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A portrait of woman with long, straight hair.
Yesley Cabanos, model and flight attendant, shares her tips on how to sleep with rebonded hair. (Instagram.com/iamyesleyc)

How to Sleep With Rebonded Hair

Just got a hair rebonding treatment? Read a model’s guide on how to sleep with rebonded hair and keep your locks in their best shape.

May 17, 2024
Read Time: 3 Minutes

How Long Should You Not Shower After Hair Rebonding?>

How to Sleep WithRebonded Hair >

Switch to a silk pillowcase.>

Condition your hair at night.>

Air-dry your hair before hitting the hay.>

Comb before sleep and after waking up.>

Say goodbye to hair ties.>

Don’t sleep on your hair.>


Not having to deal with frizz is the biggest perk of hair rebonding. However, you might need to change up your whole routine to maintain these straight locks, especially at bedtime. Model and flight attendant Yesley Cabanos shares tips on how to sleep with rebonded hair and keep the strands silky smooth well into the morning.

How Long Should You Not Shower After Hair Rebonding?

One question that pops into everyone’s mind right after getting their hair rebonded is, “How soon can I wash my rebonded hair?”

In general, it’s recommended to wait at least three days before washing your hair post-rebonding. The relaxants need time to fully set and bond with your strands, so the longer you keep them dry, the better. This also means steering clear of activities that introduce moisture to your hair, such as intense workouts, swimming, and sauna baths.

How to Sleep WithRebonded Hair 

Yesley Cabanos, who has been rebonding her hair since she was 18, has her nighttime haircare routine down pat. Lucky for you, she’s more than happy to reveal her secrets for getting a good night’s sleep without messing up her rebonded hair.

Switch to a silk pillowcase.

A portrait of woman with long nails touching a black silk pillowcase.
Silk pillowcases are softer and less porous than cotton pillowcases.

Tossing and turning during your slumber can cause frizz to sneak up on your newly-rebonded hair. The thing is, you can’t force your body to stay in one position all night long, nor should you. Quality sleep is essential for healthy hair growth!

What you can do instead is swap your cotton pillowcase for a silk one as the latter can minimize friction and static on hair. Plus, silk feels so luxurious. Can’t say no to that.

Condition your hair at night.

A portrait of woman applying conditioner to her long, brown hair.
Hair conditioner helps restore moisture and smooth your strands.

If you don’t have much time in the morning, follow Yesley’s lead by washing and conditioning your hair the night before. She says, “Using the appropriate conditioner is essential to achieving smoother and more manageable hair overnight.”

She uses Cream Silk Salon Expert Treatment Keratin Rebond Straight to make her locks shiny and smooth. If your hair looks dry at the ends, you can try using Cream Silk Salon Expert Treatment Keratin Damage Repair, which helps repair every strand. “Don’t hold back or limit the use of conditioners! Apply them generously for best results,” Yesley adds.

Air-dry your hair before hitting the hay.

A portrait of woman with her hair blowing in the wind.
Yesley swears by air-drying her hair as she wants to avoid excessive heat styling.

Never go to bed with damp hair. “When your hair is still wet, it’s more prone to knots,” Yesley explains. To prevent any tangling and damage, gently squeeze water out of your hair with a towel and let it air dry. Try to avoid using heat-styling tools as they may result in hair breakage.

Comb before sleep and after waking up.

Woman brushing her hair with a wide-toothed comb.
Using a wide-toothed comb helps detangle hair without having to strongly pull or snag your strands.

When you have rebonded hair, a few passes through a comb will tame any unruly strands. Make sure to use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush since the former is more effective at detangling strands. In the morning, smooth out your bedhead with the same comb. Quick and simple!

Say goodbye to hair ties.

Woman going to tie her hair into a ponytail.
Let your rebonded hair down as often as possible, especially during the first few weeks after the treatment.

You might think that putting your rebonded hair in a ponytail will keep protected, but the opposite is true. All hair ties leave behind creases on your strands, which will ruin your perfect pin-straight locks. Yesley also advises against braiding, pinning, and tucking your hair behind your ear. Just leave your mane be.

Don’t sleep on your hair.

Woman waking up in the morning with a smile on her face.
Try your best not to press on your rebonded hair while sleeping.

Allow your locks to fall above your head while you sleep to avoid creasing them. This also keeps the rebonding treatment away from your neck area, which can help you avoid irritation or breakouts from oil buildup.

Now that you know how to sleep with rebonded hair, you can literally rest assured your locks will stay smooth and crease-free while you sleep. One last piece of advice to keep your rebonded hair healthy: remember to trim dead ends away every six to eight weeks.

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