With endless videos on YouTube about night-time routines and skincare regimens, many of us may be left wondering what to do with our hair at night.
The right night-time style depends on what type of hair you have, how you wear your hair during the day, and what your hair goals are.
Benefits of Sleeping in a Headband:
You can help train your hair to grow backward and out of your face with the help of a night-time headband. You can also protect your hair, prevent frizziness when you wake up, and help stop your hair from being greasy or oily in the morning.
Can You Sleep with a Headband On?
Sleeping with a headband is recommended for those with curly hair or who struggle with excess grease and oil buildup.
It’s not recommended to wear a headband too tightly since that can damage your hair at the roots. It’s also not recommended that people who wear their hair pulled back throughout the day also pull it back while sleeping.
Keeping your hair healthy can be more of a struggle for some than for others, but healthy hair comes from various factors. Some of the factors are genetic, and we have to adjust to our individual needs.
However, there are some best practices when it comes to hair health. Headbands can be a great tool for ensuring that you have healthy, shiny hair.
Does Sleeping with a Headband Hurt Your Ears?
Generally, the most comfortable way to wear a headband while sleeping is to have it behind your ears rather than over them.
However, if you’re sleeping in a cold environment (like on a camping trip, for example), having a headband over your ears can make you much more comfortable and facilitate better sleep.
However, some people may find in-ear earplugs uncomfortable to sleep in but would still like a way to slightly dampen the sound. In that case, a headband may help them turn down the volume just enough to get to sleep.
Some headbands come with integrated headphones. Many people find these great to sleep in since they can play some soft music, an audiobook, or meditation while they fall asleep. They don’t get tangled in wires or lose their small earbuds throughout the night.
Many of these earbud/headband combos are elasticated, come in various sizes, or are adjustable with Velcro. Regardless of what type of headband you sleep in or its purpose, you shouldn’t wake up with aching ears. Find one that fits snugly enough without applying too much pressure, and consider any piercings you have. With all the options out there, you should be able to find a way to wear it without causing pain to your ears.
What Headbands are Best for Sleeping in?
The best headband for sleeping in is the one that’s catered to your needs.
Those looking for a way to get some tunes without disturbing their partner or roommates should invest in a combination earbud/headband.
If you’re looking to decrease frizz, using a satin or silk headband over your roots can help decrease the damage that causes frizzy hair. Bonus points if you invest in a satin or silk pillowcase for that same purpose!
Those with curly hair can use a headband or scarf to secure their curls onto the top of their head so that they don’t get crushed or matted while they sleep. This will help preserve the curls and make them easier to style the next day.
Can Headbands Collect Sweat as You Sleep?
If you’re prone to sweating while asleep, using a headband is a great way to stop the dreaded greasy hair in the morning.
Headbands catered to working out are usually absorbent. Also, an ultra-soft and comfortable terry-cloth headband might be the most comfortable way to sleep, even if you feel like you might wake up in the 1980s.
If you use a headband to collect sweat and stop your hair from overly oily, you need to use a new headband every night. Toss them in the laundry hamper each morning, wash them with soap and warm water and leave them to dry before using them again.
You don’t want to transfer those oils back into your hair, especially if the whole point of the headband is to prevent grease buildup. You should also make sure that you’re regularly washing your pillowcase, as well.
If you can change out your pillowcase a couple of times a week (or even daily), you may be able to avoid sleeping in a headband. That may be more comfortable in the long run and eliminates any possibility of damaging your hair by accidentally letting the headband get too tight as you sleep.
Can Wearing Your Hair Up When You Sleep Damage Your Hair?
One of the most damaging things to hair is holding it in the same position for extended durations over and over.
So if you wear your hair up during the day, you should do your best to sleep with it flowing freely at night. This gives the hair a break from the stress that hair ties place on it.
On the other hand, if you wear your hair down during the day, having it up at night probably won’t cause too much damage. Even so, you should wear it in a loose style if you do wear it up while you’re sleeping.
Should You Sleep With Wet Hair?
It’s not advisable to go to bed with your hair sopping wet.
Not only will that be uncomfortable, but your hair is also most vulnerable when wet. Sleeping with wet hair can lead to increases in breakage and hair loss. It’s also much more prone to tangle when wet, so you’ll have more of a mess in the morning.
Either let your hair air dry or blast it with the hair dryer until it’s about 70% dry. A little dampness is fine, but it shouldn’t be very wet when going to bed.
It also hopefully goes without that saying that you shouldn’t tie up your wet hair to go to sleep. That will prevent it from drying, and if you do it regularly, your hair could get mildew buildup.