Grease on my sheets has never been an issue for me. Perhaps it's because I usually massage oil directly onto the scalp; or maybe it's because I have very dry hair that sucks it all in before I go to bed; or perhaps, my satin cap stops grease from flowing out.

Whatever the case I was asked the question so I decided to take a poll on the Facebook page to see what everyone else does and this was the overall conclusion:

1. Apply oil to the scalp


Oils are great for sealing moisture in, however, if you're going to bed and you're worried about grease massage the oil directly onto the scalp to stimulate blood flow to the area and hence hair growth. Neno Natural's Hair Growth Stimulator is perfect for that kind of task.

2. Wear a satin cap

They can be very effective. I have been using "Stay On Satin" bonnet and for the most part think they are good except for the black version. The black version runs and mixed with hair oils it has permanently spoilt my expensive cotton sheets. 

If your bonnet feels too tight, open another pack, they don't seem to all be identical in size but that's not a big issue for me because I bought them cheaply. 

3. Double up - silk scarf plus satin bonnet

This method works for some. Personally, I don't like to get too hot at night so I wouldn't opt for this, I'd rather have grease on my sheets!

4. Use a special pillow case

If you want your hair loose and free some opt for a satin pillow case that they wash weekly.

5. Prepare hair hours before bed

From my mega oil summary you'll know that some oils soak right through the hair fibre. This is true but the process takes some time. If you want the oil to soak into your hair before bed prepare your hair at least three hours before beddie bye byes!

6. Apply oils and moisturisers only in the morning

That way you hair is less greasy before bed. That said if your hair is dry at night you should at a minimum spritz it with water and apply a very small amount of moisturizer.

If your pillow does get very greasy, read How To Wash Grease Out Of Bedsheets.

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.


You might also like:

• How To Wash Oils And Hair Grease Out Of Bedsheets 
• Sex And Satin Bonnets - What To Do If Your Partner Hates It!

At some point, we have all made these mistakes. Managing natural hair is very different to managing relaxed and it does take a little time to get the hang of it so don't worry if you're still learning.

1.     Not Moisturizing Daily

Our hair is naturally very dry. If you moisturize it in the morning, it will be dry by evening especially if it’s a very warm day and you were wearing your hair loose. 

To keep your hair soft you need to moisturize it daily with water, a good moisturizer and if it needs it, an oil or butter to seal.

2.     Thinking Protective Hairstyles Are Only For Winter

Protective styles protect your hair especially the ends from breaking and splitting. Our hair is most vulnerable when it’s flying loose rather than when it is pinned up, bunched up in a twist or in a braid.

In winter, the air can be very dry and the wind intense so protective styling helps to prevent exposure to these extreme elements. In the summer, if it’s hot but not humid your hair can also get very dry so protective styling is actually ideal for both extremes. In fact, I find my hair gets more dry and even wiry on very hot days rather than in winter.

You should use protective styling whenever the weather is too hot, too cold or windy because it helps with all extreme weather changes that make hair more vulnerable.

3.     Following Someone Else’s Regimen Without Adapting It For Your Own Hair

It’s completely normal to do this. Especially for someone who had relaxed hair for as long as I did, you don’t know what to do with natural hair. You end up following your favourite YouTuber or your best friend because you don’t know what else you should be doing.

What you should be doing is trying everything out and if it doesn’t work on your hair: changing it, adapting it or ditching it until you discover what works for you.

4.     Not Trimming

So many people in the natural hair community are so obsessed with length that they don’t trim at all. The result is that they have thick roots but if they pull a bunch of hair out they only have 5 strands at the longest length. In some cases it can look a little extreme (and even silly).

Trimming hair helps with health and growth. Neaten the ends up when they get messy or trim a little to neaten every 4 to 6 weeks as standard.

5.     Braiding & Weaving Too Often

I absolutely have nothing against braids and weaves. However, your hair does need a rest. 

If you move from one set of braids or one weave to the next without a two week gap, at least, in between, you don’t get to observe your hair’s condition.

Your hair edges could be getting thinner and thinner and the extensive plaiting may also be thinning your hair out. This was the reason I went natural to begin with. Combining braids and relaxer thinned my hair out very badly. By having a gap between braids I discovered the issue and took what was at the time the drastic measure of going natural.

6.     Prioritizing Length Over Health & Enjoying The Journey

Being natural shouldn’t be about your next length goal because that sucks the fun out of it.

