Best Hair Bonnets From Our Tests

Camille Briggs (that’s me) is a CR freelancer with a bob cut, chemically relaxed, and colored hair (I add extensions for color and fullness). My nightly hair routine includes adding rollers on top and then wrapping my hair around my head with a satin tie before putting a bonnet on to keep everything secure. 

Angela Lashbrook, a senior CR writer, has fine and wavy, chemically highlighted hair. She doesn’t normally wear a bonnet, but hoped these bonnets would help prevent her hair from tangling. She wears her hair in a ponytail before going to bed and wears bangs.

Brian Vines is a CR writer who wears his hair loose and natural in what he calls a style that “defies gravity.” His daily routine includes spraying his hair with a mixture of water and hair oil to add moisture and shine. He sleeps on a silk pillowcase to maintain his moisture and typically does not use a bonnet due to the lack of success with keeping it on overnight. 

Jodhaira Rodriguez, a CR writer and tester with waist-length, curly hair, puts her hair up in a loose top knot/pineapple every night to sleep. She typically wears a bonnet to limit frizzing and tangling. 

Pang-Chieh Ho is a senior CR writer whose bob-length hair is short, thick, and mostly straight. She had never worn a bonnet before, but was curious about what a bonnet would do for her generally straight hair.

Ginger Cowles, a managing editor at CR, wears her bra-strap-length hair straight, mostly. Her daily hair routine includes putting her hair in a high, loose bun or a low, loose braid at night. She recently started adding Overnight Blowout rods to help maintain her silk press. She wears a bonnet to prevent breakage, maintain moisture, and keep her blowout rods secure.

Pros: Material is good for hair health, snug fit, stays on well for shorter hair (including straight hair)
Cons: Too small for longer hair, expensive

When I first opened the Blissy, which arrived in a cute giftable box, the bonnet appeared to be too small for my head, especially after adding rollers. It was soft and had unexposed elastic sewn in between the silk along the neck portion of the bonnet. Turns out that the Blissy was the perfect fit for me (I got standard size), even with the rollers, and the silk is very breathable. 

After wearing it, I was amazed that in the morning my hair had a little bounce and shine with absolutely no frizz. Wow! My hair was actually softer. It looked like I had just left my stylist’s chair. Licensed cosmetologist and hair stylist Heather Lewis, owner of Heather’s Haven in Houston, says the bonnet being made of 100 percent mulberry silk fabric and a snug fit contributed to my positive results.

The Blissy was the third bonnet I tested, and that was a mistake. I did not want to try anything else. It was also a hit with Pang-Chieh, who has short hair, too.

“Compared to the tie-band bonnets, which have to be adjusted with the ribbons, I liked the simplicity of adjusting the hair turban,” she said, adding that it stayed on her head throughout the night without moving much.

The previous bonnets I tested were significantly larger and did not keep my rollers secured. With the Blissy, the package was beautiful, the bonnet was beautiful, it stayed on all night, it was the perfect fit, and it kept my rollers secured. Also, it left no forehead marks (bonus points), but I must admit that the Blissy is pricey. 

“I don’t know how they justify the $67 price,” said Brian.

I usually only pay about $3 for bonnets at the hair supply store so paying more than 60 bucks is a big stretch. But after these results, I don’t think I can live without it. There’s another downside. If you have long hair, the Blissy is probably not going to work. 

“This thing is laughable. It’s so tiny I didn’t even try to sleep in it. There is no room to accommodate the majority of my hair. I think it’s best suited for people with smaller heads and short hair,” said Ginger.

“It was off my head within minutes of lying down. Any movement I made in bed and it was slipping off just a little further," said Jodhaira.

My hair is shoulder-length so I never had that problem. The Blissy is very simple to use, comfortable, shaped to accommodate my rollers, stays on all night, and gives me glowing results.

Pros: Adjustable band is easy to use, accommodates most head sizes, and is a top performer
Cons: Too big and slides around for some users

The Yanibest Silk Satin Bonnet arrived in a darling box that included an insert with step-by-step instructions on how to apply the bonnet, which can be tied on different parts of the head. The shiny and soft material at the top of the bonnet was secured with soft and stretchy tie bands that wrap around your head. Due to my personal fears of the bonnet falling off, I tied the Yanibest uncomfortably tight the first time I evaluated it, but it still did not leave a mark on my forehead. This was not the case for all of our evaluators.

“The part of the band where you tie the knot was extremely uncomfortable and left a mark on my forehead that I noticed when I took it off the following morning. I could feel the knot pressing on my forehead as I lay in bed and it was hard to ignore,” Jodhaira said.

Some of our evaluators enjoyed the reinforcement of the stretchy, long, Spandex-like tie bands.

“Not only is it pretty, but it also performs the essential task of staying put and protecting my hair. It’s like Fort Knox, it didn’t budge or slide back or anything,” Ginger said.

