Can You Put Wet Hair In A Bonnet?

Putting on bonnets on hair has been a form of haircare for centuries. Bonnets are hair accessories that people of any hair type can wear. It protects hairstyles, fights frizziness, locks in moisture, and keeps hair tidy. People usually put bonnets on their hair before bed. Putting those during sleeping will help to reduce the chance of breakage.

Many people take a shower at night and their hair remains wet. But sleeping on wet hair makes knots and tangles results in hair breakage and is more open to bacteria and infection. So, they might want to wear a bonnet while things get confusing. There comes the question: Can you put wet hair in a bonnet? Though it is possible to put a bonnet on wet hair, it is not a good idea to put a bonnet on your fully wet hair. This article will let you know in detail about putting wet hair in a bonnet. Let me help you to put together the ideas about wet hair and bonnets!

Can You Put Wet Hair In A Bonnet?

You can put wet hair in a bonnet. But putting it on wet hair results in bacterial or fungal infections promoting the development of mildew or mold on the scalp by creating a damp atmosphere. Inadequate cleaning and drying of the bonnet between uses is the main cause of this problem. Putting a bonnet on wet hair may get your hair tangled and lengthen the period of hair drying. You get an uncomfortable sleep by wearing the accessory on wet hair. Again, putting wet hair in a bonnet eventually harms the bonnet’s material or fabric which negatively influences the performance and durability of bonnets. So, it is not really a good idea to put a bonnet on fully wet hair.

Before putting wet hair in a bonnet, you should dry your hair by a minimum of 70 percent. This is because wet hair remains in the most fragile condition. Wrapping your wet hair won’t let it dry entirely, will influence the natural texture of your hair, and will give an increased risk of damage and breakage.

If you want to put on a bonnet, keep the hair moist. For that, first blow dry your hair using a blow dryer or using a silk sleeping cap. You can also use a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt for this purpose. It can help to prevent any kind of friction between the hair strands and pillowcase along with removing extra frizz in the process. Sleeping with bonnets on moist hair will let you feel comfortable. So, your hair won’t turn out to be messy in the morning rather stay beautiful and tidy.

Choosing Bonnets To Put In Moist Hair

While choosing bonnets for putting on moist hair, use light and quick-drying fabric material that neither trap moisture nor keep the hair wet for a long period. There are different types of bonnets that you can choose for putting on your moist hair like satin bonnets, silk bonnets, microfiber bonnets, etc. All these materials being gentle on hair do not cause friction or result in any sort of damage during sleeping. It is better to avoid cotton or wool bonnets as these might be harsh on moist hair and result in tangling, damage, and breakage of hair. Let’s explain the bonnets which you can choose for your wet hair.

1. Satin Bonnet

Satin bonnet has several benefits like preventing hair breakage and damage, friction, dryness, textured hair, thinning and tangling of hair strands, and retaining the soft and smooth texture of hair. It also maintains the moisture of hair throughout the night. Curly hair will stay curly after wearing satin bonnets on wet hair. The hair won’t turn unmanageable and wild in the morning. You will get to wake up with your hairstyle which was created at night. Satin bonnets can also help to prevent unwanted breakouts like acne or others. Skin oil and dirt coming in contact with the pillowcase can make hair dirty despite using clean pillowcases. So, you can choose a bonnet made of satin and use it on your wet hair. It will result in more moisture retention and also keep hair hydrated for a longer period.

2. Silk Bonnet

Silk bonnet also has several benefits like keeping the hair smooth, and curls in shape, reducing frizziness and breakage, and resulting in soft and lustrous hair along with maintaining its volume. It is especially suitable for curly hair types as curly hair needs special care. These types of bonnets also don’t result in dandruff and itchiness of hair. You can create a simple yet beautiful hairstyle within a short period after getting up from bed. So, you can choose a bonnet made of silk and use it on your wet hair. It will make your hair easier to manage and less likely to all kinds of damage like breakage, split ends, etc.

