The easiest night care routine for brittle hair

Life is too short to have boring hair, said someone who knew the joy of having a healthy mane. But what does one do when it turns dry and brittle? Is it possible to avoid breakage while one sleeps? Well, the answer to all these questions is Yes! A simple but consistent night-time hair routine can work wonders for those luscious locks. And the best part is that it doesn’t have to be an elaborately-long ritual. By following some simple steps at night, you can take care of damaged hair and transform it too.

Why does hair become brittle?

There can be many reasons for brittle hair, the most common being pollution. But using too many hair products, hair treatments, poor diet, or even washing it too often can result in hair that has lost its natural shine and strength. Such hair is more prone to breakage and looks dull. It will also have more split ends and will be vulnerable to getting tangled more often. We all know that hair also loses its natural oils with age.

The night is the best time to let your hair heal from all that it goes through during the day too. By inculcating easy yet effective night-time habits, you can care for your hair without spending too much time or money on maintenance.

Easy steps towards healthier hair

Tie it up

Brittle hair can get really messed up if you sleep with your mane all over the pillow. The wise thing to do, in order to avoid friction and breakage, is to tie it up with a scrunchie or braid it. Make sure the scrunchie is not too tight on the hair and if you’re going for braids, keep them loose. In addition, a silk scrunchie would be way better as it won’t absorb moisture from your locks as cotton does.

Silk is the way to go

The same goes for a silk pillowcase. Even if you turn and toss a thousand times in bed, a silk pillowcase won’t damage the hair. You can actually stop worrying about tangled hair in the morning once you switch to silk. And you also get no “bed head” in the bargain. And if you sleep with a tight bun or a pony, stop it right now. When you tie hair too tightly, especially at night, it leads to more breakage and puts so much stress on those roots. Go for a loose bun or a loose braid.

Avoid all that friction

If you are someone who likes to take a shower before bed, please throw out the towel - as in your cotton towel – and go for microfiber. It helps decrease friction between hair strands, thus making them less vulnerable to breakage. Also, avoid drying your hair vigorously. Instead, just gently squeeze out the water and then air dry it.

Hydrate the hair

Dry damaged hair is always seeking moisture and you can provide it with the same using light conditioning products at night. Overnight hair masks work great as do serums. Smear some serum on your hair to avoid coarse and kinky hair in the morning. Make sure you cover your head while sleeping to keep all the goodness locked in.

Detangle always

Another important step that can help brittle hair is to never go to bed without detangling it. Experts suggest brushing/combing releases natural oils that condition your tresses while you are sleeping. So, keep the brush moving while you Netflix and chill. But don’t overbrush! Around 100 brush strokes are enough to let those healthy oils flow.

Wet hair’s a no-no

Beauty experts also swear by never ever sleeping with wet hair. The elasticity of the hair strands is compromised when they’re wet, which further weakens the hair cuticles and leads to breakage during the night. So, if you’re taking a shower at night, make sure your hair is dry by the time you hit the bed. You can also use dry shampoo at night and give it ample time to work its way through the dirt. By morning, you’ll be all set to rock any hairstyle you want.

Massage that scalp

Those with rough, wiry, and fragile hair can also benefit from oil at night. Use a light oil and massage it into the scalp while also slathering some over the hair ends. This smoothes out the cuticles and lends a protective shield to damaged hair. Coconut, jojoba, and argan oil are all good choices for a mane that desperately needs moisture and some love.

More moisture

Finally, it’s a good idea to leave some moisture for the hair at the end of the day. For that, all you need to do is throw in some leave-in conditioner even if you don’t shampoo before bed. It will help in smoothing out the hair cuticles and seal in the moisture. It’ll also keep the frizz away as you sleep away to glory.

Apart from these easy steps, a good night's sleep and a diet rich in Vitamins A, C, D, AND E is always beneficial for those with damaged hair. Brittle hair can be hard to manage but taking small steps everyday or rather every “night,” you can improve its texture and overall health to a great extent. Create a simple night routine using one or all of the steps above and watch your locks get gorgeous.