The bonnet stayed on all night and was roomy enough to accommodate all of my hair, but not too oversized. It did leave a bit too much wiggle room for my rollers, but the results were still great. When I woke up, my hair was shiny, frizz-free, hydrated, and my style was maintained.

“I have a lot of hair, and this bonnet handled it with no problem, even when I put my hair in a high bun. I started using my new Overnight Blowout rods, and this bonnet accommodates those easily, too,” said Ginger.

“Ten outta ten for this one. It’s light, comfortable, and stays on all night and doesn’t leave marks on my forehead or a crimp in my hair,” said Brian. Ginger liked this one so much that she purchased it in several colors.

My one complaint is that I am not a fan of the tie bands. I already have a lot of steps in my nightly hair routine, and using tie bands was just another hassle; however, I can see the benefits for deep sleepers or those who toss and turn. The tie bands appear to make the bonnet more secure, but they made it less comfortable for me. Also, two of our evaluators noticed an unpleasant smell when the bonnet arrived.

“My goodness, does this bonnet smell awful when you take it out of the packaging. A weird fishy smell that was so uncomfortable to breathe in when I wore it to bed,” said Jodhaira. 

“One thing I did notice is that the bonnet had an unpleasant smoky smell when I unwrapped it. This might not be a dealbreaker because technically you should be washing any new clothes you bought before you wear them, but I did notice that the smell was more noticeable than some of the other products,” said Pang-Chieh.

Several other testers didn’t smell anything. The brand also recommends hand-washing, but at least one tester threw it in the washer several times and let it air dry with no issues.

Three out of our six evaluators ranked the Yanibest first or second. It’s roomy, soft, accommodating, breathable, beautiful, and gets the job done.

Pros: Very pretty and reversible, easy-to-adjust tie, accommodates most head sizes, doesn’t leave a mark
Cons: Too big and slides around for some users

The PrinceHairCompany bonnet was absolutely beautiful and soft. I ordered the Deep Mauve Floral/Bronze color that was 100 percent reversible with a floral side and a beautiful bronze color on the reversible side. 

“Even before I put it on my head I was oohing and ahhing at the softness of the bonnet’s fabric. I love love love the feel of this one,” said Jodhaira.

The bonnet was oversized with long tie bands, which, unlike the Yanibest, were not stretchable. I liked the PrinceHairCompany tie bands better for that reason. They did not feel too tight on my forehead and were long enough so I could tie a bow on my forehead easily. The bonnet is big enough to accommodate those with long hair or shoulder-length braids (or other protective styles) and the tie bands fit my head well and feel comfortable. This bonnet did well with our evaluators who had longer hair. For those with shorter hair, it was just too much bonnet.

“So voluminous and frilly it made me laugh when I put it on, but if you have lots of hair or hair like mine that defies gravity, you don’t have to worry about it not accommodating you,” said Brian.

“This bonnet is so spacious! I feel like Toad from the Mario Bros. games when I wear it, which is funny, but I think it’s awesome that it is so large,” said Jodhaira.

There is additional padding or material along the base of the bonnet in addition to the double satin layers that make the bonnet fully reversible. This adds to the comfort, but some evaluators felt the bonnet was too hot and thick. 

“By the time I woke up, the hair bonnet had become fairly loose. During the night my head would sometimes feel hot in it, though it wasn’t unbearable,” said Pang-Chieh. "After taking it off, I felt like this hair bonnet created the most static in my hair and there was more flyaway hair after using the bonnet than before,” said Pang-Chieh.

I found the bonnet to be too big. My rollers did not feel secured, but my hair looked hydrated in the morning and frizz-free even though my curls could have been tighter.

“The one ding I have against this bonnet is the nonstretch band. A couple times using it, the band slipped down to my forehead and left a mark. When it didn’t slide down, there was no mark left,” said Ginger.

When I say this bonnet is beautiful, please believe me. I would never wear a bonnet outside (there were two isolated incidents of running into the grocery store that I will not confirm or deny), but if I were going to, this would be the one. It is so pretty and makes me feel pretty when I am wearing it.

Pros: Adjustable band is easy to use, stays put for most users
Cons: Not as soft or pretty, retains too much heat

I wear a hair bonnet nightly, but it is still important for me to look attractive in it. I have a husband and a dog who do not like to be terrified when they see me. I looked the most unattractive in the Hairbrella Satin-Lined Sleep Cap compared to the other bonnets we evaluated. I think it has a lot to do with the shape of the bonnet. The Hairbrella is shaped differently from the other bonnets evaluated, which are more mushroom-shaped. The Hairbrella is cylinder-shaped, which was not pretty on me at all. 

“It made me feel like an extra on ’The Bear’ or someone working in the kitchen of a high-end restaurant or a surgeon from a medical drama. If I wore it outside with scrubs, folks might think I was an MD,” said Brian.

Although not the cutest, the Hairbrella worked. This bonnet is lined with satin and has an adjustable elastic band that you tighten along the neck portion, and it did not budge after I tightened it. This bonnet also kept my hair frizz-free and hydrated, and it accommodated my rollers.

