beauty

Sorry, but we need to talk about how wearing this $59 silk bonnet to bed has changed my hair.

 

If there’s one thing we’re all looking for in life, it’s a good hair day hack.

Yes, happiness, purpose and love, too. But mostly a fail-safe way to get great, effortless-looking hair with minimum actual effort.

I think I may have found it.

For all those out there fighting the good fight against frizz, kinks, cowlicks and lacklustre hair, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the Strands of Silk’s Silk Sleeping Cap, $59.

Strands of Silk Silk Sleeping Cap
Image: Strands of Silk.
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silk sleeping cap
Just me and my silk bonnet. Image: Supplied/Amy Clark.

Look, it's basically a hair bonnet. Or a chef's cap. But, a silk chef's cap that has brought me infinite joy and a few extra precious minutes in the morning.

How? By stopping my freshly blow dried hair from being ruined while I snooze. Allow me to explain.

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My forever hair conundrum is: I like to wash and blow dry my hair at night because I don't do well with the heat of faffing around with a blow dryer in the morning. I'm a face sweater, so using anything heat-related before 9am means my full face of makeup and freshly done hair will be damp and limp by the time I walk out the door.

Only problem is, my hair has other plans. Although I sleep on a silk pillowcase, which is meant to keep frizz and baby hairs under control, it's simply not enough for me. Clearly, I toss, turn and sweat in my sleep like I'm running a marathon, and I wake up with what I like to call 'Hagrid hair'.

Please see said Hagrid hair below.

amy clark
Legit, this is my freshly-washed hair after a particularly vigorous night's sleep. SO. MANY. ISSUES. Image: Supplied/Amy Clark.
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My double crown (a.k.a bald patch) aside, for me, waking up with hair like this means all the effort I put into blow drying it smooth the night before was for nothing.

Sure, I can run a straightening brush through it or go at it with a straightener, but I was finding I couldn't replicate that freshly blow dried look.

Until I started wearing a silk sleeping cap to bed. The silk cap I've been using is from an Aussie-owned brand, costs $59, is made from 100 per cent mulberry silk 19 momme grade and comes in eight colours.

You can learn more about why silk can help you get better hair in this episode of the You Beauty podcast below. Post continues after audio.

I use it by twisting my hair up into a loose bun and popping the cap over my head, making sure all my hair is tucked in. You can also try 'plopping' your hair into the cap.

I wear mine with my ears tucked in because I find it helps to keep the mask on throughout the night. Chucking a sleep mask over the top also helps, but be warned, it's a look.

amy clark
I woke up like this. Image: Supplied/Amy Clark.
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Then, snooze, snooze, snooze and wake up with great hair. I'm talking frizz-free, silky, shiny and tousled to perfection.

If you're someone who is always looking to squeeze an extra day in before you have to wash your hair, wearing a silk cap to bed will keep your hair looking better for longer.

amy clark
Here's a terribly lit photo of my hair straight after blow drying it straight. Image: Supplied/Amy Clark.
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amy clark
And here it is the following morning after sleeping with a silk cap on. Good, right? Image: Supplied/Amy Clark.
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If you've got long and thick hair or a lot of curls, you're covered, because the Strands of Silk cap comes in three different sizes. And it's not the only silk cap out there! Here are some other options for your pretty head:

Silke London Hair Wrap, $98.

Silke London Hair Wrap
Image: Adore Beauty.
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Lilysilk Classic Pleated Silk Sleep Cap, $49.

Lilysilk Classic Pleated Silk Sleep Cap
Image: Lilysilk.

Shhh Silk Black Silk Sleep Bonnet, $75.

Shhh Silk Black Silk Sleep Bonnet
Image: Shhh Silk.
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To conclude: is sleeping in a silk bonnet sexy? Not really. Do I give a crap? Absolutely not.

Do you have a great hair hack? Tell us about it in the comments below!

For more beauty and lifestyle stories, follow Amy Clark on Instagram (@theamyclark).

This article was originally published in 2019, and has since been updated.