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You can do everything right during the day and still wake up with a knot at the back of your head. Tossing and turning creates friction, and hair left loose can twist and matt near the attachment. A two-minute routine before bed prevents almost all of it.
1. Never go to bed with wet hair
This is the most important rule. Wet hair is fragile, and damp hair at the root is one of the main causes of matting around extensions. If you wash in the evening, allow time to dry your hair fully — especially the roots and the tops of your wefts, on a low heat.
2. Brush before bed
Give your hair a gentle brush in sections, from the ends up, holding it above the attachment. This removes the day's shed hair and small tangles before they have a chance to knot overnight. See how to brush extensions properly.
A small brush on your bedside table makes this easy — the Mane Baby Mini is handy for exactly that.
3. Tie it up — loosely
Loose hair moves around all night. Keep it contained with:
- A loose braid — the best option for most people, as it keeps hair aligned
- A low, loose ponytail — secured with a soft scrunchie, not a tight elastic
- Two loose braids — great if you have a lot of hair
Keep it loose. A tight style puts tension on your roots and the attachment points while you sleep. Avoid high ponytails and buns on top of your head, which you'll lie on.
4. Use a silk or satin pillowcase
Cotton creates friction as you move, which roughs up the cuticle and causes tangles. Silk and satin let hair glide, so there's less friction and less frizz in the morning.
5. Hydrate the ends
A small amount of extension-safe leave-in conditioner or heat-protective serum on the ends before bed helps prevent dryness. Keep it away from the roots and wefts.
In the morning
- Take your hair out gently
- Brush from the ends up in sections
- Style as usual
Common mistakes
- Sleeping with wet or damp roots
- Skipping the brush before bed
- Tight ponytails, buns or braids
- Hair elastics with metal joins that snag
- Using heavy product on the roots overnight
The routine
- Hair completely dry
- Quick brush, ends first
- Loose braid or low ponytail
- Silk or satin pillowcase
Want the full picture? Read our complete at-home aftercare guide or how to stop extensions tangling.