Bonnets, Scarves and Which to Use

When a bonnet is right

Anything you want left alone. Curls, twist-outs, braid-outs, wash-and-gos, loose natural hair, and any style whose volume you want intact in the morning. A bonnet holds everything without flattening it, and a large one accommodates long braids or a full head of curls without compressing them. It is also the easier option, since it goes on in one motion and does not need tying.

When a scarf is right

Anything you want held down. A wrap, a roller set, laid edges, a silk press you want to keep smooth, or the perimeter of a braided style that has started to fuzz. A scarf can be tied with real tension and directed exactly where you want it, which a bonnet cannot do. It is also what you use over a bonnet if you want both: coverage underneath, hold on top.

Getting the size right

A bonnet that is too small rides up and comes off during the night, which is the most common complaint about them and is nearly always a sizing problem rather than a product one. Long hair, braids and thick natural hair need a large or extra-large. A bonnet should sit past your hairline all the way around with no tension at the band. If the elastic leaves a mark on your forehead, it is too tight, and tight elastic across the hairline every night is its own kind of tension damage.

What to look for

A smooth lining, a band that is snug without digging in, and enough room that your hair is not compressed against the crown. Double-layer bonnets with a satin lining and a soft outer are more durable than single-layer ones. For scarves, a long rectangular one gives more tying options than a square, and a wider one covers more of the perimeter.

When to replace

Satin wears out. The lining goes rough and dull with washing, the elastic stretches, and a bonnet that has lost its band no longer stays on. Most people keep them years past that point. Feel the inside: if it does not feel slippery any more, it is not doing its job. Wash them regularly, since they collect product and oil that then transfers back to clean hair, and replace them when the surface goes.