Getting your hair in its healthiest shape for your wedding actually starts months in advance. Whether you want to add length for an elaborate upstyle, or want it to look luscious and full for a big blow out, with a little love your locks will be your crowning glory on your big day. Part of showing it some love is about nourishing it from within with the right supplements, and from the outside with the right products. But it also means changing up your routine, to reduce frizz, dryness and breakage in the lead up.
Like skin care, your hair takes time to reach its best levels of health and shine and one of our top tactics is hair wrapping. Curl guru Cathy McNulty, also known as The Curl Artist, is evangelical about the benefits of hair wrapping, especially for brides-to-be. "I advise the brides I work with to allow at least six months before the wedding, but the more time the better. This gives your hair a chance to repair and look fabulous and as Irish weather can be unpredictable, the more hydrated and smoother your hair is, the better the chance of your style lasting from morning until night. However, you can start no matter where you are on your wedding hair journey, and this small change to your daily hair routine will make a huge difference to your hair health." So read on to find out why you should use a silk hair wrap before your wedding, and can literally sleep your way to healthy hair.
What is Hair Wrapping?
Hair wrapping was mostly used by women with curly and coily hair to protect their hair. In its simplest terms, it involves wrapping your hair with a scarf, bonnet or turban (preferably silk) as you sleep to reduce friction, and therefore protect your style and reduce frizz and knots.
What Kind of Hair Does it Suit?
While hair wrapping was popular amongst curly-haired women, it can benefit all hair types. If you use a hair wrap in conjunction with hydrating products, it will stop them from being absorbed by your pillow, so your hair is nourished overnight - a great option for dry hair.
Why Use Silk or Satin?
Using a silk or satin wrap rather than cotton is better for your hair, as curls glide rather than rub against this material, avoiding the frizz that coarser materials can cause. "Two natural textures rubbing against each other with a slightly coarse feel such as cotton, wool, linen polyester creates static and frizz," explains Cathy. "The hair strands rubbing against the coarse texture raises the cuticle, continuously breaking down the delicate fibre of the hair and creating long term damage. So a smooth fabric like silk or satin is better." Silk has other benefits too. "Silk is hypoallergenic, it doesn't absorb skincare or haircare, so all hydration stays locked in. It is also breathable, adjusting to room temperature meaning your head doesn't get hot."
How Does This Keep Hair Healthy?
As well as reducing the damage to the hair cuticle that can come with continuous friction, it can also keep your hair healthy by prolonging your style and reducing how often you need to wash your hair. "Wrapping your hair will reduce the frequency that you have to wash, blowdry or heatstyle your hair, because in the morning, your hair will still look great," says Cathy. "Heat is one of the most damaging things for hair, and this includes hot water. It breaks down the fibre of your hair, causing colour fade and contributes to dull hair." We highly recommend you read our post on How to Tame Frizzy Hair in Time for Your Wedding.
How to Wrap Your Hair
Lots of women, especially those with curly hair prefer the "pineapple method" when it comes to hair wrapping, which means securing your hair on the top of your head in a high ponytail. Cathy who herself has curly hair loves this method when used with a turban or bonnet, which is the easiest way to wrap your hair. "I wrap my silk scrunchie around my hair once to avoid crease marks or tension on my scalp caused by a tight band. I then gently lower my head into a silk turban and gently tuck all my hair inside." You can take this one step furhter and also sleep on a silk pillowcase which ensures the turban glides against the pillowcase while you sleep.
Other Silk or Satin Products to Consider
It's a good idea to introduce other silk or satin products to your routine as well to reduce frizz throughout the day. A silk or satin-lined beanie or baseball cap can significanly reduce frizz when wearing a hat. It's also a good idea to use silk scarves instead of wool where possible, or during winter pop a silk scarf inside your wool scarf to stay warm but also frizz-free.
Products to buy:
- Turban
- Bonnet
- Square scarf
- Silk or satin-lined baseball cap
- Silk or satin-lined beanie
- Scrunchies
- Silk pillow case
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We also have a complete pre-wedding timeline for glowing skin.
