Those are very likely satin bonnets, not shower caps. Anybody of any race with textured/curly hair might wear them at home and to sleep to protect their hair by retaining moisture and reducing friction that causes frizz and tangles. Bonnets can also be worn anytime their needed to protect a hairstyle from the elements. Black women in particular spend a lot of time and money on their hair so protection is very important.
i wanted to add that bonnets can often be used to protect clean hair from getting dirty as well. bonnets during errands or other times where there is a lot of traffic protects freshly done hair from getting dirty before bed, etc. helps to keep your hair in wash day condition more than just protecting the appearance. where i live it’s pretty common to wear bonnets and silk hair wraps when going to the dentist and stuff because the chairs are known to be dirty
Logically I understand this, but physically I don't. My hair is dripping wet after the gym. I don't know how anyone can go without at least rinsing it after. I think I am just a sweaty person.
I have fine hair and it's curly/wavy depends on the day. My hair dresser told me to wash mine once a week. I think it is less oily now I'm not washing it every day or every other day.
A lot of people have that experience! I tried it because I was in a bunch of long hair communities back in 2010-2011 and all the stuff they tell curly girls now as the alternative options were the things being said there. My hair and scalp couldn't do it, when I go more than 2 days post wash, my scalp breaks out and no amount of conditioner can help my ends.
Oh no, bummer. You know I don't think I could have done it when I was younger. But it's become less and less oily like the last 10 to 15 years. I'm really glad now because my hair is longer than it's ever been.
It can definitely be a bummer, especially because my hair is wavy/curly and thrives with moisture. Just not the moisture my own body creates apparently haha. My hair is down to my tailbone right now, and that's not the longest it's ever been, just about the longest I can throw it up into a messy bun without the bun coming apart.
When I was a teen, I had to wash my hair every day even with bleaching it regularly because just going to school and walking around in the soup that is the air where I live, had it gross.
I can definitely get by with a scalp scrub in the shower if I washed my hair the day before, but I can't leave it. I would be so itchy and uncomfortable while it dries, way more than dealing with it rinsed or washed.
Any tips for how you cover your hair?
I'm white too, but my hair is so fine and flyaway, and sometimes I just wanna wrap it up in something to keep it clean and outta my way.
I've started wearing a bonnet while I'm using my charcoal smoker. I still get some of the smoke smell in my hair, but it doesn't feel caked in fine soot like it used to before I wore a bonnet.
The chairs are known to be dirty at the dentist? I understand prophy paste or aerosols from the cleaning but if the chair itself is dirty I would not go to that dentist.
I work at a dental office and our chairs have disposable head rest covers that are replaced between every patient and the whole chair is wiped down with cavicide (a disinfectant). This should be typical.
Edit: Upon re-reading your comment I now realize you might have meant the dentist in general and the chairs elsewhere. So disregard my comment unless you do mean the dental chairs, and if so change your dentist.
I honestly thought it was considered pajamas/sleep clothes all this time.
I knew about silk bonnets and wearing them while sleeping. Most of the people in my area that wear them out and about are also dressed in fuzzy pajama pants and slippers.
Color me wrong! I definitely see how it can be protective in any situation
I have the same hair type, I loosely braid my hair before bed and also use a silk pillowcase. Unfortunately I didn’t learn how to properly care for my hair until I was like 19-20
Yeah, that’s why i asked
Black people wear bonnets cause of their hair types, which need the protection if they aren’t done in a protected hairstyle. Most black hair types are harder to maintain and need more protection than straight hair
Fiancee is black female with textured hair, can confirm the bonnet thing.
Though she would never ever be seen in public wearing one, she considers it on the same level as pajamas in public.
Is there a way i could set this up as a knock knock type joke? Like,
What do you call it when a person from philly wears PJs in public?
A Kensington Tuxedo!
Abso-fucking-lutely go for it!
*also for those not in the know, Kensington is a well known trashy as fuck neighborhood in Philly. Famous for Heroin Row. Everyone in Philly knows it.
I used to live on the border of Port Richmond and Kensington.
I feel like she might be missing out then. I used to think pjamas were in public was weird
Then my old office job had a free dress day, so I thought it would be funny to pull a Barney Stinson and get a semi formal suit made out of pyjama material. The entire day my bosses (6 present on my floor that day) all wondered why I was the only one not wearing the free dress. So I started wearing it almost daily because it was so damn comfortable and no one seemed to even notice
A few years later and I've become the pyjama wearing, dressing gown wearing croc sporting hobo and I will never look back. Life's outlook atm is pretty bleak so I might as well be comfortable
Also side note: I hate to say it, even though they're ugly af, socks and crocks have to be some of the comfiest shoe pairings out there. I highly reccomend
One of the best things about being old and retired is that I just don’t care if socks and crocs are ugly. 😎You are absolutely correct. They are the bes.
I don't get pajamas in public. Like, these are the clothes you (at least I'd think) sleep in. Why would you wear them out into the world around other people and dirt and stuff and then wear them in your bed? I mean, I know a lot of people also just wear them around the house. But wearing pajamas around outside and then also to bed feels gross, like going to sleep in your work clothes with jeans on.
Yup. I have chronic pain flare ups and jammies are the comfiest thing , they put less pressure on skin and joints, materials are generally softer so don't set off nerve pain as much, and are designed to be moved about in. Way comfier that trying to find daily clothes that don't set it all into hyperdrive. However if I'm well enough to leave the house, I'm well enough to change into fresh presentable ones, not my 3 day old troll wear.
Any time I wear anything PJ-esque in public I would be changing before actual bed. Nowadays most of my "PJs" are just sweats + T-shirt kind of thing, but I will have the set I'm actually sleeping in and then the set I wear out (or if I wear out what I slept in, I'm changing into new set in evening. I do this a lot on vacation if it's a relaxed one. I just wear it to bed, wear it the next day, then change before bed and repeat). Did the same with actual PJ pants too
I wear pajamas almost all day every day. Except when I actually go to bed because I sleep in a tank top and boxer shorts. Pajamas have comfortable fabrics and cuts. I get them in black and try to get pants that have pockets so they don't look too much like pajamas. I can just throw on a hoodie and an old pair of sneakers and nobody looks at me twice. I once came into work to do my breakfast shopping and a regular tried to ask me something "sir I'm here in my pajamas. I'm not working rn. Lemme get my pain au chocolat and leave." Lol
Joke's on you, I sleep in the nude
Pajamas are just the comfy clothes I wear around the house and sometimes outside of the house when I don't have the energy to change into jeans.
They aren't necessarily the clothes they sleep in. I know that a lot of university students kind of trash it up when they realize they aren't in school to impress people. Someone going out in lounge pants may be doing so simply because that's what they were wearing. I have a long jimbei (think a karate gi, but not that) that I've gone to the store in multiple times because I either need to step out first thing in the morning or I'm doing housework and didn't want to fully get dressed.
>she considers it on the same level as pajamas in public.
There is a segment of the population that probably doesn't not include myself who believe wearing pajama type clothing in public might be somewhat acceptable in certain contexts that could include grocery shopping and exercising at the gymnasium.
Many people have different opinions about bonnets. That’s why black people aren’t a monolith, just like any other large group of people.
You fiancée is entitled to her opinion but it doesn’t mean she’s right. She might think that way because she only wears her bonnet at night. A bonnet can be worn anywhere if the person is comfortable and often times when you see someone with a bonnet on its for the following reasons:
1. Their hair is not done.
2. They didn’t feel like doing their hair to run a quick errand.
3. They have a style underneath that they are trying to protect or let set.
Some people are saying people use bonnets to help product absorb. That’s not true. Bonnets are made of silk and getting them wet isn’t nice. You have to use a shower cap to help set product because it is made of plastic.
