and turn your hair is constantly rubbing against your pillow and bed sheets. This friction between your hair and bed sheets can actually damage your hair quite severely. The hair cuticle can easily become frayed and moisture can be lost resulting in very dry, damaged and broken hair.
The number one thing you can do is to invest in a silk or satin pillowcase. Regular bed sheets and pillowcases made from cotton or polyester can be quite harsh on the skin and hair and dry it out as it causes unnecessary friction. Silk or satin pillowcases are a lot more gentle on the hair and your hair will glide over the material without snagging or being exposed to too much friction.
02. Wrap your hair in a silk scarf before bed
If you don’t want to swap out your pillowcase, the next best thing is a silk or satin scarf! Wrap your hair up in a silk scarf before bed to protect your locks from your rough pillowcase, as it will have the same effect as the silk pillowcase.
A silk scarf is actually a great option for frequent travelers as it is so easy to throw it in your suitcase or around your neck and you won’t have to worry about taking a whole pillowcase with you!
03. Sleep with your hair braided or in a loose bun
Another great tip for reducing friction to your hair while you sleep is to braid it loosely or tie it in a loose high bun. If you sleep with your hair loose, it is more vulnerable to snagging and friction and may dry out the hair and make it frizzy.
If your hair is neatly braided or on top of your head it will have reduced exposure to the pillowcase or any sources of friction! Try and purchase a soft satin scrunchie or hair tie to reduce any kinks or breakage.
04. Condition your hair overnight
Before you go to sleep it is important to hydrate your hair. Use a leave-in conditioning spray or apply a hair mask so that your hair can stay moisturized while you sleep.
A good tip is to dilute some conditioner with water in a spray bottle and spritz this on the hair before bed. This will smooth out the hair cuticle and seal in any moisture.
An oily hair mask will deep condition your hair and if you can leave it on overnight it will have amazing results. Oils act as a barrier or protective coating around each hair strand and follicle and this can help minimize breakage and split ends.
Conditioning products, when used before bed, will reduce the risk of frizz and shedding while you sleep.
05. Brush your hair before bed
Lastly, brush your hair before bed each night. This will aid in distributing your hair’s natural oils throughout your hair and keep your hair nourished and healthy throughout the night. It will also prevent your hair from matting. Just make sure you are brushing through your hair when it is dry to reduce any breakage.
Final Thoughts
Dry hair can be a pain but you are now armed with the tips and tricks to keep your hair feeling and looking healthy and nourished while you sleep. No more waking up to dry and unruly hair!