Bebelyn says…There is an old mexican wives tale that if you braid your hair at night it will grow faster, I doubt this is true but I would like to know what hairstyle has the most benefit for the hair in terms of preventing damage at night while sleeping…braid, bun or wrapped up???
The Right Brain responds:
That’s an interesting wives’ tale and I can certainly see the grain of truth that may have sparked it.
More breakage = takes longer to grow out
While no cosmetic product or treatment can truly make your hair grow faster, it can help your hair reach a certain length faster by reducing breakage. In other words, the more your hair breaks the more time it will take to reach the length that you desire. So anything you can do to reduce breakage helps you grow it “faster,” in a manner of speaking.
Reduce breakage by reducing friction
Braiding could help reduce breakage because when you wrap your hair in a tight style, the fibers are immobilized and can’t rub against the pillow as you sleep. By reducing the fiber-fabric friction you can reduce damage to the hair. Therefore, the ”best” hairstyle to wear while sleeping is the one that reduces damage-causing friction the most. While braiding may reduce the friction against the pillow it doesn’t prevent fibers from rubbing against each other inside the braid. Theoretically, the best thing to do is oil your hair to reduce fiber-fiber damage. Of course this creates another problem: oil will transfer to your pillowcase. So perhaps the best option is to wrap your hair in some sort of bun cover.
Image credit: http://nopsa.hiit.fi
I’m just throwing this idea out based on our knowledge of hair physiology. Does anyone here have a practical suggestion that they have tried? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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Wrap your hair in a silk or silk like scard
Perhaps a proof read prior to posting, that’s my suggestion. What the hell does “the best option is to where is your hair and wrap it up in some sort of bun cover. I’m just throwing this ideas out based on our knowledge of hair physiology” even mean??? Where is my hair…on my head. :/ Don’t worry I’ll still read, I’m just anal about these things.
That’s what I get for having Sarah Bellum dictate my posts on her iPhone. Damn Siri! Thanks.
I always put a bit of oil in my hair before I go to bed, and I have a silk sleeping cap. Apparantly silk is the friendliest fabric for your hair – reducing breakage? It looks funny though, and if you have long and thick hair like me, it can be a challenge getting it to stay on throughout the night. Another option is a silk pillowcase
Thanks for advices , I never put nothing in my hair but I’ll try.Maria Z.
OMG I am more than exited about having my question actually posted on the “Main” Post Page on your site! I never really took into account the fiber-on-fiber frictin of ones hair but it makes sense! So lube it up and a wrap it, sounds naughty lol but if it works will do!!!
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