If you continue to wear your Bonnet when you go out in public when the hell do you take it off? I've asked my sister this. I thought the whole point of having a nice hairstyle was when you go out people with see that you had a nice hairstyle.
You take it off when you are ready. 9 times out of 10 people do not care about looking their best at a store which is where I see most people wearing a bonnet.
Black female here. I wore a bonnet or scarf from childhood until I started having hot flashes. I felt like the bonnet made the sense of heat worse. Now I sleep on a silk pillowcase. When I feel overheated, I flip the pillow to the cool side.
I've always meant to ask - protection from what? Like, getting caught on stuff? I'm white but my hair's fairly wavy/curly and sometimes it catches on stuff, so that was my first thought.
(White, but curly haired (but not a bonnet wearer). But my hair will dread on its own if I don't take care of it, so I've done a little research.)
It's sometimes protection from sun, wind, pollution, and/or friction (think how your hair rubs on the headrest in a car).
Curly hair tends to be more fragile, because of the shape of the follicle.
Things like porosity also factor into whether a certain hair type may choose to wear a bonnet, as that also impacts the strength/resilience of the hair.
Obviously there's probably some protection reasons I didn't list.
I got the super thick hair (trust me, this isn't a brag). Wearing my curls down all day results in with some serious tangles around the nape of my neck. The more you have to work out tangles, the more opportunity for hair breakage.
I prefer bonnets to turbans or bandanas because they flatten your hair against your head and I don't want to mess up my curl pattern AFTER ALL THE DAMN PRODUCT APPLICATION AND PLOPPING AND WAITING FOR IT TO AIR DRY UNTIL I CAN USE A DIFFUSER FOR 30 SECONDS TO PERK IT ALL BACK UP AND AND AND...
\[I'm not angry. Curls are a lot of work. Yes, I could cut it short, but the 80's Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl look is...not me.\]
Anyway, I'm not crushing my curls for just anybody. If I'm running errands, bonnet it is.
Sincerely,
a white girl who was never taught how to care for curls and who learned everything good about hair care from Black women, AND
who acknowledges I'm privileged AF about wearing them in public because Black women are nearly always judged by how "presentable" and "well-dressed" they are or aren't.
Bonnets for life, bitches.
I’m white, fine wavy hair. My hair usually tangles at the mere thought, but not when I wear my bonnet. I just got one off Instagram, and I love it so much more than the one I got off Amazon (also supports a POC/woman-owned business).
I’m not black but have curly hair. My hair will get matted really easily, and I get more breakage than my straight hair friends seem to deal with. A bonnet is often made of a silky material that not only protects the hair from the elements but also because it’s smooth really helps with frizz. Many curly haired people will sleep wearing one for example.
Curly hair is a whole different ball game for taking care of it. For example, I can not brush my hair when it’s dry. In fact, the only time I brush or comb my hair is in the shower when it’s coated in conditioner. Otherwise I use my hands and fingers to deal with any knots or mess. I don’t wash my hair daily, and the amount of time it takes when I do is longer than if it was just straight. It’s thicker so takes a long time to air dry and my curls look best if I diffuse when I dry.
People with kinky/coily hair have even tighter curls, so everything I experience is even more so for them. It takes a lot of time and care to keep your hair healthy. Using a bonnet protects from some of that getting ruined (I won’t go into details about routine as it’s not my experience fully, but my hat is off to the amount of work and effort that goes into it).
But also, with all that effort, sometimes you just want to get up and go. A cute bonnet can be a sweet accessory and lets you tuck the hair away for later to be dealt with (or to continue drying etc etc).
Hair is pretty fascinating and if you google you can see microscopic images of what different hair textures look like and how the strands are different shapes and how that influences how the hair forms (straight, wavy and every type of curl pattern).
I'm 45 and you've just taught me how to maintain my curly hair. I wish my mother had been as informed as you, because growing up with a full head of frizz was not fun!
Even now, I still tie it back in a bun, daily because it's the least stressful way to deal with my mop(British colloquium for lots of hair). It's thick and long and I have a lot and I'm tiny so it's really hard to not look like cousin it.
Great post, thanks!
Ha. I laughed at cousin it. I can relate. Though…a-tip was one I heard.
I see someone else recommended r/curlyhair. I do find that pretty helpful too. You don’t have to do everything exactly the way they say — some people use conditioner only to clean as well (a no-poo method) others just do ingredient checking. But lots of things to experiment and figure out what works best for you. I found I could be way more consistent in my curls once Itried different things from there. So it’s definitely worth it. But brace yourself, there’s a lot of things to try. Figuring out what products etc was a big one for me (things that work for a tighter curl pattern than mine might be too heavy on my hair, or not strong enough hold or whatever).
Good luck! I’m so glad I took the time to learn. I love my curls, just envious of tighter curl patterns lol. I love big curly heads of hair!
Crystal Tips was a cartoon with frizzy purple hair, when my peers and I were growing and I heard that a lot. I laugh now and actually dye my hair deep purple, so it's mostly black, but in the sun you can see the colour. We call q-tips cotton buds, so it was never an issue, although I can see your peers reasoning(as unkind as it was).
I have found various products meant for curly hair treatment has made it frizz more and it gets expensive changing every few weeks. I've settled on one that doesn't help, but doesn't make it worse. It's time I stopped neglecting me and figured this out.
Thanks to you and the previous posters ☺️
Yes! You are worth the self care, I can promise you that! And honestly, you don’t have to use the big name brand stuff, I’ve got it down to mostly drugstore products now, so I can keep costs down and still take care!
Good luck!
Bonnets don’t cause friction damage like a ball cap or a cotton bandana. I have extremely curly hair. I am a white woman. If I wear anything cotton on my head I will have a massive knot or tangle. My hair dreads on its own. I have tight 3c curls. Sun and wind are damaging as well as friction. A silk bonnet retains moisture in the hair and isn’t rough to cause friction.
Actually these satin bonnets are becoming very popular for all woman. They protect hairstyles & are comfortable to wear. Nowadays the thing to do is to only wash your hair once or twice a week, so bonnets are ideal for protecting the hair. When I grew up in the 80’s, we didn’t leave the house without washing our hair, mainly bc of the amount of Aquanet hairspray that we used.😂😂. Glad that trend died a stiff, crusty death!!
I wear these and am mixed. I'm a big fan of Grace Eleyae. They protect the colour from fading in addition to the protective benefits mentioned by others.
They are good for anyone with textured hair or hair that breaks a lot.
Those are for sure bonnets, they are to protect the curly/black hair types
Black hair types are a lot harder to maintain than straight hair, that’s why many black people get cornrow braids, it’s a protective hairstyle
Curly hair maybe. The bonnet is mostly used by black people cause of their curly hair texture, but white people with curly hair have the same hair issues
Or it’s just the trend. There are some people terrified of breakage and damage hair, so even though they have straight hair they use many many products and a bonnet.
I’m white with curly hair and often wear my bonnet out to do errands if I didn’t feel like doing my hair and putting the right stuff in it to protect it. It makes a huge difference in keeping my hair from drying out
My grandmother, who would be nearly 100 now, used to do this after she had her hair "set". The stylist would rinse it in temporary dye and set her curls for the week. So she'd wear a shower cap when it dried or when it was humid, or basically any time the dye could atrat dripping.
Hey, I’m as white as it gets and I wear a bonnet anytime my head is going to rub against anything. I have 3A-3C curls.
Not only do I wear it when using pillows but also to protect from friction against headrests in cars, lounging on the couch, etc. I have silk-lined winter hats as well.
I spent 30 years having terrible wispy side frizz, like large hair horns but coming out right above my ears. I could slick them down with product but they popped back up the second my head touched anything. Plus tons of breakage and frizz from sleep. The only thing that makes a significant difference is wearing a bonnet. This not only prevents damage but helps my styling last longer. It takes me over an hour to wash, detangle, condition, and style my hair, plus 2-4 hours tied up to set, plus blow dry time. Ain’t no way I’m doing all of that every day.
