Silk Head Scarf for Daytime and Bedtime: Choose a Fold for Each Use

You can use one silk head scarf for daytime and bedtime by switching the fold. During the day, tie a square scarf as a visible triangle with a double knot at the nape. At night, use a larger triangle wrap that covers your hair, knots at the nape, and tucks the loose fabric out of the way.

The same scarf can do both jobs only if its shape and size let it finish both methods. A square that looks great knotted at the nape may still be too small to cover and tuck the hair you want to wrap at night. So pick the fold by the job first, then check whether your scarf can actually do that job.

Use a triangle tie for daytime and a tucked triangle wrap at bedtime

Both methods start with a triangle, but they finish differently. The daytime tie is all about the look and ends in a knot you can see. The bedtime wrap is about coverage and ends with every loose edge tucked under.

Daytime: fold a square scarf into a triangle

This is the simplest way to wear a scarf on your head as an accessory. It works well with an open collar, a ponytail, or loose hair at the back. Allure describes this look as a square scarf folded into a triangle and tied at the nape. A double knot keeps the ends from slipping apart.

1. Lay a square scarf flat and fold it in half diagonally, corner to corner, so you have a triangle.
2. Place the triangle over your head with the long folded edge toward the front.
3. Bring the two side ends back to the nape of your neck, under any hair you want to leave out.
4. Tie the ends in a double knot at the nape and smooth the fabric over the crown.

These steps are written for a square scarf. If yours is long and narrow, the corner-to-corner fold won't give you the same triangle, so treat it as a different style. For headbands, bows, and other looks once you have this one down, try our more scarf-tying ideas. We also cover silk scarf styles for hair that go with summer outfits.

Bedtime: wrap the triangle around the hair and tuck it

At night the job changes from style to coverage. You want the scarf to hold your hair in and leave no loose tails that slide off or bunch up while you sleep. wikiHow outlines a large-scarf triangle wrap tied at the nape and tucked, and that sequence is the one to follow here.

1. Take a large silk scarf and fold one corner over to meet the opposite corner, making a triangle.
2. Drape the long folded edge over your forehead so the point hangs toward the back of your head.
3. Wrap the folded ends along your hairline and back to the nape of your neck.
4. Tie the ends into a knot at the nape.
5. Use your fingers to tuck the long ends and the loose corner under the edges of the scarf.

That last tuck is what makes this a bedtime wrap and not a daytime tie. When you finish, the long ends and the loose corner should sit tucked beneath the edges of the scarf, with no flaps hanging free. If you can't tuck the tails and corner in, that tells you something about the scarf's size, which the next section covers.

Check whether one scarf has enough coverage and fabric

One scarf works for both uses only if it can finish both sequences around your hair. Try the bedtime wrap with your hair arranged the way you'll actually sleep. Then look for the result each step needs. The steps in the bedtime method give you a simple way to check coverage, nape reach, and fabric for tucking:

• Shape for daytime: The scarf is square, so the diagonal fold makes a true triangle. Allure's diagonal-fold daytime tie starts from a square.
• Coverage at night: With the long edge at your forehead, the scarf covers all the hair you want inside.
• Nape reach: Both folded ends reach the back of your neck with enough length left to tie a knot.
• Tuck room: After knotting, there's still fabric in the tails and point to push under the scarf edge.

If the scarf passes all four, it can handle daytime styling and bedtime. If it fails the coverage, reach, or tuck check, keep it for the daytime tie and use a larger scarf at night. There isn't one size that fits every head and every amount of hair. When you shop, one scarf-tying guide suggests at least 32 by 32 inches for full head coverage. Use that as a starting point and let the in-hand check above make the final call.

FAQs

Does the daytime triangle method work with a rectangular scarf?

The diagonal fold and nape double knot in Allure's simple kerchief tie are written for a square kerchief. A rectangle won't fold corner to corner into the same even triangle, so the steps don't carry over as written. If your scarf is rectangular, save this look for a square one, or pick a style made for long scarves.

Should I make a loose bun before wrapping my hair?

A loose bun near the back of your head is an optional first step in the wikiHow bedtime scarf method. The same guide says to skip it if your hair is short or you want to keep a particular style in place. If you do use a bun, set it before you fold the scarf so the wrap covers it.

Does the bedtime wrap guarantee an all-night hold?

No. The bedtime guide gives you tying and tucking steps, not a promise that the wrap will stay put all night for every sleeper. A snug nape knot with every end tucked in gives the wrap its best chance. If you'd rather have a covering that doesn't depend on a knot, our guide to silk vs. satin bonnets compares fit and overnight security.