Sleep! We all want more of it, especially in these fast-paced, plugged-in, doom-scrolling times. The sleep industrial complex has created a booming industry, with countless products and recommendations promising to help you have the best rest ever – some legit, others pure marketing spin.

We all know by now that a genuinely good rest is essential for our bodies and minds, and it can impact our hair health too. When it comes to healthy, shiny locks, most of us focus on products, regular salon visits and styling tools – all important things that do help. But lying down, closing your eyes and clearing your mind is also a powerful but simple thing you can do for your hair.

During sleep, your body carries out many essential restorative processes – regulating hormones, supporting immune function and facilitating tissue repair. And yup, these processes extend to your hair and scalp as well. Research shows that disruption of sleep and the body’s natural circadian rhythms affects the growth and shedding of hair follicles.

One key link is hormone and stress‑regulation: Poor sleep quality is associated with elevated glucocorticoids (such as cortisol) and changes in growth‐hormone signalling. High cortisol levels are known to interfere with the normal hair‐growth cycle, pushing follicles into the resting phase earlier than they should.

When your sleep is good, your body’s regenerative systems work more effectively – so follicle stem‐cells are better able to maintain the growth phase, your scalp has healthier tissue turnover and you are less likely to shift prematurely into shedding. Conversely, when your sleep is poor or inconsistent, these processes are compromised: you may see slower growth, more shedding, weaker hair structure and in time thinner hair.

In short: While hair doesn't 'sleep', the nightly downtime is when many of the supporting systems for hair growth and strength are most active. Consistent, quality sleep helps maintain the hair‑growth cycle, stabilise hormone and immune function, and keep follicles functioning optimally – and lack of it creates conditions where hair health is more vulnerable.

In even shorter: go the fuck to sleep!

Skipping sleep, or tossing and turning on rough pillowcases, can interfere with these processes, leading to split ends, frizz and hair that looks lacklustre by morning. Many stylists recommend a silk or satin pillowcase, which reduces friction and keeps hair smoother while preserving hairstyles overnight.

In a similar approach, silk and satin bonnets and wraps have been used by Black people for generations to protect hair texture, preserve styling and retain moisture (especially important for curly/coiled hair; this is a great history of their significance).

• A reminder: avoid going to bed with wet hair, as it can weaken and damage your strands. If your hair is damp, use a microfibre towel or let it air dry partially.

• Brush gently before sleep to distribute natural oils from root to tip. It's also a much nicer pre-bed ritual than doomscrolling!

• Consider a nourishing overnight hair mask from Davines (they have loads), or scalp oil like Oribe's Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, a few times a week for extra hydration.

If you're extremely online and your screen time is through the roof, you've probably seen those viral heatless hair hacks that promise bouncy curls or effortless waves by sunrise. While they may seem gimmicky, overnight styling can offer less heat damage and daily styling stress – and, if you do it right, hot hair without the morning rush.

Here are a few 'hacks' we've seen that give your hair texture and volume, but also protect it from the usual wear and tear of heat styling.

• Twist Braids: Twist damp hair into two or three braids before bed for soft, natural waves
• Twist Bun: Wrap damp hair into a loose top bun and secure with a (preferably silk) scrunchie; it creates a voluminous, carefree curl pattern.
• Heatless Curls: Using specially made soft flexi rods (or a sock!) on dry hair can give you defined, bouncy curls without touching a curling iron.