3. Microfiber Bonnet

Microfiber bonnet has several benefits like highly absorbing and fast drying capacity which makes it a good go for those who want to dry their wet hair after washing. This synthetic fabric is made from tiny fibers. It is especially suitable for people with oily hair since it absorbs excess oil. So, you can choose a microfiber bonnet and use it on your wet hair. It will result in limited frizz on the hair with less friction on the hair strands keeping the hair cuticle smooth.

6 Easy Steps To Put Moist Hair In A Bonnet

As putting wet hair in a bonnet is not recommended, first make your hair moist by removing extra water with a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt and then follow the step-by-step guide. Following are 6 easy steps to putting moist hair in a bonnet.

Step 1: Flip Hair Upside Down

First, flip the moist hair upside down to display your hair in front of you.

Step 2: Open The Bonnet

Open the bonnet using both of your hands. The hands should be on either side of your bonnet. You have to expand your bonnet as much as possible.

Step 3: Hook Up The Bonnet

Next, hook up the elastic band of your bonnet around the collar of the neck.

Step 4: Stretch Down The Bonnet

Stretch down the bonnet along the length of your hair curls.

Step 5: Hold The Hair Ends Toward The Scalp

Hold your hair ends toward your hair scalp for easily capturing hair inside the bonnet. When most of the hair fits inside the bonnet, move away your hands.

Step 6: Secure And Adjust The Bonnet

Finally, adjust and secure the bonnet on your head. But make sure that it is not extremely loose or tight on your hair.

4 Alternatives To Bonnets For Wet Hair

There are many alternatives when you do not prefer to put your wet hair in a bonnet. Let’s learn about 4 of the alternatives!

1. Apply Protective Serums

You can apply protective serums as an alternative to bonnets for wet hair. It is best to apply protective serums on wet hair. Some protective serums are formulated according to straight and curly hair types while some are suitable to use for all types of hair. These types of serums have various functions like keeping your hair soft, controlling frizz and tangles, giving protection from breakage and damage, and providing shine and smoothness of hair.

2. Apply A Leave-In Conditioner Or Hair Mask

You can apply a few drops of leave-in conditioner as a quick alternative to bonnets for wet hair. Before the application of this type of conditioner, dry the hair using a microfiber towel. Apply it to hair ends only, avoid the roots. It doesn’t take more than one minute to apply the conditioner. The conditioner has various functions like reducing tangles, frizz, breakage, and damage of hair.

You can also use a hair mask that is suitable for your hair type and texture. It is best to apply the mask on moist hair. The application of the mask will provide a shiny and healthy look to hair.

3. Put The Hair Into A Loose Hairstyle

As an alternative to bonnets, and protective serums, you can put your hair into a loose hairstyle which is the simplest way to protect hair. It can be a loose braid, twist, space bun, or very loose ponytail. For making the hairstyles, use soft scrunchies instead of regular elastic hair bands. These loose hairstyles have various functions like preventing split ends, roughness of hair, or hair breakage by minimizing your hair strand’s contact with skin, fabrics, or other factors.

4. Use A Satin Or Silk Pillowcase

You can replace your pillowcase with satin or silk. Satin pillowcases cannot absorb moisture from the hair like that of cotton or linen pillowcases. Using a satin pillowcase results in reduced hair friction, and minimized frizz and breakage by maintaining the shine, moisture, and healthy look of hair.

Final Thoughts

Wet hair is very fragile. Putting a bonnet on fully wet hair is not a good idea as it can cause bacterial or fungal infections on the scalp, get your hair tangled, and lengthen the drying period of hair making it extremely uncomfortable to sleep. It also influences the performance and durability of bonnets by causing degradation of their material or fabric. So, dry your hair by at least 70 percent to make it moist. As a result, the friction between hair strands and pillowcases decreases. It is necessary to choose a light and quick-drying bonnet material that can be made of satin, silk, or microfiber. Follow the step-by-step guide to put moist hair in a bonnet. As an alternative to putting on bonnets, you may try out protective serums, leave-in conditioner, or hair mask, put the hair into a loose hairstyle, or use a satin or silk pillowcase.

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