My routine has been really simple for a number of years.  I just sleep on a satin pillowcase.  I generally sleep on my back so I just fan the hair out to the side on the case and go to sleep.  But the other day I noticed it hangs down the side of the bed on the flannel sheets which I find 'Not OK!'

So how do you girls with very long hair deal with it at bedtime?  

I have tried single braiding my hair, but I hate sleeping on the lump.   My hair is very fine and slippery and likes to slither out of braids in the daytime when I am not lying on them.  So by morning the back of my head where the braid starts looks like a complete mess.

There is another downfall for me sleeping on the braid.  Since my hair is already wavy and tends to frizzy, when I take the braids out in the morning it is HUGE.  :o  It also is much more tangled, very difficult to comb out and put in a bun for work.

I have considered trying two braids, which may be easier to sleep on.  But I am afraid that two braids will just make my hair bigger in the morning.  When I put in a lot of braids for SCA my hair is gigantic when they finally come out.  

The other thought I had was to just get a piece of satin or silk, hem the edges all around and lay it on the bed under the pillows.  Sort of like a table runner for the top of the bed.  I could let that fall down the side of the bed for my hair to rest on without having to go buy satin sheets and risk sliding out of the bed and whacking my head on the nightstand.  ::)

So what do you do?  What have you tried?  What worked and what turned into a horror show?  

I also use a satin pillow case for sleeping.  I usually put my hair into a single braid and either put the braid into a sock or roll the braid up so that it ends at my neck.  

If I want softer waves in my hair than what the braids give me, I will do a 2 strand twisted rope instead of the braid.  This leaves my hair much smoother.

The satin runner sounds like a great idea if you prefer sleeping with your hair loose.  Let us know if that works!

Invest in a set of quality satin sheets!! That's my suggestion. They're even on sale right now at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  ;D

Flannel sheets are MURDER on hair, especially long or fine hair!!! They sap the moisture out of it and tangle it hopelessly. Flannel also generates insane amounts of dust.

All of my boyfriend's bedding was flannel when I met him. Even the pillowcases!  :o  More than enough mornings of waking up with an utter rat's nest on my head convinced me to rush out & buy some satin pillowcases. But not before those infernal sheets took their toll on my hair.  >:( Between the moisture loss and trying to brush out the impossible tangles, my hair suffered a TON of breakage.  >:( Did I mention that I hate flannel sheets?  >:( >:( >:(  :P

Anyway, yeah...quality sheets. I sleep with my hair down also, so I feel your pain more than you know.  :-/

I use a satin pillow case and put my hair in a french braid, but, in order not to get wild big hair, I do not braid it all the way to the end.  HTH 8)

So far, I have managed to sleep fairly comfortably with my hair French or Dutch braided. But lately, the braid has started to develop awareness or something, it gets caught under my back and *yank*, or curls into a lump at my neck.
  I ordered a silk sleeping cap from Tenderheaded a while ago, and am hoping that confining my hair in there keeps it happy and out of my way.
  If that fails, I need to start experimenting with new styles for sleep.

wrote on Jan 7^th, 2006 at 9:32pm:

Did I mention that I hate flannel sheets?  >:( >:( >:(  :P

I think I just found an area of 'hair care' in my regime that needs improvement...cuz, I confess...I LOVE FLANNEL SHEETS!  :-[

I love the way they feel so warm and fuzzy to sleep in, but yes, they do leave my hair in quite the bird's nest upon waking.  I can't believe this, it's like getting hit over the head with a frying pan...all the fuss and care during the day that I do...washing, combing, oiling...and then the night comes and I forget all about the hair!  Now that I think of it, I usually either leave my hair loose, or pull it back to a low pony tail, and I'm not too careful about tangling when I toss and turn (which I do A LOT).  In the morning I am very careful trying to comb the tangles out, but I should be focused on trying to AVOID the tangles...DUH!  I don't know if I could handle the feel of a silk pillow case, though.  Don't they feel cold and uncomfortable?  Do they really make a difference?  Maybe I could just bun my hair before bed, but as Sasha said, I don't like the feel of a lump under me.  Hmmm...

I'll admit it - I LOVE flannel sheets.  I sleep on them year around.  BUT, I use a satin pillowcase.  I like the coolness of the satin on my face, but love the cuddly feeling of the flannel on the rest of me.

I won't give up my flannel sheets - nope - no way.

Phew!  So, I'm not alone!  You make a convincing argument (although you really weren't arguing), warmth of flannel, coolness of satin...I may be able to live with that.

The satin is cool when you first lie down, but it warms up quickly.  Since most satin is woven of man-made fibers, it does not breathe like cotton or silk.  Therefore, it holds the heat in once it gets warm, and most heat escapes from your head.  

Yet another reason I want to keep sleeping with my cozy flannel sheets.  I don't like to sweat in my sleep!
If you do switch to a satin pillowcase you will notice the very first night that your hair isn't such a bird's nest.  I was  completely amazed when I switched.  My hair is a lot less frizzy now.

I am going to try the 'bed runner' though and some of the other ideas here.  I was thinking of making a 'sock' out of satin scraps for my braid instead of using an actual sock.  

Sasha is quite right - satin sheets do warm up quickly.

If satin's not your bag, aim for a set of Egyptian cotton sheets with a thread count of at least 400. These are extremely soft & forgiving on hair, are breathable and retain heat.  ;)

But as far as pillowcases go, I'm afraid that either satin or silk is a must. Especially if you have fine hair. Take it from someone who had to learn the hard way.
   My hair was in near-perfect condition before I was introduced to my boyfriend's flannel sheets....now it is literally covered with broken pieces from crown to tip. It's awful. All that hard work taking care of my hair for nothing!  :'( >:(

I have been using satin pillowcases now for at least 6 months now and love them. They are a lifesaver - or well, at least a hairsaver!

I'll just have to grow out the damage for awhile. *sigh*

My vote is for silk sheets and pillow cases.  I have very dry skin and even on super soft high thread count cotton sheets my skin would get sore.

I have not had one uncomfortable night sleeping on my silk, I can even sleep w/my hair loose and wake up virtually tangle free-with wavy hair!

Check out Dream Sacks website, they sometimes have sales.  I consider them an investment in my hair and skin care, but also my basic comfort level has really benefited.

http://www.dreamsacks.com/

Thanks for the link, Sakina!  I absolutely adore silk and the thought of real silk sheets is just stunning.  I know what I am buying for my hair next!  ;D