When making this list, I looked for both styling products and accessories that shield hair from nighttime damage.
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Below, I rounded up the best products for keeping your hair protected at night, including styling products, sleep accessories and more.
This is one of Malhotra’s favorite overnight leave-in treatments, which she says works well for all hair types. It has plant-based proteins, which strengthen hair strands, along with niacinamide for supporting your hair’s hydration barrier, according to the brand. “I constantly recommend it to my clients,” she says. It has a no-rinse formula that helps protect against pillow friction while also keeping your hair smooth and shiny, according to the brand. “Beyond the benefits it provides to moisturize and hydrate hair overnight, as well as repairing damage, it also smells like heaven.” For best results, the brand recommends massaging one to two pumps into the lengths and ends of dry or damp hair, and repeating the steps three nights a week.
Malhotra recommends this daily hair oil from Olaplex (one of my favorite hair care brands) as another “great” leave-in for all hair types, despite it technically being a styling oil. Malhotra especially loves the oil’s weightless formula — it’s super lightweight, not greasy, and helps eliminate frizz and damage, she says. It also works as heat protectant, shielding hair from temperatures as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the brand.
If having a dry, irriated scalp is a constant issue for you, Malhotra suggests this strengthening oil from Mielle, which you can use as part of your daily routine or as a more intensive deep treatment. It’s designed to penetrate deep into the scalp and soothe itchy skin, prevent dandruff, and increase circulation, according to the brand. The oil is also infused with biotin, which helps with repairing split ends and with overall hair health. For best results, the brand recommends applying the oil to the ends of your hair before shampooing.
Since buying these popular drops a few months ago to help with hair growth around her edges, my roommate hasn’t been able to stop singing its praises. The drops grow thinning hair (especially the hair around your hairline) by strengthening follicles with a biopeptide blend that improves density, along with fermented keratin for adding protein to the hair strands and sealing in moisture with humectants, according to the brand. The drops are fast-absorbing and fully non-greasy, so they won’t leave a residue that may come off on your pillow, according to Cecred, and have a light, sweet fragrance that reminds me of a subtle, scented hair mist. The drops are best used daily across any style, including braids, extensions, under wigs and more, according to the brand.
Malhotra says Slip is the best brand of silk pillowcases she’s used, and we agree — it won an NBC Select Wellness Award. This pillowcase is made from a pure mulberry silk with a 22 momme (which experts tell us indicates a higher quality of silk), and has a zipper closure that keeps your pillow snug and secure throughout the night. The silk material helps reduce frizz. NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown says she’s had hers for years, and it’s still in great condition. “Over time, probably a couple of weeks at least, I realized my curls were less frizzy and required less styling during those mornings I’m not getting my hair wet,” she says. Although she says the pillowcase doesn’t give overnight results, she says it’s well worth the investment, and feels nicer on the skin compared to other fabrics.
The soft, satin material and no-crease elastic keeps these scrunchies from tugging at your delicate hair strands while sleeping, according to the brand. They’re designed to work for all hair types, since they’re on the large thick side of scrunchies.
Bonnets are my go-to when it comes to protecting my hair — I’ve been using them since I was a kid, and love that they keep my naturally coily hair from getting frizzy at night. This option from Amazon has a wide, stretchy tie at the front that you can adjust based on your preference, and helps to keep the bonnet in place while you toss and turn at night. It has a thick, double layer of satin that’s great for keeping products on your hair and off your pillow, and is reversible, according to the brand. I also love this bonnet’s huge size, which can fit more voluminous styles like afros, braids and more.
When it comes to braids and cornrows, I’m a durag girl through and through. Not only is the material soft on your hair, but the compressive design keeps my braided styles looking neat and fresh for long periods of time. This durag is made from satin, and has a drawstring that you can tie in the front or back, depending on what’s most comfortable. The material is also very stretchy, giving it a soft, lightweight feel that keeps it from getting too tight.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness, home and kitchen and more. For this story, I spoke to hair care professionals about the best ways to protect your hair at night, including product recommendations and advice on how to shop for your own. I also included my favorite ways to protect my hair at night, including my favorite durags, silk bonnets and more.
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