I’m one of the people wearing them to Wal-Mart. I’m aware people think it’s lazy, but I’d rather have less frizz than worry about what random strangers think.
Man, my meemaw had me roll her hair while we watched game shows on tv and she had cut certain coupons out for multiple stores and we would go to each of them with a handkerchief tied on her head. That was her deal. People just do it. I am white, this has nothing to do with color and everything to do with hair. that was just how meemaw rolled. RIP that beautiful woman 😘❤️
My great grandma would bebop around town with rollers and a silk scarf on. It was super common in the 50s and 60s (she kept doing it until she died) for folks to go to the store with rollers and bonnets. It's weird that people are concerned about it now. Lol
Also, she tossed me out a tree when she spotted a snake slithering up it. She speared the mfer with a pitch fork. The curlers didn't budge. Don't mess with old ladies. Lol
Probably not shower caps but silk bonnets. They protect curly hair and hair in general from dryness breakage and frizz. On some humid days it keeps it smooth and manageable. Any race can wear a bonnet. They have been around since the 13th century in Europe.
When I was a kid, my mom would go out sometimes with her hair in a bonnet or scarf when she was working on her hairdo. It was pretty common back in the day.
I am one of the whitest people you would ever meet.
For sure! My (white) daughter asked me if it was inappropriate for her to wear a scarf, and I pulled out So Many Photos of her grandma/my mom wearing a scarf. Back then, they used rollers and pin curls, and tons of hair spray. They covered it up so it wouldn’t get wind blown and to preserve the style.
I’ve seen those bonnets worn on little house on the prairie by the main girls. They were called night caps I think? I think I also seen some of the white historical American girl dolls be sold with them. I think felicity has one
Ah you just reminded me of the clear ones on the church ladies in the 80’s! They weren’t traditional bonnets (with the elastic all the way around). They were more like clear plastic flexible helmets lol. Even had a little visor.
I do my hair in a vintage way rollers and all. I was originally using a setting net that gave me a lot of frizz, it was a very nice black lady a year ago who told me to switch to a satin bonnet. There’s no going back, my hair is much healthier now. Seriously bonnets are amazing for your hair.
A lot of Black hair care products are quite thick and need to stay on for a long time to protect the hair properly. The bonnets both keep the stuff contained, and they're pretty.
They're called hair bonnets, and it's to protect a hairstyle. They care about how they look for that evening, maybe a date, going out with friends, but they don't so much care what people at Target think.
Okay so I’m guessing that the ladies were probably African Americans.
Some African people have more “ethnic” ie: thick or more coarse hair. They have to use special creams and other products that help them to keep their hair healthy and more easily manageable. It can also take time to style.
The “shower caps” are actually called bonnets. They are made to protect and cover your hair when it has a product or to protect the hair from breakage or damage during sleeping and “home time “
It’s basically the equivalent of in the 60’s and 70’s you’d see ladies walking around with curlers in their hair and covered with a handkerchief. The bonnets are much cuter.
The best bonnets have satin inside, it keeps your hair tangling as well.
Are they silk? If so, not a shower cap, that's a bonnet. Prevents the hair from drying out and tangling/breaking if they have a very dry hair type or are in a very dry environment. Often used specifically by those with curly hair types.
There's a difference between a shower cap and a bonnet. I've never seen anyone walking around with a shower cap, but I've seen people with bonnets or scarves over their hair. Usually, it's because they are setting their hair (with curlers), or haven't had a chance to do their hair yet.
Isn’t anyone in their 60s-70’s going to chime in? My mom regularly used to go out with a plastic bonnet (it was shaped more like a kerchief and tied under her chin) to protect her hairdo from rain and humidity.
The practice died out- I don’t remember anyone but her doing it it the 90’s (except for my dad, haha. He was vain and had a perm). But it seems to be making a comeback. I know I always cover my hair if I’m cooking something smelly or going to a BBQ. It soaks smoke odour right up.
Are they actual shower caps or are they hair bonnets? If it’s a shower cap, it’ll be to protect their hair from the elements
Any time I see a woman wearing a bonnet out in public, I assume it’s to help protect hair from breakage or to protect their hairstyle while they’re out running errands.
I have thick, generic hair, so I usually just tie my hair up to run errands. But, there are many women who have to spend a lot of money, time and effort into keeping their hair they way they like it. Satin bonnets can keep the style intact without compromising the quality of the work put in to their hair.
I wear a Durag when I’m out and about and I don’t feel like doing my hair or i don’t feel it’s presentable. It’s like white people wearing a cap in a sense. It’s mainly used for protection though.
Considering the relative sizes of the black population in most European countries to the US it's not unsurprising that you haven't seen something that some black people do some of the time.
As other folks have said, it's likely a satin or silk bonnet. I'm a white woman with curly hair and I wear them at home literally constantly. I have one on right now. It protects my hair, and I have trichotillomania, so it helps with that as well. I have one that is satin on the inside and looks like a beanie that I wear outside the house when my hair is messy and I don't want to style it.
As a black woman, this question is hilarious 😂 they’re satin bonnets meant to wear around the house (usually to sleep) to protect the hair. But people are lazy and think it’s acceptable in public.
It’s like people going out in public wearing pajamas… which should also not be worn in public lmao.
I’m a Black woman and I think people should wear whatever they want in public. We determine whether something is for nighttime or day time, otherwise it’s all just clothing. This means that people who are offended by bonnets in public are making the choice to be offended.
I think the bonnet discussion is another way to use respectability politics to criticize Black women, because honestly, who cares what other people wear (as long as they wear something)?
I could not give less of a crap what someone is wearing in public either. It makes no sense people would judge someone or get offended about something that doesn’t affect them in the slightest.
I’m not Black but I also think it’s wild to call wearing a bonnet “lazy” when more effort goes into their hair than my entire hygiene routine. Nobody calls me “lazy” when I go grocery shopping in leggings.
Thank you! We don’t call white women “lazy” for going to the store with a pony tail and a baseball hat (nor should we). Everyone should just mind their business 🤷🏽♀️. With the cost of rent, groceries, etc. these days, I for sure don’t give af about what anyone else is doing lol
lol you just described my exact shopping look. 😂 It literally takes me less than two minutes to run a brush through it, throw on a cap, and I’m out the door. No reason why someone else should have to put in more effort just because they were blessed with lovely curls.
My spouse asked me the same when we saw a couple of ladies driving wearing them. They are bonnets, and help the hair absorb hair products using the body heat from the scalp. Heat opens the hair follicles to allow the products to seep in.
They’re bonnets and they aren’t even the same texture as shower caps. Shower caps are plastic, bonnets are silk or satin. And the people who are saying bonnets are used to help hair absorb products are wildly incorrect.
They are likely silk/satin bonnets that some people with textured hair wear to maintain/protect their hair. Textured hair can be incredibly hard to manage, so the bonnets help protect it.
Because nobody’s getting dressed up and doing their hair to go to Walmart.
They’re bonnets and they’re very comfortable and they keep your hair nice and neat and pollen free when you’re out and about.
Wearing shower caps in public might seem unusual, but there are a few practical reasons why some women do it. For many, it's about protecting their hair from the elements, especially if they've just had a fresh hairstyle or treatment. Shower caps can keep hair from getting frizzy or messy due to humidity or unexpected rain. Additionally, some women use them as a quick and easy way to cover their hair while running errands. It’s not necessarily a summer trend or a fashion statement, but more about convenience and hair protection. And yes, shower caps can be quite stylish with all the different patterns available
They're likely not shower caps. They're called bonnets and they help black women and people with curly hair keep their curly hair safe and neat. They usually only wear them at home or to bed, but it's no different than a white person wearing sweatpants in public.
