Can You Use A Shower Cap As A Bonnet? Top Answer Update

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13 Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wearing a Bonnet Good for Your Hair?

Protection is one of the most important methods you should use to keep your hair healthy. Hats are especially good for your hair as they prevent frizz and tangles during the night and protect hair from breakage and friction.

What kind of hat is better: silk or satin?

Both fabrics are great for your hair. The only difference between the two is the price. Silk is a fancier, more expensive fabric, while satin is the cheaper version. Silk and satin hats give the same results, but if you want a more luxurious feel, opt for silk.

Which hats are the best?

You should look for bonnets lined with either satin or silk to protect your hair from tension. Even caps that are equipped with a drawstring or a tie function help to ensure that the cap stays in place in any case.

A word of advice for everyone: Sleeping with wet or damp hair isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if it’s excessive (think nighttime) you have a high chance of damaging your follicles, causing breakage, or possibly even a yeast infection of your scalp, explains Samantha Padilla, whose clients include Alicia Keys and Victory Boyd. She also suggests changing your pillowcases often.

1. So first, let your wet hair air dry until it’s at least damp (or if you need to go to bed like yesterday, use a blow dryer to quickly get some of the moisture out).

2. If you don’t want to wake up with a particular style, next sleep with your hair loose so it can move freely as you toss and turn. Pulling it up too tight before bed can break the hair and cause a receding hairline, warns Kat Zemtsova.

3. Never skip the product. Sleeping on damp, untreated hair can cause frizz, flyaways and breakage.

1. Sure, you may have tried the two-strand twist before bed, but what about a banded ponytail? It helps lengthen your hair while protecting the shape of the curl, Padilla explains.

2. Zemtsova swears by intensely hydrating styling products that are either olive oil based or specially formulated for textured hair (try Number 4 Texture Styling Crme). After applying this to damp hair, use a paddle brush to fluff it until it’s almost straight. (You may need to blow dry a bit and then part your hair to one side). If you want to wake up with straight hair, comb the rest of the hair to the same side and pin it up with big bobby pins as you go. If you want a curly look, create twist outs.

3. Cover your hair with a large silk scarf or bonnet to prevent flyaways and keep the hairstyle in place until morning. Silk pillowcases also work. Overall, you’ll prevent hair damage and lock in moisture by using any or all of these accessories, Padilla says.

(More products we love for 4A to 4C textures this way…)

Applying products before bed is especially important for coils to give them extra moisture and definition. Zemtsova’s trick: applying different formulas to specific sections of hair.

1. Use a styling product like Davroe Curl Crme Definer from root to tip to keep your curls softer and won’t flatten out while you sleep.

2. Apply a moisturizing product like Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream from the middle of the hair to the ends. The scalp produces its own natural oil, so you don’t have to moisturize the roots.

3. If you’re concerned about straight or frizzy hair, Padilla recommends investing in a silk pillowcase or satin scarf. (Caps work, too!) It protects your curly tresses from being disturbed while you sleep, she says.

4. Per Padilla, you should also use a few products to tone up your morning routine. A leave-in spray like Bumble and Bumble Curl Prestyler/Restyler will prep your waves as both a detangling and conditioning spray. (We also can’t say enough good things about Oribe Curl Gele for Shine & Definition.)

5. As soon as you wake up, Chase advises clients with curly hair to use a diffuser to shape the hair or add a little sea salt spray to further shape the curls. For waves, he recommends running a blow dryer through your hair to remove unwanted moisture, preferably while keeping it upside down to add volume.

6. Finally, use a refreshing spray or dry shampoo at the roots to add a little lift.

(Don’t know your hair type? Want more product recommendations for curly/wavy hair? We’re here to help.)

Joseph Chase, who works with Billie Eilish, Emma Watson and Ashley Greene, suggests you prep with mousse at the roots for added body and a leave-in conditioning spray for the ends. (We love Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse and Briogio Farewell Frizz Leave-in Conditioning Spray.)

1. To wake up with straight hair: Make sure to gently comb through the products with a boar bristle brush. The dense bristles distribute natural oils evenly, making it shinier, less frizzy and more manageable.

