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The Shortlist
A cotton pillowcase does two things to curly hair over the course of a night. It absorbs moisture, because cotton is thirsty, and it creates friction every time you turn over. You wake to curls that are drier, flatter on one side and frizzed at the surface.
A bonnet solves both problems for very little money. Satin and silk do not absorb moisture in the way cotton does, and hair slides across them instead of catching. For anyone hoping to make a wash day last four days instead of two, this is the least glamorous and most effective purchase there is.
What separates a good bonnet from a bad one
- It stays on. This is the entire test. A bonnet on the floor at three in the morning protects nothing.
- The band is kind to the hairline. Thin, tight elastic rubs at the edges. A wide, flat or adjustable band is better.
- There is room. Curls should sit inside loosely, not be compressed.
- The fabric is smooth on the inside. Double-lined bonnets are smooth on both faces and last longer.
The picks
How to wear one
Putting curls into a bonnet carelessly can flatten them as badly as a pillow. Gather your hair loosely on top of your head first. This is known as a pineapple: a very loose, high ponytail that keeps the curls above you while you sleep.
Then lower the bonnet over the pineapple, front to back. In the morning, take it off, shake your hair out at the roots and follow the second-day refresh.
If you will not wear a bonnet
Some people cannot sleep in one, and no amount of advice will change that. The alternative is to change the pillowcase.
Care
Wash satin bonnets weekly. They collect hair product and scalp oil, and a bonnet coated in last week's gel will transfer it back. Machine wash satin on a gentle cycle; wash silk by hand or in a mesh bag with a mild detergent, and let both air dry.