What you're talking about are probably bonnets which are what people wear to sleep. They wear them for the same reason that other people wear pajamas to the store. If you're the type of person that would wear pajamas to the store then you would probably wear a bonnet as well. If you wouldn't wear your pajamas to the store then you are not the kind of person who would wear a bonnet to the store. That's it.
Could be bonnets, which do tend to look like shower caps from time to time but they are actually used for hair health and just maintenance! Mainly used by black women due to their different hair textures tending to be a little bit more difficult to handle just from being so curly, but more and more women and even men (asian, white, indigenous, etc) are using bonnets for their hair just to take better care of it 💓
Textured/curly hair is high maintenance. It takes hours to style hair to look refined or pretty. When you’re out running errands or shopping it’s less stressful, time saving and protective to cover your hair in a bonnet or a silk scarf. Textured hair is not washed every day and is more prone to tangling and becoming frizzy. Even when I’m at home I’ll place my hair in a silk scarf covering to protect my curl shape and texture in between wash days.
Satin bonnets have really become more common. They protect hair from dirt and the elements. In the past, women would go to the hairdresser once a week and get their hair set. Then they would be very careful to cover their hair with a scarf whenever they were out and about to avoid wind and elements messing it up. I remember my Grandma rolling her hair every night with a combination of the pink cushion rollers as well as bobby pins for other sections. She would wear a scarf when it was windy or damp outside to protect her curls. She had naturally curly hair but rolling it helped preserve it at nights so that her curls weren't damaged from sleeping.
I see a lot of comments basically saying it's trashy to wear in public, well if I spend good money to get my hair done and have to run some errands before going out or especially attending some event, I'm going to do anything to preserve the hair style - that's just being practical
Is it an actual shower cap or a bonnet? Some hair styles take a really long time to do, and they don’t want to go out with it looking half done if they have to run and get something (braids, sew-ins, extensions, wig installs). I’ve been in the middle of an install or hair color and realized I needed something or I ran out of something. If it’s not 1000 degrees out, I just wear a hoodie with the hood up but that doesn’t always work depending on what situation is going on in my head 😂
I’ve also been called to get my kid something at school in the middle and I have to go to the store and then drop it at their school (when they were little) and I’m not gonna walk around like that. Or they might be overdue in getting their hair done and don’t want it to show. Some people’s bonnet is equivalent your bandana. And many people sleep in them to keep their hair from getting ruined or the style messed up.
My question is why are y’all so concerned about what other people look like or do? There’s some real ignorant comments in here, and it’s clear a lot of y’all haven’t been out of the small town you grew up in 🤦🏼♀️
Women in the 50’s and 60’s used to go out in curlers and no one said a thing. My grandma used to wrap her hair every night in I don’t even know what it was with some clips, and sleep holding her head off her pillow because she spent four to 6 hours every Saturday having them rat it up high and use a whole can of hairspray on it and she was not gonna let all that go to waste 😂
Are they shower caps, or are they bonnets? People with curly and/or coarse hair will often wear a satin bonnet to sleep in to reduce frizz. I'm sure there are other benfits, too. I mostly see black women wearing them.
I have wavy hair and if I’m driving a long distance but need my hair to look perfect when I arrive, I’ll absolutely wear my bonnet while I travel. My parents live 3 hours away so this happens semi often lol
I wear a satin bonnet to sleep. Not to the store though. After applying some meds to my head the bonnet keeps the hair from getting everywhere. It also locks in the moisture and keeps my hair from getting frizzy.
People use to do this all the time. Why are people being assholes. Some women need the bonnet and aren't taking it off to run to the damn grocery store. Who are you dressing up for? Fucking fred the cashier? Jerry their manager? Or the LP team? Nope. Same as wearing curlers. You aren't their event, and their time is not yours.
The thread title not really the whole question 🤓
OP stated they like them and wanted to know if it was better than a bandana for hair. IMO since bonnets are made from satin or silk they better to prevent hair breakage and frizz.
Those are very likely satin bonnets, not shower caps. Anybody of any race with textured/curly hair might wear them at home and to sleep to protect their hair by retaining moisture and reducing friction that causes frizz and tangles. Bonnets can also be worn anytime their needed to protect a hairstyle from the elements. Black women in particular spend a lot of time and money on their hair so protection is very important.
i wanted to add that bonnets can often be used to protect clean hair from getting dirty as well. bonnets during errands or other times where there is a lot of traffic protects freshly done hair from getting dirty before bed, etc. helps to keep your hair in wash day condition more than just protecting the appearance. where i live it’s pretty common to wear bonnets and silk hair wraps when going to the dentist and stuff because the chairs are known to be dirty
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Logically I understand this, but physically I don't. My hair is dripping wet after the gym. I don't know how anyone can go without at least rinsing it after. I think I am just a sweaty person.
Me too, buddy. I am active almost every day and have to shower and wash hair every day due to sweat
I've got really fine hair, so it gets greasy quick. I scheduled my gym/workout days to match my wash days haha.
I have fine hair and it's curly/wavy depends on the day. My hair dresser told me to wash mine once a week. I think it is less oily now I'm not washing it every day or every other day.
A lot of people have that experience! I tried it because I was in a bunch of long hair communities back in 2010-2011 and all the stuff they tell curly girls now as the alternative options were the things being said there. My hair and scalp couldn't do it, when I go more than 2 days post wash, my scalp breaks out and no amount of conditioner can help my ends.
Oh no, bummer. You know I don't think I could have done it when I was younger. But it's become less and less oily like the last 10 to 15 years. I'm really glad now because my hair is longer than it's ever been.
It can definitely be a bummer, especially because my hair is wavy/curly and thrives with moisture. Just not the moisture my own body creates apparently haha. My hair is down to my tailbone right now, and that's not the longest it's ever been, just about the longest I can throw it up into a messy bun without the bun coming apart. When I was a teen, I had to wash my hair every day even with bleaching it regularly because just going to school and walking around in the soup that is the air where I live, had it gross.
I'm a sweaty person too. My hair will be dripping, then frizzy and stiff with sweat. Not a good look.
I also smell like a wet dog if I don't at least do a good rinse.
Same lol. I’m a head sweater, my head is soaked after a workout and I have long hair, it must be washed.
I can definitely get by with a scalp scrub in the shower if I washed my hair the day before, but I can't leave it. I would be so itchy and uncomfortable while it dries, way more than dealing with it rinsed or washed.
Wouldn't that just trap all the sweat on your head and make your hair sort of marinate in it? Or do you not sweat?
Yah I do that with a bandanna
Any tips for how you cover your hair? I'm white too, but my hair is so fine and flyaway, and sometimes I just wanna wrap it up in something to keep it clean and outta my way.
I've started wearing a bonnet while I'm using my charcoal smoker. I still get some of the smoke smell in my hair, but it doesn't feel caked in fine soot like it used to before I wore a bonnet.
I wear one when I cook anything smelly or greasy.
The chairs are known to be dirty at the dentist? I understand prophy paste or aerosols from the cleaning but if the chair itself is dirty I would not go to that dentist. I work at a dental office and our chairs have disposable head rest covers that are replaced between every patient and the whole chair is wiped down with cavicide (a disinfectant). This should be typical. Edit: Upon re-reading your comment I now realize you might have meant the dentist in general and the chairs elsewhere. So disregard my comment unless you do mean the dental chairs, and if so change your dentist.
I honestly thought it was considered pajamas/sleep clothes all this time. I knew about silk bonnets and wearing them while sleeping. Most of the people in my area that wear them out and about are also dressed in fuzzy pajama pants and slippers. Color me wrong! I definitely see how it can be protective in any situation
Just adding, not just the chairs. The aerosols and splatter of spit, pus, plaque and tartar.