2. And if you want to wake up with light waves: Apply a wave-friendly mousse from root to tip (Bumble and Bumble Curl Mousse works great for this), part your hair in two and gently create two or three – strands braids. Be sure to use an elastic without a metal clip to avoid curling at the ends.

3. See you tomorrow morning!

You can try these products and more with a monthly Birchbox subscription. Click here to register today!

Everyone has their own opinion on what protective headgear is best for protecting afro-textured hair while you sleep, but we all agree: wrapping your hair at night is essential. A bit annoying, sure, but protection is key, no matter how aesthetically unappealing it can be. Now that I couldn’t keep wondering, I decided to compare seven of the most popular ways to determine which protective headgear is best for sleeping.

Pillowcases and sheets can leach essential oils into our hair. Those of us with tight curls are probably familiar with the unsightly snagging that can happen throughout the night. Using satin and silk wraps reduces friction between your hair and those otherwise comfortable sheets. Using one of these fibers prevents hair from frizzing, eliminates unnecessary breakage and locks in moisture, allowing you to distance yourself from those long conditioning sessions.

Silk is a natural fiber made from silkworms, it is strong and super shiny. Satin is a weave often made from silk, nylon, or polyester fibers (or a combination of these). If you’re looking for your next slipcover, getting a high percentage of silk is ideal, but for my vegan-to-death homies, fret not: you’ll still get a better hair future if you buy satin over cotton.

So, is a satin bonnet best? Or will the classic do-rag be as good as its reputation? I tested these seven options with my hair in a protective style, then compared the frizz, moisture retention, cost, and comfort that came with each.

1. The classic do-rag

Usually the do rag comes out at night after I have deeply conditioned and set my hair. I know it will be a few days before I do anything else with my hair again, so I try to keep my curls damp for as long as possible. The best thing about the do rag is that the skinny ties tend to stay tied all night, even on my busiest nights.

The disadvantages of this technique are mainly aesthetic. For one, I personally find them hideous, especially when I’ve slipped into lingerie to feel pretty in my sleep. Second, the combination of tying the do-rag tight and wearing my glasses before bed can often give me a headache. It’s also pretty tricky to don a do lob over a big bun, so this classic might not work if that’s your nighttime style of choice.

Cricket Zzzebra Static-Free Beauty Cap, $11, Amazon

I’ve worn protective sleepwear for my hair longer than bras, and I never strayed from my tried-and-true drugstore versions…until this beauty cap came into my life. Since it doubles as a shower cap, I was definitely ready to try it. I had my hair in big twists to wear my hair big and poofy for the next day, so I definitely wanted protection.

The hat felt snug against my hairline but no headaches, which was as surprising as waking up with my hat, bow and all fully on. While the price is quite a jump from the $2 do-rags and hoods I’m used to, it’s worth the protection!

3. Silk/Satin Blend Scarf

I never thought I’d sleep in the big hat I usually wear throughout the day until I saw how cute Zazie Beetz’s character in Atlanta looked when she woke up. I was excited to have another use for my collection of daytime scarves… until I woke up with the scarf on my pillow and a whole lot of ruffles that definitely weren’t there the night before. I would only recommend this in a situation where you end up sleeping without your trusty cap.

4.Satin pillowcases

Satin bedding sounds a lot sexier than it really is. It might seem like lying on a bed of roses in a selfie, but the reality is that while I sleep, the top satin sheet wraps around my neck like a noose or becomes a suffocating prison of body heat, my goodness Feet stick to the sheets. However, satin pillowcases can be a lazy girl with an afro’s best friend. Although swaddling is ideal, it’s less necessary to do it every night if you have satin on your pillows.

When my alarm goes brutally early, I’ll of course hit snooze and pull my curly-hating comforter over my head, but you’d better believe I’m staying true to satin pillowcases because I often don’t even bother putting on each cover . It definitely feels like a bonus if I want to wake up with reasonably decent hair when I have a new overnight guest sunning himself with the satin.

Black satin-edged bonnet, $5, Amazon

The classic hood scores high in terms of cost and ease of use; For less than five dollars, you can slip straight into a bed-ready hat in seconds. The laziness I experience after a full day makes me wish the classic drugstore hood were as effective as it was affordable and simple.

