Editor tip: "I'm not a super-strong braider, so I've always had someone else braid my hair for me. But how have I never considered braiding my own hair forward, and then read the article creating a mini crown? The small Dutch braid is tricky to get right, but after trying this at home a few times, I mastered it enough to add this braid to my weekly protective-style rotation." —Brionna Putting your hair in braids to sleep is a good way to keep it healthy, especially if you have long hair. Braids can reduce friction caused by tossing and turning in your sleep.If you do sleep with braids, try to keep them loose. Loose braids do not usually pull or hurt your scalp while you sleep.If you find that you wake up with your braid loosened or unruly hair, try sleeping with a slightly tighter braid. You can also try sleeping with a silk pillowcase to tame your hair while you sleep.