Whatever length of hair you have, enjoy it. I have never had a length goal, only a desire to keep my hair healthy. Of course everyone wants to observe growth but if that is your sole focus then you won’t enjoy the days when you’re in a TWA or transitioning. Just enjoy it!

7.     Not Developing An Anti-Tangle Regimen As Hair Grows

As your natural hair grows it will get more tangles and your regimen has to change to accommodate that. Your wash routine and your night time routine especially have to account for the fact that loose strands will tend to tangle and it will drive you mad.

• How to prevent tangles?: 8 Ways To Prevent Natural Hair From Getting Tangled
  
• For detangling tips: —How To Detangle Natural Hair
  

Can you think of more treacherous mistakes that we make? Then make a comment.

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.

This tip is from Ms. Dalton:

Pillowcases and sheets will get oil and grease on them at times. There is a quick solution for this problem:

Once you notice that oil has soiled your pillow case or sheets put baby powder (any one will do even a cheap powder); rub the powder over the stain; the talc in the powder will absorb the oil then proceed to wash. It works every time..

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.


You might also like:

• Sex And Satin Bonnets - What To Do If Your Partner Hates It!
• 6 Ways To Protect Your Pillow And Bedsheets From Grease

Okay, call me naive but I thought when I asked the Facebook page about what they do if their boo hates the satin bonnet I thought most folk would be like "he doesn't care"!

The good news is that most guys aren't bothered by satin bonnets, however, some guys simply don't like the look. I don't know why. My Harry isn't bothered by it at all. He's worn one to bed a couple of times to support me. He's a real keeper that boy!

First, don't worry if your boo doesn't like it, you're in fairly good company. There seem to be two solutions:

1. Switch to a satin pillowcase
2. Talk about it until he understands why you need it.

Questions I asked the Facebook page:
Click a link to read the responses and to add your two cents!

• Okay, so have any of your husbands or boyfriends admitted they don't find your bonnet sexy? What was your solution?!!
  
• Has your satin bonnet ever led to an intense argument between you and your boo? Worse, a breakup?
  

Sleeping with a satin cap and/or using a satin pillow case has two main advantages for natural hair:

1. It stops your hair from drying out

Cotton pillowcases suck moisture out of hair, dry hair is more prone to breakage. Satin helps you to retain moisture within your hair.

2. Satin is very smooth so there is less abrasion

Cotton fibres are rough compared to satin so as you toss and turn, all that rubbing can cause hair fibres to break.

Personally, I have a cotton pillow case but I cover my head in a satin cap. I have in the past used both a satin cap AND a satin pillow case and I didn't think combining the two made much difference.

What do you do? Do you use both a satin pillow case and a satin cap? Or do you secure your hair with a satin doo-rag and double that up with a satin cap?

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.

I was debating whether or not my hair grows faster when I am asleep and decided to do some research. This is what I found:

1. The body repairs itself better during sleep
It's going to be very hard for anyone to prove that the rate of hair growth is faster during sleep than during your waking hours simply because hair grows very little during any particular day. 

What can be said is that when we sleep the body repairs itself and detoxes. It also makes sense that during the day when you are up and down juggling a hefty schedule and tearing muscles in the gym, hair growth will be less of a priority for your internal systems. We've all heard the old adage that kids grow when they're sleep, so why not hair? 

There does not appear to be direct scientific proof for faster hair growth during sleep but this is what I can find conclusive evidence for: 

2. Stress can lead to hair loss
Not sleeping enough can cause or exacerbate stress. Stress itself is linked to hair loss. 'Hair loss is nearly always the consequence of an internal disturbance' (belgraviacentre.com) e.g. stress. 

If you're stressed or sleep-deprived or both your immune system is weaker and amongst all the functions your body has to deal with it's not going to prioritise your hair.

3. Less sleep and you'll eat less healthily
Can you believe that a study at the University of California, Berkeley has actually shown that poor sleep lowers the ability to make good food choices? 

Using functional MRI scanning, subjects were asked to rate their desire for certain foods; when they were more sleep deprived they were more attracted to less nutritious food! 

The mineral and vitamins present in a healthy diet are needed for hair growth. If your body is lacking in vitamins and minerals it uses them up for important functions first (e.g. liver and kidney operation) and for less important functions (e.g. hair growth) last. If there isn't enough left over: so long good hair!

Regardless of what scientists say, I know I don't feel good when I haven't slept enough, I do eat worse and I feel all round less healthy - that cannot be conducive to retaining beautiful hair.

Follow me @NenoNatural and check out Neno Natural's Haircare Store.

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.