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Gorgeous as it is, coily and curly hair can be complicated. As someone who goes to sleep with perfect curls only to awaken to straightened, flattened hair on the daily, it can often feel like nights are out to ruin us. And while misshapen ringlets are annoying, nothing compares to dealing with full-on matting.

If you're tired of dealing with tough tangles (raises hand), we tapped textured hair experts for their advice. But first, what actually causes matting? "Friction, dryness, and natural shedding are most likely to cause matting," salon owner and hair educator Tish Hankerson explains. Though you can't prevent these factors entirely—especially shedding—you can minimize their impact and reduce the chance of waking up to matted hair. Ahead, the expert-backed steps you can take at home.

Meet the Experts

• Tish Hankerson is a salon owner & educator at Salon Brazyl in Tampa, FL.

• Anjolie Clark is a stylist with Julien Farel Salon.

01 of 06

Wear a Bonnet

While it may not be the most chic, a bonnet will save your curls at night. "Sleeping in a satin or silk bonnet can prevent matting by protecting the hair from friction and moisture loss caused by cotton pillowcases," Hankerson says. "This essential nightly habit keeps curls soft, hydrated, and less prone to tangling."

Today, bonnets come in a great assortment of sizes, colors, and shapes, meaning you can find one that matches your vibe and hair needs. Of course, if you're not into bonnets, you can opt for a silk or satin pillowcase instead.

02 of 06

Adopt the Pineapple Bun and Silk Scarf Combo

The tried-and-true combo of putting your hair in a loose "pineapple" bun on top of your head and tying it with a scarf can reduce the risk of matting. "Positioning the hair at the top of the head minimizes friction that causes tangling and frizz overnight," Hankerson says. "Using a silk scarf [with] a pineapple bun preserves moisture and shine and keeps the hair lifted to maintain volume."

Clark says, "The key is using a large hair tie, preferably silk or satin." As for how to refresh your hair after, she recommends: "In the morning, mist the hair with your favorite leave-in and water mixture before taking your hair out of the hair-tie, and you'll be left with frizz-free, voluminous hair."

03 of 06

Add Oils to Your Hair

Hair is less likely to become matted when it's properly moisturized, so running an oil through your hair before you hit the sheets is a solid preventative measure. "Applying a light natural oil before bed helps seal in moisture and reduce friction against fabrics," Hankerson says. "For fine or wavy textures, lighter options like argan or jojoba oil work best, while thicker curls and coils may prefer richer oils such as castor or olive."

04 of 06

Use a Wide-Tooth Comb

You might not need to do this step every night, but if it's been a few days since your last wash, gently combing through your hair can help reduce the buildup of shed hair that causes mats. Using a wide-toothed comb can make the process go more smoothly and reduce breakage. "Before detangling with any other tool, it’s best to start [raking] through with a wide-toothed comb to break up the larger tangles first," Hankerson notes.

05 of 06

Use a Detangling Spray

After tackling larger tangles with a wide-toothed comb, thoroughly detangling your hair before bed can help prevent matting. Removing shed hairs from your curls with a detangling brush or your fingers prevents more knots from forming as you move around at night. Pro tip: Spritzing a detangling spray all over your hair can make the process much easier. "This step is ideal for all textures as all hair types shed 80 to 100 strands or more per day that gently need to be released," Hankerson says.

Clark agrees, emphasizing the importance of proper detangling during wash and styling sessions: "The foundation to maintaining tangle-free hair is properly prepping the hair while it is wet. Take the time to detangle each section along the way to ensure that every product is getting evenly distributed."

06 of 06

Loosely Twist or Braid Your Hair

For those with longer hair, try plaiting or twisting your hair before bed. The trick is to do so loosely so you don't put any tension on your scalp or pull your hair. "Putting your hair in two loose twists or braids prevents long strands from tangling together, reducing the chances of matting," Hankerson tells us. "This is a great option for thicker, longer curls and coils, when maintaining definition is more important than volume."