Unfortunately, most of the time, my hood slips into the night, often faster than I fall asleep. The elastic band isn’t particularly tight, which means it’s easy to unknowingly expose your curls. I’ve found that if I wear my hair in an afro for a few days, my curls tend to be placed on top of my head to keep the hood on due to the volume of my hair. If it is in a different protection style? No chance.

6. Sue Maesta Hood

Sue Maesta Hoods, $12, Ricky’s NYC

When I first started testing protective sleepwear, this hood was in the back of my mind and definitely at the bottom of my basket of scarves and shawls. I’d worn it to sleep several times in the past, but it always seemed to slip into the night. After a few disappointing mornings with frizzy hair, I repurposed it as a headband to wear over a rag under a hat during the day.

However, I had to add it to the list as it offers amazing protection when sleeping in rolls. Most do rags and hats are not big enough to fully cover my curlers and hairline and the wraps fall off or give me a headache. This hood is stretchy and big enough to cover hair in rolls, and the opening is a big bonus to allow your scalp to breathe while you sleep.

While there wasn’t a clear winner in my experiment, it definitely pays to have a few options on hand that serve the best purpose for the hairstyle you sleep in, where you sleep, and who you sleep with so you wake up with those curls on that are still stylish.

Image: Kristin Collins Jackson (8)

Yes, a shower cap will keep your hair dry, but it has other benefits. Check out some benefits of the shower cap that will surprise you.

You wake up late in the morning. You rush to the bathroom to brush your teeth and do your hair. Her hair, however, doesn’t want to cooperate.

That’s the last thing you need. Wearing a shower cap would have prevented this annoying situation. Most people mistakenly believe that a cap is only there to protect your hair from getting wet.

While that is its primary function, it is not the only one. There are many benefits of a shower cap that you can take advantage of. Read on to find out why you need to add a cap to your makeup box.

1. Protects your hairstyle

So you have a special event in the afternoon, but for that you get your hair done in the morning. There are too many ways for your hairstyle to get messed up during this time frame.

Sure, hairspray can hold your curls in place, but it can’t fight moisture. When there is too much moisture in the air, your hair becomes frizzy. That’s why you should pull a shower cap over your hair.

It can keep your hair in place and if you have a cotton lined one it can act as a barrier against wetness and moisture.

2. Deep conditioning

To get the most out of your deep conditioner, it’s best to leave it on for a while. However, you don’t want to walk through your bathroom with your hair full of conditioner. So here’s what you do.

Wash your hair as usual, rinse, apply leave-in conditioner and put on a shower cap. The shower cap seals in the conditioner so it can penetrate your cuticles.

It also allows you to get on with the rest of your morning routine without worrying about conditioner spilling all over the place.

3. You can wear it to bed

Do you always wake up with a serious bed head? Putting on a shower cap before going into the hay can actually prevent this. It keeps your hair in one place while you sleep, no matter how much you move.

4. Reduce breakage

When you wake up with a head full of tangles, it can take a lot of vigorous brushing to untie them all. This vigorous brushing will damage and break your hair. This isn’t the only part of your morning routine that’s bad for your hair follicles.

If you have long hair, the best way to keep it out of your face when applying lotion or makeup is to tie it in a bun. If the bun is too tight, hair breakage can occur.

Better use a shower cap. It keeps your hair out of your face without pulling and causing damage.

5. Save your scalp and water

When you take a shower, you will mostly wash everything. But that’s not good for your scalp. It is recommended to clean your hair every two to three days.

If you wash it more often, you dry out your scalp. So what do you do on days when you don’t need to wash your hair? Put on a shower cap.

This allows you to quickly wash all over your body without getting your hair wet and jumping out. It saves on your water bill and also helps the environment.

6. Protect your hair treatment

If you get a hair treatment, if you wet it too often, it will go away. Hair treatments are far too expensive not to make the most of them.

As we can’t control the weather yet, if your conditioner gets wet it may get a little out of control. That’s why you should always carry a shower cap in your purse. It’s the perfect thing to protect your hair when you haven’t thought to grab your umbrella.

