Braiding for sleep

**Messyhair** · January 21st, 2011, 07:00 PM

I hope someone can shed some light on how to do a night braid for sleeping. I've tried just a plain old braid starting at the nape, but the hair at my nape is always horribly snarled and tangled in the morning! I use a satin pillowcase, so I can only assume it would be worse with a regular pillowcase.

Am I starting the braid too high? Maybe I should start it a little lower, like shoulder or collarbone length? Does it need oils in it or something to prevent the crazy tangles?

**Dragon** · January 21st, 2011, 07:10 PM

I have the same problem if I wear I single braid at the back of my head. I find a single side braid helps with that.

**MissCoco** · January 21st, 2011, 07:11 PM

Maybe you could try lightly oiling your hair and then putting it in two normal braids in the front? One braid in the back doesn't work well for me, personally.

**Solanil** · January 21st, 2011, 07:17 PM

I have quite short layered hair and I find that putting my hair into two french braids (like pigtails) really helps at night. Normal braids that start around ear level or just below on me tend to become very messy and gets pulled out during the night. It's pretty comfortable to sleep in too and still looks relatively neat in the morning.

**rhosyn_du** · January 21st, 2011, 07:24 PM

When my hair was your length, I did two braids like Solanil. One braid for sleeping didn't work for me until I was somewhere between BSL and waist.

**pepperminttea** · January 21st, 2011, 07:25 PM

I do a single braid at the nape, it doesn't cause much trouble for me, but it might be worth trying something higher, like a bun directly on top of your head - secured in whatever way is most comfortable for you - or a braid started in the same place (lay on your back with your hair coming off the edge of the bed, and start braiding).

**Messyhair** · January 21st, 2011, 07:26 PM

Ahhhh!!! Two braids makes sense... So does a side braid, exposing less nape. Maybe switching the braid(s) position each night would help to prevent long term wear and tear from rubbing on the bedding, too.

**Angela_Rose** · January 21st, 2011, 09:12 PM

I say go for the two-braids option.

My non-braiding-nights default nowadays is a very high bun, run through with a stick, on the very top of my head.

...but my hair is a fair bit longer than yours, so YMMV.

**PrincessTieflin** · January 21st, 2011, 09:36 PM

I used to have this problem as well, I tried every sort of braid I Could think of.. then I bought a sleep cap. No tangles at all

Before I put the cap on tho I braid on top of my head kinda like a pony tail with out the hair tie at the base

HTH

**walterSCAN** · January 21st, 2011, 10:52 PM

I have the nape-tangles problem when I wear sweatshirts-- depending on how you sleep (back or side, I'm assuming), you might try what I do to cut down on tangles from that.

Basically, I braid about 1/3 of my hair across the back of my neck (if you are really talented, try a lace braid... I'm not quite there yet) and then add that to a side braid on whichever side you don't sleep on.