Protect Your Hair Overnight With a Silk Scarf

Sleeping with a silk scarf can protect your hair from frizz, damage, and breakage. This article discusses the protective benefits of silk head wraps and how to use them.

A Silk Head Wrap: Protecting Your Hair at Night

Here at Mulberry Park Silks, we spend a lot of time discussing the many beauty and wellness benefits of silk pillowcases and bedding. And there's a good reason for that, as sleeping on silk can tame tangles, prevent wrinkles, and regulate body temperature. But today we’re going to give some well-deserved love and attention to one of our favorite beauty accessories: our 19 momme pure silk head scarf. Wearing a silk head covering is a great idea for any hair type because it prevents hair breakage and conditions hair while you sleep.

Our silk head scarves are stylish, affordable, and made from the same 100 percent pure mulberry silk (Grade 6A) we use in our best-selling silk pillowcase and bedding collection. They are made in a 19 momme weight in a luxurious charmeuse weave that is breathable and soft to the touch.

How Sleeping In a Silk Head Scarf Can Benefit Your Hair

People with natural hair, curly hair, and any type of hair extensions should consider sleeping in a silk wrap or headscarf. Silk fabric provides the perfect protective environment and fosters healthy hair no matter your hair type:

A silk head scarf protects hair from damage

A silk head scarf is a gentle, friction free surface that protects your hair from tangles, frizz, damage, or hair breakage. If you sleep on a cotton pillowcase, you should definitely use a silk hair scarf; even the smoothest cotton fabric contains tiny fibers that can snag and tear at the strands of your hair. A silk hair wrap protects your hair from overnight damage which encourages hair growth (a silk scarf is ideal for anyone who has undergone hair loss as it protects delicate regrowth).

A silk scarf delivers natural moisture to hair

Like hair itself, silk is protein based. In fact, silk protein -- known as sericin -- is used as an ingredient in many salon and spa-level hair care treatments. Although water soluble sericin is removed during processing, the protein retained in the silk, known as fibroin, is rich in 18 amino acids. If you have frizzy hair or even loose curls, your hair will lose moisture quicker than straight hair. This is due to the structure of the cuticle of curly hair, which is more vulnerable to damage from heat styling, hair brushes, and even your favorite hair tie, all of which can pull and damage it further. Sleeping in a silk scarf helps hair retain its natural moisture both from the fabric itself and the fact that it is a barrier between your hair and your cotton pillowcase, which pulls moisture away from hair.

Preserves your hairstyle with a silk head scarf

If you have an elaborate hairstyle, extensions, or even curls, sleeping in a silk head scarf can help your hairstyle last longer. Silk is a gentle, friction-free environment that will stop tangle formation, control frizz, and keep your hairstyle looking and feeling great.

Types of Silk Scarves for Wrapping Your Hair at Night

The specific style of silk scarf you use on your hair matters less than the proper fit and, of course, the material. You can use a silk bonnet, which is essentially a night cap made for sleeping; these work well with long or thick hair, but they are not a versatile accessory. A generously sized pure silk scarf can be tied in different ways for day or overnight wear (see below).

What is most important is that you choose a scarf made of genuine silk to wrap hair in. Do not confuse silk, which is a natural fiber, with satin, which is a man-made fabric made from petroleum-based nylon or polyester. Satin does not deliver the many benefits of silk; most importantly, satin is not breathable like silk and does not nourish and condition your hair. Along with being pure silk of the highest grade, all of our products at Mulberry Park Silks have been certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® as tested for a variety of harmful substances. You can be sure that our silk products have undergone rigorous independent testing from raw materials through finished products. Also, you can learn more about the differences between silk and satin here.

Ways to Wrap Your Hair With a Silk Scarf

There are many ways to style your hair with a silk scarf. For daytime accessorizing, you can use our silk head scarf tied like a kerchief; wrapped around the top of your head and knotted in back (bandana style); or as a headband.

To make a turban-style head covering that will cover your hair overnight, follow these steps:

1. Fold our headscarf on the diagonal into a triangle
2. Place the scarf on your head with the long side of the triangle at the nape of your neck and the “point” on your forehead
3. Twist the two long ends over each other from back to front then wrap back around to the nape of your neck and tie them
4. Tuck in the “point” into the fold to create the finished turban look which is wonderful for sleeping or wearing out.

Watch Our How To Video Below:

More Tips for Healthy Hair with Silk

Wearing a silk scarf to sleep is just one thing you can do to keep your hair healthy and beautiful. Mulberry Park Silks recommends sleeping on one of our pure silk pillowcases to tame tangles and bedhead, minimize frizz and breakage, and even prevent sleep wrinkles. Our pillowcases are available in a variety of sizes, momme weights, and colors; learn how to choose the ideal weight silk pillowcase here. If you're still unsure, take our silk pillowcase quiz.

We also recommend swapping your regular elastics or scrunchies for our pure silk scrunchies, which hold beautifully while not damaging or ripping your hair.

If silk headscarves seem a bit complicated or tricky to style, you might be the perfect candidate for our long hair reversible silk bonnet. It’s designed to be easy to use while still giving you all the benefits of silk for your hair. Not sure if the bonnet or headscarf is right for you? Take our quick quiz to find out which option suits you best!