“Adjustment requires some finagling but it ends up feeling secure,” said Angela.

This bonnet comes in three sizes, while most of our other bonnets were one size fits most. The classic size worked out for me. Ginger ordered an extra-large, and it had ample room for her rods.

The Hairbrella was thick and has a satin lining with an adjustable band that the manufacturer says provides a secure, custom fit that stays in place no matter how much you toss and turn. I thought the band was too thick and a bit uncomfortable. 

“I tend to run hot in general and after putting on the bonnet, I could feel a certain amount of heat trapped in the bonnet. Throughout the night, I would sometimes wake up and feel that my scalp is itchy, which was probably because of the heat,” said Pang-Chieh.

Due to the shape and the satin lining, the Hairbrella is better suited to accommodate natural hairstyles that should not be squashed.

“I was excited about this design as instead of a broad band it had a mechanism like an internal bra strap inside the band that one could secure while your hair was kept inside an almost cylindrical shape,” said Brian. 

The fabric is also not the softest. “I think this is the least soft of all the bonnets I tried. It’s not uncomfortable or scratchy but it isn’t very soft,” said Jodhaira.

The whole bonnet seems heavy to me, but for those who wear their hair naturally and add product to their hair at night, the Hairbrella ranks high on the list.

Pros: Easy to apply, budget-friendly
Cons: Slides around for some users, does not work for those with bangs

We generally liked the Evolve Satin Wide-Edge Bonnet. According to the manufacturer, the bonnet is large enough for those with thick or long hair, and the wide edge-control band is designed to keep edges smooth and the bonnet secure: “Ideal for textured hair, roller sets and protective styles.” For Angela, it was the only bonnet that stayed on overnight.

“This bonnet was perfectly snug around my head and didn’t leave a mark,” she said.

Applying the Evolve is simple, just stretch it out and pull it on. For that reason, the wide band can accommodate a variety of head sizes and hairstyles.

“I felt that this bonnet was very comfortable for me and I liked that I didn’t have to fuss around with it for it to fit my head perfectly. It was the right balance of looseness and tightness,” said Pang-Chieh.

This bonnet was satin and simple and got the job done for me, but not for everyone.

“It features a thick band that only has one job, to secure the bonnet to my head. It failed. I went to bed with the band on my forehead and woke up with it a few inches behind my hairline,” said Brian.

The Evolve was also the most inexpensive bonnet we tested, but it performed well for some.

“The frizz quality of my hair seemed to be the same pre- and post-bonnet, so if the goal is for the quality of my hair to remain the same, it did a good job,” said Pang-Chieh. “It felt light and silky for me. Enjoyed the texture. No complaints! It also felt pretty breathable,” she said.

Now, if you have bangs, the Evolve may not be the right bonnet for you.

“It did mess up my bangs—I have a pretty brutal cowlick on the front of my hairline that is easily activated, and unfortunately this bonnet activated it. If I didn’t have bangs, or a cowlick, I would use this bonnet,” said Angela.

The brand recommends hand-washing this bonnet, but Ginger washed it in the washer multiple times and let it air dry. She said she didn’t notice any wear and tear.

The Evolve was the only bonnet to stay on all of our evaluators overnight and performed well with limiting frizz, keeping users cool, and being very easy to apply.

Pros: Material is optimal for hair health, lightweight
Cons: Weeks-long delivery time, expensive, difficult to apply, thin material

The You Go Natural (YGN) Pleated Sleep Turban was the last to arrive and was the bonnet I liked the least. It clearly states on the website, “pre-order (Ships in 4 weeks).” It took more like six weeks. The bonnet is made with a 100 percent mulberry silk lining that I found to be almost too delicate. The pleated pattern was attractive (like a cute after-five dress, but for your head), and the bonnet was big enough to accommodate all of my hair, even with my rollers. 

This is the most complicated bonnet to apply. It took me a few nights to figure out how to make the bonnet look like a turban. It is shaped like a weird figure-eight scarf that you have to pull on partially, twist, then pull on the remaining material, and then tuck. Having a learning curve for a bonnet felt unnecessary. There is also an adjustable elastic strap that you pull at the back so that it can be secured tightly.

This is not a bonnet for those with long or thick hair, but for my shoulder-length hair the bonnet was thin and light and stayed on all night. The results of using the YGN were similar to those of using the other bonnets evaluated: little to no frizz and hydrated hair. This bonnet was really snug, so my rollers pressed on my scalp. In the morning, my top curls were very tight and I had to use my flat iron to assist my curls in falling a bit. 

The Blissy Bonnet, which is made of 100 percent mulberry silk, has a much thicker material than the YGN, and gave my hair a bounce and softness that the YGN did not. The YGN also did not leave a mark on my forehead and only shifted slightly throughout the night.

The You Go Natural was a bit pricier than the satin bonnets, was complicated to apply, and appeared thin and flimsy. It feels more like wearing a silk scarf than a bonnet but stays on better than any scarf would.