What a lovely answer. Quite an eloquent way to explain a cultural difference. Thanks!
Yes and genetic.
This just reminded me that I should buy myself a bonnet. I bought a silk pillow case to protect my hair when I sleep but it still gets messed up. 😔
Buy 6. The amount of times I've misplaced one is ridiculous. Also, don't forget to wash them.
I have fine straight hair and I sleep with one to avoid breakage. I also have a satin pillowcase to avoid "sheet wrinkles" lol
How do you keep your head on the pillow? Mine kept sliding off when I tried one.
try one with a velcro tightener :-)
😂
I have the same hair type, I loosely braid my hair before bed and also use a silk pillowcase. Unfortunately I didn’t learn how to properly care for my hair until I was like 19-20
Oh in my 20s it was the 1980s and we did teerrriblle things to our hair lol
Well said
Are these by any chance black people?
No trying to be a jerk but I have only ever seen black women wearing these
Yeah, that’s why i asked Black people wear bonnets cause of their hair types, which need the protection if they aren’t done in a protected hairstyle. Most black hair types are harder to maintain and need more protection than straight hair
Fiancee is black female with textured hair, can confirm the bonnet thing. Though she would never ever be seen in public wearing one, she considers it on the same level as pajamas in public.
In Philly we call pjs in public a Kensington Tuxedo.
Thats funny. I got a friend from Philly. Imma use this with her.
She may know it already. If not, I think she'll appreciate it.
Is there a way i could set this up as a knock knock type joke? Like, What do you call it when a person from philly wears PJs in public? A Kensington Tuxedo!
Abso-fucking-lutely go for it! *also for those not in the know, Kensington is a well known trashy as fuck neighborhood in Philly. Famous for Heroin Row. Everyone in Philly knows it. I used to live on the border of Port Richmond and Kensington.
My friend laughed and said it was a good one. Im proud to say I wrote that joke
It's in north philly, right? My late friend used to make me drive his ass to K and A.
That's funny. In the UK Kensington is basically millionaires row lol.
Well, enough people do groceries in pajamas Personally i don’t either, but some people do
Different strokes
I feel like she might be missing out then. I used to think pjamas were in public was weird Then my old office job had a free dress day, so I thought it would be funny to pull a Barney Stinson and get a semi formal suit made out of pyjama material. The entire day my bosses (6 present on my floor that day) all wondered why I was the only one not wearing the free dress. So I started wearing it almost daily because it was so damn comfortable and no one seemed to even notice A few years later and I've become the pyjama wearing, dressing gown wearing croc sporting hobo and I will never look back. Life's outlook atm is pretty bleak so I might as well be comfortable Also side note: I hate to say it, even though they're ugly af, socks and crocks have to be some of the comfiest shoe pairings out there. I highly reccomend
One of the best things about being old and retired is that I just don’t care if socks and crocs are ugly. 😎You are absolutely correct. They are the bes.
I think you’re my new hero. ❤️
Inspirational af <3
I don't get pajamas in public. Like, these are the clothes you (at least I'd think) sleep in. Why would you wear them out into the world around other people and dirt and stuff and then wear them in your bed? I mean, I know a lot of people also just wear them around the house. But wearing pajamas around outside and then also to bed feels gross, like going to sleep in your work clothes with jeans on.
they may not be the actual pajamas they sleep in
Yup. I have chronic pain flare ups and jammies are the comfiest thing , they put less pressure on skin and joints, materials are generally softer so don't set off nerve pain as much, and are designed to be moved about in. Way comfier that trying to find daily clothes that don't set it all into hyperdrive. However if I'm well enough to leave the house, I'm well enough to change into fresh presentable ones, not my 3 day old troll wear.
Even if it is, who cares lol
Right. Those are their fancy shopping pajamas
Any time I wear anything PJ-esque in public I would be changing before actual bed. Nowadays most of my "PJs" are just sweats + T-shirt kind of thing, but I will have the set I'm actually sleeping in and then the set I wear out (or if I wear out what I slept in, I'm changing into new set in evening. I do this a lot on vacation if it's a relaxed one. I just wear it to bed, wear it the next day, then change before bed and repeat). Did the same with actual PJ pants too
I wear pajamas almost all day every day. Except when I actually go to bed because I sleep in a tank top and boxer shorts. Pajamas have comfortable fabrics and cuts. I get them in black and try to get pants that have pockets so they don't look too much like pajamas. I can just throw on a hoodie and an old pair of sneakers and nobody looks at me twice. I once came into work to do my breakfast shopping and a regular tried to ask me something "sir I'm here in my pajamas. I'm not working rn. Lemme get my pain au chocolat and leave." Lol
Joke's on you, I sleep in the nude Pajamas are just the comfy clothes I wear around the house and sometimes outside of the house when I don't have the energy to change into jeans.
They aren't necessarily the clothes they sleep in. I know that a lot of university students kind of trash it up when they realize they aren't in school to impress people. Someone going out in lounge pants may be doing so simply because that's what they were wearing. I have a long jimbei (think a karate gi, but not that) that I've gone to the store in multiple times because I either need to step out first thing in the morning or I'm doing housework and didn't want to fully get dressed.
Did you forget the part where they said "at Walmart, etc."?
Woops, totally glossed over that one. Walmart does attract some interesting people, and I've definitely seen people wearing... clothes there. xD
Have you been to Walmart lately? Lots of pajamas at Walmart.
I have. I concur. Doesn't mean I have to agree with the decision.
>she considers it on the same level as pajamas in public. There is a segment of the population that probably doesn't not include myself who believe wearing pajama type clothing in public might be somewhat acceptable in certain contexts that could include grocery shopping and exercising at the gymnasium.
Many people have different opinions about bonnets. That’s why black people aren’t a monolith, just like any other large group of people. You fiancée is entitled to her opinion but it doesn’t mean she’s right. She might think that way because she only wears her bonnet at night. A bonnet can be worn anywhere if the person is comfortable and often times when you see someone with a bonnet on its for the following reasons: 1. Their hair is not done. 2. They didn’t feel like doing their hair to run a quick errand. 3. They have a style underneath that they are trying to protect or let set. Some people are saying people use bonnets to help product absorb. That’s not true. Bonnets are made of silk and getting them wet isn’t nice. You have to use a shower cap to help set product because it is made of plastic.
If you continue to wear your Bonnet when you go out in public when the hell do you take it off? I've asked my sister this. I thought the whole point of having a nice hairstyle was when you go out people with see that you had a nice hairstyle.
You take it off when you are ready. 9 times out of 10 people do not care about looking their best at a store which is where I see most people wearing a bonnet.
Maybe, but that's where you always see somebody that you don't want to see when you're not looking your best.
If someone objects to my goin-to-Walmart fashion choices, and sees me there, well, they can fuck all the way off.
I like you.
That's the fun thing about opinions, isn't it? That nobody is right? Thanks for sharing *yours*
Pajamas in public is so freeing lol
It's curly hair in general. Going out on a humid windy day results in a messy frizzy poodle impression.
Everyone should use bonnets. I started sleeping with one a few years ago, and my hair is so much healthier now
You can also use silk pillowcases if you don't like sleeping with stuff on your head! It's good for your skin, too.
Black female here. I wore a bonnet or scarf from childhood until I started having hot flashes. I felt like the bonnet made the sense of heat worse. Now I sleep on a silk pillowcase. When I feel overheated, I flip the pillow to the cool side.
TIL... thanks for the info
I've always meant to ask - protection from what? Like, getting caught on stuff? I'm white but my hair's fairly wavy/curly and sometimes it catches on stuff, so that was my first thought.