7. Wear it while swimming

Swimming is good for the body but hard on the hair. All that salt, chemicals, bacteria and dirt makes a lot of it. A waterproof shower cap can keep all those nasty things out.

It may look a little strange to your beach or pool goers, but the tranquility is worth it.

8. Dye your hair

Hair color tends to fade more and more depending on how often you wash it. That said, if you want your color to last a while, you should stick to the every 2-3 day rule mentioned above.

The shower cap not only protects your hair color in the shower, but also makes it easier to dye your hair. All you have to do is rub in the paint, put the cap on and wait.

This will prevent you from having to ruin a towel and will also prevent the dye from getting onto your clothes.

9. Protection from Tasks

Dusting is dirty work, but someone has to do it. It’s not too big of a deal until you get to your ceiling fan. It’s easy to accidentally brush dust particles into your hair.

Wearing a shower cap protects you from dust, so you don’t hop in the shower and potentially have to wash your hair on a day when you shouldn’t.

Shower Cap Benefits That Might Surprise You

Shower caps do more than just prevent your hair from getting wet while bathing. They can hold your hairstyle in place, help you color your hair, and reduce the chance of hair breakage.

As you can see, there are so many benefits of a shower cap that there’s no reason not to add one to your makeup bag.

Are you looking for the perfect shower cap to protect your hair? Check out our beautiful waterproof cap.

on me. Now I don’t have to wet my hair anymore!”

…”

“I always want to have a shower cap because when I was younger I would always go outside and get some kind of dirt

Read any curly forum, group, or blog and you’ll quickly be met with questions like: Where do I get the most moisture? Which products moisturize the most? What is the secret ingredient for moisture?

Having curly hair is a never-ending quest for moisture, and many naturals suffer from dry hair or brittle ends that then lead to brittle hair and breakage. If you want to give your hair the best possible chance of keeping its length and feeling its softest, you need to moisturize your hair with a focus on your ends.

What is the baggy method?

The baggy method is a very popular technique and a creative solution to locking in your moisture with a Ziploc bag. Many curly hair swear by this method on their way to longer hair. First, you apply a moisturizer to the hair and then wrap it with a ziploc bag, plastic shower cap, or cling film for extended periods of time.

Is the baggy method the same as the greenhouse effect?

Many confuse this method with the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is designed to stimulate your scalp’s natural sebum with your own body heat. You simply add a natural oil and/or butter to dry or damp hair and cover with a plastic cap. I want to make it clear that the baggy method and the greenhouse effect are not the same thing.

Is the baggy method the same as pre-pooing?

The baggy method is also different from a pre-poo as you don’t wash your hair afterwards and this is done on clean hair. A pre-poo combats the effects of cleaning with shampoo, which can be harsh on your strands. It doesn’t seem to matter if you use a moisturizer or conditioner as long as your hair responds very well to it.

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How to do the baggy method

There are two ways to do the baggy method to retain moisture:

Tips – You can choose to only apply the product to your tips. If you notice split ends or dry, brittle ends, try baggying your ends. All Over – Apply the product to the entire hair. The all over method is usually done on freshly washed hair. Apply your favorite moisturizer or a dab of conditioner to all of your hair.

What you will need:

Your favorite moisturizer or conditioner

Ziploc sandwich bags, cling film, a plastic bag, or a plastic shower cap

hair tie

Step 1. Moisturize – Apply a moisturizer or dab of conditioner to your hair (either on the ends or throughout the hair).

Step 2. Cover – Cover your moisturized hair with cling wrap, a plastic shower cap, or a Ziploc sandwich bag secured to your bag with an autless hair tie.

Step 3. Wait – Whether you are treating your ends or all of your hair, leave the moisturizer on for three or four hours or overnight, but no longer as our hair needs to breathe.

You can see The Gloved Natural here applying the baggy method to her ends.

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How Often Should You Use the Baggy Method?

The baggy method is great for softer, moisturized hair, but it doesn’t have to be done every day. Your hair needs time to dry completely. It is not healthy if the hair is constantly wet or damp for a long period of time. Most Curlies and Coilies will wear this overnight for maximum benefit.

do you wear your hair Which method do you prefer?

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