Sleeping With Hair Extensions: Do's and Don’ts

Sleeping with hair extensions requires a bit of care to keep both your extensions and natural hair looking good and feeling healthy. Here are the do’s and don’ts for sleeping with hair extensions—whether they're clip-ins, tape-ins, sew-ins, or keratin bonds.

✅ DO’s:

1. Brush Your Hair Before Bed

Gently brush your hair with a soft bristle brush or a loop brush to detangle any knots. This helps prevent matting and tangling overnight.

2. Braid or Wrap Your Hair

Put your hair in a loose braid, two braids, or a low ponytail to keep it contained. This minimizes friction and tangling while you sleep.

3. Use a Silk or Satin Pillowcase

Sleeping on silk or satin reduces friction compared to cotton, which means less frizz, fewer tangles, and longer-lasting extensions.

4. Wear a Silk or Satin Bonnet or Scarf

If you want maximum protection, wrap your hair in a silk or satin bonnet. This adds an extra layer of smoothness and helps keep your style intact.

5. Keep Hair Dry

Never go to bed with wet or damp extensions—it can cause tangling, matting, and mildew. Make sure your hair is completely dry before sleeping.

6. Use a Leave-In Conditioner (Lightly)

A lightweight, leave-in conditioner or a few drops of hair oil on the ends can keep extensions soft and manageable. But don’t overload—too much product can cause buildup.

❌ DON’Ts:

1. Don’t Sleep with Loose Hair

Leaving your extensions completely loose increases the chances of knots, matting, and split ends.

2. Don’t Use Tight Hairstyles

Avoid tight buns or ponytails while sleeping—they can pull on the bonds or wefts and cause stress on your roots.

3. Don’t Use Cotton Pillowcases

Cotton can cause friction and draw out moisture from your hair, leading to dryness and tangles.

4. Don’t Skip Your Nighttime Routine

Taking a few minutes each night to care for your extensions will keep them looking beautiful longer and prevent damage to your natural hair.

5. Don’t Ignore Signs of Matting

If your extensions start to feel matted or tangled, don’t just sleep on it—detangle gently with a brush and your fingers before bed.

Bonus Tip:

Clip-in extensions should always be removed before sleeping to prevent breakage and discomfort.