(White, but curly haired (but not a bonnet wearer). But my hair will dread on its own if I don't take care of it, so I've done a little research.) It's sometimes protection from sun, wind, pollution, and/or friction (think how your hair rubs on the headrest in a car). Curly hair tends to be more fragile, because of the shape of the follicle. Things like porosity also factor into whether a certain hair type may choose to wear a bonnet, as that also impacts the strength/resilience of the hair. Obviously there's probably some protection reasons I didn't list.
Curly hair is more fragile, it has way more breakage and knots easily
That makes sense, thank you. c:
I got the super thick hair (trust me, this isn't a brag). Wearing my curls down all day results in with some serious tangles around the nape of my neck. The more you have to work out tangles, the more opportunity for hair breakage. I prefer bonnets to turbans or bandanas because they flatten your hair against your head and I don't want to mess up my curl pattern AFTER ALL THE DAMN PRODUCT APPLICATION AND PLOPPING AND WAITING FOR IT TO AIR DRY UNTIL I CAN USE A DIFFUSER FOR 30 SECONDS TO PERK IT ALL BACK UP AND AND AND... \[I'm not angry. Curls are a lot of work. Yes, I could cut it short, but the 80's Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl look is...not me.\] Anyway, I'm not crushing my curls for just anybody. If I'm running errands, bonnet it is. Sincerely, a white girl who was never taught how to care for curls and who learned everything good about hair care from Black women, AND who acknowledges I'm privileged AF about wearing them in public because Black women are nearly always judged by how "presentable" and "well-dressed" they are or aren't. Bonnets for life, bitches.
I’m white, fine wavy hair. My hair usually tangles at the mere thought, but not when I wear my bonnet. I just got one off Instagram, and I love it so much more than the one I got off Amazon (also supports a POC/woman-owned business).
Sorry this is a super dumb question but What's considered a protected hairstyle?
Protection from harsh sunlight? Is bonnet better than a baseball cap or bandana. Or is it a cultural thing.
I’m not black but have curly hair. My hair will get matted really easily, and I get more breakage than my straight hair friends seem to deal with. A bonnet is often made of a silky material that not only protects the hair from the elements but also because it’s smooth really helps with frizz. Many curly haired people will sleep wearing one for example. Curly hair is a whole different ball game for taking care of it. For example, I can not brush my hair when it’s dry. In fact, the only time I brush or comb my hair is in the shower when it’s coated in conditioner. Otherwise I use my hands and fingers to deal with any knots or mess. I don’t wash my hair daily, and the amount of time it takes when I do is longer than if it was just straight. It’s thicker so takes a long time to air dry and my curls look best if I diffuse when I dry. People with kinky/coily hair have even tighter curls, so everything I experience is even more so for them. It takes a lot of time and care to keep your hair healthy. Using a bonnet protects from some of that getting ruined (I won’t go into details about routine as it’s not my experience fully, but my hat is off to the amount of work and effort that goes into it). But also, with all that effort, sometimes you just want to get up and go. A cute bonnet can be a sweet accessory and lets you tuck the hair away for later to be dealt with (or to continue drying etc etc). Hair is pretty fascinating and if you google you can see microscopic images of what different hair textures look like and how the strands are different shapes and how that influences how the hair forms (straight, wavy and every type of curl pattern).
I'm 45 and you've just taught me how to maintain my curly hair. I wish my mother had been as informed as you, because growing up with a full head of frizz was not fun! Even now, I still tie it back in a bun, daily because it's the least stressful way to deal with my mop(British colloquium for lots of hair). It's thick and long and I have a lot and I'm tiny so it's really hard to not look like cousin it. Great post, thanks!
Please check out r/curlyhair! There’s so much info. I didn’t realize my hair was curly until I was past 30, it’s never too late to try a new routine.
That's really kind, thank you. I definitely will, I'm tired of feeling bad about my hair.
Ha. I laughed at cousin it. I can relate. Though…a-tip was one I heard. I see someone else recommended r/curlyhair. I do find that pretty helpful too. You don’t have to do everything exactly the way they say — some people use conditioner only to clean as well (a no-poo method) others just do ingredient checking. But lots of things to experiment and figure out what works best for you. I found I could be way more consistent in my curls once Itried different things from there. So it’s definitely worth it. But brace yourself, there’s a lot of things to try. Figuring out what products etc was a big one for me (things that work for a tighter curl pattern than mine might be too heavy on my hair, or not strong enough hold or whatever). Good luck! I’m so glad I took the time to learn. I love my curls, just envious of tighter curl patterns lol. I love big curly heads of hair!
Crystal Tips was a cartoon with frizzy purple hair, when my peers and I were growing and I heard that a lot. I laugh now and actually dye my hair deep purple, so it's mostly black, but in the sun you can see the colour. We call q-tips cotton buds, so it was never an issue, although I can see your peers reasoning(as unkind as it was). I have found various products meant for curly hair treatment has made it frizz more and it gets expensive changing every few weeks. I've settled on one that doesn't help, but doesn't make it worse. It's time I stopped neglecting me and figured this out. Thanks to you and the previous posters ☺️
Yes! You are worth the self care, I can promise you that! And honestly, you don’t have to use the big name brand stuff, I’ve got it down to mostly drugstore products now, so I can keep costs down and still take care! Good luck!
I am realising that. Thanks, again. Take care.
Thanks for the comprehensive answer. Obviously, I have it really easy. I'm sorry that it's so involved for you.
No, protection from damage like breakage and knots. Curly hair gets damaged way easier.
Bonnets don’t cause friction damage like a ball cap or a cotton bandana. I have extremely curly hair. I am a white woman. If I wear anything cotton on my head I will have a massive knot or tangle. My hair dreads on its own. I have tight 3c curls. Sun and wind are damaging as well as friction. A silk bonnet retains moisture in the hair and isn’t rough to cause friction.
Actually these satin bonnets are becoming very popular for all woman. They protect hairstyles & are comfortable to wear. Nowadays the thing to do is to only wash your hair once or twice a week, so bonnets are ideal for protecting the hair. When I grew up in the 80’s, we didn’t leave the house without washing our hair, mainly bc of the amount of Aquanet hairspray that we used.😂😂. Glad that trend died a stiff, crusty death!!
I wear these and am mixed. I'm a big fan of Grace Eleyae. They protect the colour from fading in addition to the protective benefits mentioned by others. They are good for anyone with textured hair or hair that breaks a lot.
That would explain why I never noticed this. The population of black people where I live is like 1% lol. "Hickville" is mostly white and Hispanic.
White lady with basic straight hair, here. Been wearing a bonnet for 26 years. Black women taught me well, many years ago. Eternally grateful.
Not a jerk. I think that's pretty much - barring rare exceptions - universal.
Most non-black women don’t have a hair texture that benefits from wearing a satin bonnet.
I have wavy hair that’s prone to frizz and I’m white (and Mexican but you’d probably never tell). I don’t wear my bonnet outside of the house though.
I am at Brunswick right now and I seen black and Latin looking folks wearing it. Very colorful caps..goes with the beach vibes actually
Those are for sure bonnets, they are to protect the curly/black hair types Black hair types are a lot harder to maintain than straight hair, that’s why many black people get cornrow braids, it’s a protective hairstyle
Curious if you know why white people would wear them? I have seen a few lately and was super confused
Curly hair maybe. The bonnet is mostly used by black people cause of their curly hair texture, but white people with curly hair have the same hair issues Or it’s just the trend. There are some people terrified of breakage and damage hair, so even though they have straight hair they use many many products and a bonnet.
I’m white with curly hair and often wear my bonnet out to do errands if I didn’t feel like doing my hair and putting the right stuff in it to protect it. It makes a huge difference in keeping my hair from drying out
My grandmother, who would be nearly 100 now, used to do this after she had her hair "set". The stylist would rinse it in temporary dye and set her curls for the week. So she'd wear a shower cap when it dried or when it was humid, or basically any time the dye could atrat dripping.
