How To Save Matted Slept On Curls

At least twice a week I wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Well, either I wake up on the wrong side of the bed or my satin bonnet* does!

It usually goes something like this, I peek my eyes open to realize that my layer of defense, my satin bonnet* has spent the night somewhere next to me or buried under the pillow.

Oh don’t worry, my pillow case winds up very well moisturized with shea butter* and oils but my poor curls are usually a matted, dry and tangled mess particularly if my hair was not twisted or set the night before.

So what’s a girl to do when waking up to a curly disaster? Here are a few things pointers on how to save your style.

Wash n Go

When time is of the essence, many curly girls simply hit the reset button for their curls and revive their curls with a quick wash & go.

After a quick finger detangle, hit your strands with water and your preferred conditioner to revive those curls. For many curly girls, it is their go to method and truth be told, it is also the simplest way to save your slept on strands.

Re-Seal  & Reset

If time is of the essence, you may not have time to complete a wash & go but you must replenish any moisture lost to your pillow.

To replace the lost moisture, mist your hair with a water based moisturizer. I mix 1/3 conditioner, with a squirt of oil and  2/3 water to quickly revive my strands.

Divide your hair into sections very lightly misting, stretching and setting each section with twists, braids or flexi rods*. Be sure to mist extremely lightly just enough to coat the section and quench your thirsty hair. You do not want to overdo it, or it will take forever for your hair to dry and set.

If you do it right, it should take about an hour to air dry, or 15 minutes under a hooded dryer*. If you don’t have a hooded dryer* you can also speed up the process by using a hand held hair dryer* on your set curls. Hold the dryer at least 6 inches from your braids or twists being sure to use cooler settings to avoid heat damage.

Pick It Out

You woke up next to your bonnet and you only have moments to spare? Finger detangle, use a small amount of a water based moisturizer and pick it out with a wide tooth comb* or a hair pick.

Nothing is more awesome and breathtaking than a massive, gravity defying afro! You may get stares but live it! It is ok to let your afro steal the show.

You can jazz up your new ‘fro with a headband*, or hair clips. You can pin some hair up for a cute look, or even a funky frohawk. Some curly girls rock a hat propped on their short cropped style.

However you choose to tackle a bad curl day, don’t worry. While you are obsessing over having not having perfectly groomed curls and coils, someone else is over your shoulder admiring your crowning glory just the way it is.

Spritz a little water based moisturizer, shake and go, don’t even worry about it. You can also use flax seed gel and aloe gel to smooth and moisturize your edges which gives you a more polished look.

Accessorize & Go

There are so many options when it comes to accessories and they are a quick stylish fix for bad curl days.  Accessories can provide effortless swag to remedy many a hair disaster and let’s face it, they also help you disguise the fact that your hair is not on point!

Headbands* – Headbands* come in all kinds of materials and colors and can hold your hair back or hold your hair down and can also help in completing your look.

Flowers – A flower can also brighten up any curly crown and they are feminine and always pretty! No matter if you choose fresh or plastic, adding a flower to your natural mane is always a plus.

Beanies – Beanies and head wraps are another option. Wearing them allows you to leave just a little hair out. Some curly girls will wear a satin bonnet* under their head wraps to protect their strands from friction and damage that can be caused by wool.

You can do mini twists, or a large goddess braid to the side to keep the ends of your bangs protected. Be sure to replenish any lost moisture with a water based moisturizer and seal with oils* or butters* before wearing beanies and head wraps.

The next time you wake up and your pillow case is well moisturized, but your curls are a dry and  tangled mess, follow these tips to help revive your hair and make your hair wearable for the day.