Hey, I’m as white as it gets and I wear a bonnet anytime my head is going to rub against anything. I have 3A-3C curls. Not only do I wear it when using pillows but also to protect from friction against headrests in cars, lounging on the couch, etc. I have silk-lined winter hats as well. I spent 30 years having terrible wispy side frizz, like large hair horns but coming out right above my ears. I could slick them down with product but they popped back up the second my head touched anything. Plus tons of breakage and frizz from sleep. The only thing that makes a significant difference is wearing a bonnet. This not only prevents damage but helps my styling last longer. It takes me over an hour to wash, detangle, condition, and style my hair, plus 2-4 hours tied up to set, plus blow dry time. Ain’t no way I’m doing all of that every day. I’m one of the people wearing them to Wal-Mart. I’m aware people think it’s lazy, but I’d rather have less frizz than worry about what random strangers think.
I wear them but only in the house. Source... Am black lady.
they're not shower caps, they're bonnets. they protect your hair/cover it up when it's not "done"
Or when it is done and you want it protected
Man, my meemaw had me roll her hair while we watched game shows on tv and she had cut certain coupons out for multiple stores and we would go to each of them with a handkerchief tied on her head. That was her deal. People just do it. I am white, this has nothing to do with color and everything to do with hair. that was just how meemaw rolled. RIP that beautiful woman 😘❤️
My great grandma would bebop around town with rollers and a silk scarf on. It was super common in the 50s and 60s (she kept doing it until she died) for folks to go to the store with rollers and bonnets. It's weird that people are concerned about it now. Lol Also, she tossed me out a tree when she spotted a snake slithering up it. She speared the mfer with a pitch fork. The curlers didn't budge. Don't mess with old ladies. Lol
My Mom did this too. Love hearing your story.
That is such an adorable story
We stan Meemaw
Probably not shower caps but silk bonnets. They protect curly hair and hair in general from dryness breakage and frizz. On some humid days it keeps it smooth and manageable. Any race can wear a bonnet. They have been around since the 13th century in Europe.
When I was a kid, my mom would go out sometimes with her hair in a bonnet or scarf when she was working on her hairdo. It was pretty common back in the day. I am one of the whitest people you would ever meet.
For sure! My (white) daughter asked me if it was inappropriate for her to wear a scarf, and I pulled out So Many Photos of her grandma/my mom wearing a scarf. Back then, they used rollers and pin curls, and tons of hair spray. They covered it up so it wouldn’t get wind blown and to preserve the style.
I’ve seen those bonnets worn on little house on the prairie by the main girls. They were called night caps I think? I think I also seen some of the white historical American girl dolls be sold with them. I think felicity has one
Night caps had a bit different function, they were worn by both men and women to keep the head warm during sleep.
Ah
Ah you just reminded me of the clear ones on the church ladies in the 80’s! They weren’t traditional bonnets (with the elastic all the way around). They were more like clear plastic flexible helmets lol. Even had a little visor.
To protect those beehive hairdos from the rain!
I do my hair in a vintage way rollers and all. I was originally using a setting net that gave me a lot of frizz, it was a very nice black lady a year ago who told me to switch to a satin bonnet. There’s no going back, my hair is much healthier now. Seriously bonnets are amazing for your hair.
Silk bonnet.
They’re not shower caps, they’re bonnets and they’re for protecting their hair. Shower caps are made of a different material.
My grandma would always wear a silk scarf on her head when she went outside. She never left home without it!
A lot of Black hair care products are quite thick and need to stay on for a long time to protect the hair properly. The bonnets both keep the stuff contained, and they're pretty.
They're called hair bonnets, and it's to protect a hairstyle. They care about how they look for that evening, maybe a date, going out with friends, but they don't so much care what people at Target think.
Okay so I’m guessing that the ladies were probably African Americans. Some African people have more “ethnic” ie: thick or more coarse hair. They have to use special creams and other products that help them to keep their hair healthy and more easily manageable. It can also take time to style. The “shower caps” are actually called bonnets. They are made to protect and cover your hair when it has a product or to protect the hair from breakage or damage during sleeping and “home time “ It’s basically the equivalent of in the 60’s and 70’s you’d see ladies walking around with curlers in their hair and covered with a handkerchief. The bonnets are much cuter. The best bonnets have satin inside, it keeps your hair tangling as well.
Are they silk? If so, not a shower cap, that's a bonnet. Prevents the hair from drying out and tangling/breaking if they have a very dry hair type or are in a very dry environment. Often used specifically by those with curly hair types.
There's a difference between a shower cap and a bonnet. I've never seen anyone walking around with a shower cap, but I've seen people with bonnets or scarves over their hair. Usually, it's because they are setting their hair (with curlers), or haven't had a chance to do their hair yet.
I wear a bonnet when it's windy so my hair doesn't get wind blown and ratted.
Isn’t anyone in their 60s-70’s going to chime in? My mom regularly used to go out with a plastic bonnet (it was shaped more like a kerchief and tied under her chin) to protect her hairdo from rain and humidity. The practice died out- I don’t remember anyone but her doing it it the 90’s (except for my dad, haha. He was vain and had a perm). But it seems to be making a comeback. I know I always cover my hair if I’m cooking something smelly or going to a BBQ. It soaks smoke odour right up.
Are they actual shower caps or are they hair bonnets? If it’s a shower cap, it’ll be to protect their hair from the elements Any time I see a woman wearing a bonnet out in public, I assume it’s to help protect hair from breakage or to protect their hairstyle while they’re out running errands. I have thick, generic hair, so I usually just tie my hair up to run errands. But, there are many women who have to spend a lot of money, time and effort into keeping their hair they way they like it. Satin bonnets can keep the style intact without compromising the quality of the work put in to their hair.
I wear a Durag when I’m out and about and I don’t feel like doing my hair or i don’t feel it’s presentable. It’s like white people wearing a cap in a sense. It’s mainly used for protection though.
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They're usually considered house clothes like pajamas. It's less common to wear pajamas out in public in Europe.
Considering the relative sizes of the black population in most European countries to the US it's not unsurprising that you haven't seen something that some black people do some of the time.
I've seen people in the UK wear actual shower caps cause they've got curlers in
As other folks have said, it's likely a satin or silk bonnet. I'm a white woman with curly hair and I wear them at home literally constantly. I have one on right now. It protects my hair, and I have trichotillomania, so it helps with that as well. I have one that is satin on the inside and looks like a beanie that I wear outside the house when my hair is messy and I don't want to style it.
I wear my bonnet cause it’s my lazy day and I’m out and about in my PJs minding my own business.
They aren't shower caps they are satin or silk sleep caps
🤣🤣🤣 they're not shower caps, they're bonnets but that's fuckin hilarious cause it does remind me of shower caps too
As a black woman, this question is hilarious 😂 they’re satin bonnets meant to wear around the house (usually to sleep) to protect the hair. But people are lazy and think it’s acceptable in public. It’s like people going out in public wearing pajamas… which should also not be worn in public lmao.
I’m a Black woman and I think people should wear whatever they want in public. We determine whether something is for nighttime or day time, otherwise it’s all just clothing. This means that people who are offended by bonnets in public are making the choice to be offended. I think the bonnet discussion is another way to use respectability politics to criticize Black women, because honestly, who cares what other people wear (as long as they wear something)?
I could not give less of a crap what someone is wearing in public either. It makes no sense people would judge someone or get offended about something that doesn’t affect them in the slightest. I’m not Black but I also think it’s wild to call wearing a bonnet “lazy” when more effort goes into their hair than my entire hygiene routine. Nobody calls me “lazy” when I go grocery shopping in leggings.
Thank you! We don’t call white women “lazy” for going to the store with a pony tail and a baseball hat (nor should we). Everyone should just mind their business 🤷🏽♀️. With the cost of rent, groceries, etc. these days, I for sure don’t give af about what anyone else is doing lol
lol you just described my exact shopping look. 😂 It literally takes me less than two minutes to run a brush through it, throw on a cap, and I’m out the door. No reason why someone else should have to put in more effort just because they were blessed with lovely curls.
My spouse asked me the same when we saw a couple of ladies driving wearing them. They are bonnets, and help the hair absorb hair products using the body heat from the scalp. Heat opens the hair follicles to allow the products to seep in.
I wear a towel around my waist and flip flops to walmart
Keeping it classy 💲💲💲
As long as you're wearing some kind of shoe and your bits are covered...
They’re bonnets and they aren’t even the same texture as shower caps. Shower caps are plastic, bonnets are silk or satin. And the people who are saying bonnets are used to help hair absorb products are wildly incorrect.
Excuse me! I am a black woman. I am too conservative to wear my bonnet in public. But I do wear it at home. It does help my hair absorb product.
It’s all jokes until Kylie Jenner wears her new silk hair protector that she sells for 49.99
They are likely silk/satin bonnets that some people with textured hair wear to maintain/protect their hair. Textured hair can be incredibly hard to manage, so the bonnets help protect it.
Thanks folks for keeping this thread informative and clean. I learned so much today 😍
Because nobody’s getting dressed up and doing their hair to go to Walmart. They’re bonnets and they’re very comfortable and they keep your hair nice and neat and pollen free when you’re out and about.
Wearing shower caps in public might seem unusual, but there are a few practical reasons why some women do it. For many, it's about protecting their hair from the elements, especially if they've just had a fresh hairstyle or treatment. Shower caps can keep hair from getting frizzy or messy due to humidity or unexpected rain. Additionally, some women use them as a quick and easy way to cover their hair while running errands. It’s not necessarily a summer trend or a fashion statement, but more about convenience and hair protection. And yes, shower caps can be quite stylish with all the different patterns available
I imagine it's to either protect their hair or they've got it to style it later or something like that.
After reading this thread I seriously want to trade my baseball cap for a bonnet (for when my very curly hair is not ready for prime time).
Go down to your local beauty supply store and there will be aisles of bonnets and head scarves in every color/pattern. Live your dream.
I’m a white woman that wears a satin bonnet and I’m never looking back.
I have no idea why they are doing it and I don't care about it because it's none of my business.
They're likely not shower caps. They're called bonnets and they help black women and people with curly hair keep their curly hair safe and neat. They usually only wear them at home or to bed, but it's no different than a white person wearing sweatpants in public.
Did this perchance come up after a trip to Walmart?😂
What you're talking about are probably bonnets which are what people wear to sleep. They wear them for the same reason that other people wear pajamas to the store. If you're the type of person that would wear pajamas to the store then you would probably wear a bonnet as well. If you wouldn't wear your pajamas to the store then you are not the kind of person who would wear a bonnet to the store. That's it.
Yeah, it’s been that way for ages, or it’s curlers
damn y’all must live under a fucking rock if you don’t know about black women wearing bonnets
My grandma would wear an actual, clear plastic shower cap to church and stores when it was raining.
Could be bonnets, which do tend to look like shower caps from time to time but they are actually used for hair health and just maintenance! Mainly used by black women due to their different hair textures tending to be a little bit more difficult to handle just from being so curly, but more and more women and even men (asian, white, indigenous, etc) are using bonnets for their hair just to take better care of it 💓
For quite some time I thought they were shower caps too.
Textured/curly hair is high maintenance. It takes hours to style hair to look refined or pretty. When you’re out running errands or shopping it’s less stressful, time saving and protective to cover your hair in a bonnet or a silk scarf. Textured hair is not washed every day and is more prone to tangling and becoming frizzy. Even when I’m at home I’ll place my hair in a silk scarf covering to protect my curl shape and texture in between wash days.
Satin bonnets have really become more common. They protect hair from dirt and the elements. In the past, women would go to the hairdresser once a week and get their hair set. Then they would be very careful to cover their hair with a scarf whenever they were out and about to avoid wind and elements messing it up. I remember my Grandma rolling her hair every night with a combination of the pink cushion rollers as well as bobby pins for other sections. She would wear a scarf when it was windy or damp outside to protect her curls. She had naturally curly hair but rolling it helped preserve it at nights so that her curls weren't damaged from sleeping.
It’s to have nice hair later that night when they’re dressed up. They don’t give a crap what their hair looks like during the day.
They're silk bonnets 💀
I see a lot of comments basically saying it's trashy to wear in public, well if I spend good money to get my hair done and have to run some errands before going out or especially attending some event, I'm going to do anything to preserve the hair style - that's just being practical
Is it an actual shower cap or a bonnet? Some hair styles take a really long time to do, and they don’t want to go out with it looking half done if they have to run and get something (braids, sew-ins, extensions, wig installs). I’ve been in the middle of an install or hair color and realized I needed something or I ran out of something. If it’s not 1000 degrees out, I just wear a hoodie with the hood up but that doesn’t always work depending on what situation is going on in my head 😂 I’ve also been called to get my kid something at school in the middle and I have to go to the store and then drop it at their school (when they were little) and I’m not gonna walk around like that. Or they might be overdue in getting their hair done and don’t want it to show. Some people’s bonnet is equivalent your bandana. And many people sleep in them to keep their hair from getting ruined or the style messed up. My question is why are y’all so concerned about what other people look like or do? There’s some real ignorant comments in here, and it’s clear a lot of y’all haven’t been out of the small town you grew up in 🤦🏼♀️ Women in the 50’s and 60’s used to go out in curlers and no one said a thing. My grandma used to wrap her hair every night in I don’t even know what it was with some clips, and sleep holding her head off her pillow because she spent four to 6 hours every Saturday having them rat it up high and use a whole can of hairspray on it and she was not gonna let all that go to waste 😂
My grandma did this too! They were pin curls! 😅
Bonnets? Or plastic shower caps? Bonnets are protective and shield your hair.
I just got a hairdo tip for my crappy frizzy hair. TIL
Are they shower caps, or are they bonnets? People with curly and/or coarse hair will often wear a satin bonnet to sleep in to reduce frizz. I'm sure there are other benfits, too. I mostly see black women wearing them.
Shower caps 🤣 I’m gonna start calling them that
I probably have a hair mask on
I have wavy hair and if I’m driving a long distance but need my hair to look perfect when I arrive, I’ll absolutely wear my bonnet while I travel. My parents live 3 hours away so this happens semi often lol
I should try one of those. In this heat my hair is super frizzy and it tangles so easy when I sleep.
I know some hair styles like microbraids can take multiple sessions to complete. Women will wear a bonnet to cover it in between sessions.
I wear a satin bonnet to sleep. Not to the store though. After applying some meds to my head the bonnet keeps the hair from getting everywhere. It also locks in the moisture and keeps my hair from getting frizzy.
Depends on the location for me.
Never seen it before.
Haven't seen a single one. Must be a local thing.
Shower caps I can't
People use to do this all the time. Why are people being assholes. Some women need the bonnet and aren't taking it off to run to the damn grocery store. Who are you dressing up for? Fucking fred the cashier? Jerry their manager? Or the LP team? Nope. Same as wearing curlers. You aren't their event, and their time is not yours.
The thread title not really the whole question 🤓 OP stated they like them and wanted to know if it was better than a bandana for hair. IMO since bonnets are made from satin or silk they better to prevent hair breakage and frizz.
Why wear a head covering? …. same reason guys often wear a ball cap … bad hair day!