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Sure, you might save time by skipping your morning shower but dealing with frizzy hair, stubborn cowlicks, and getting your part just right can eat up just as much time. If you’re noticing more split ends or breakage amongst your strands, sleeping with wet hair actually could be the cause. Shuffle your nightly routine around so that the very first step is to wash your hair. That way, it can air dry while you’re brushing your teeth, doing your skincare, packing lunches, reading, stretching, et cetera. Terri Rehkopf, stylist and founder of the San Antonio, TX-based Ippodaro Salon, has some very strong feelings about sleeping with wet hair.
Sleep on a silk pillowcase
This article will discuss the potential effects of sleeping with wet hair, including damage to the hair, creating an environment for microbial breeding, and the contribution to certain scalp conditions. Switching to a silk pillowcase is the best way to protect your hair, whether wet or dry. However, sometimes it is okay to go with damp hair, but even then, experts advise against it. Also, there is a possibility of catching a fungal infection as it may thrive in a moist environment. Mattress protectors are an important safeguard to keep your bed clean, fresh, and hygienic if you sleep with wet hair.
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With Wet Hair?
They are an easy solution to protect your investment and avoid permanent mattress rust stains or other damage. As we mentioned earlier, wet hair is vulnerable, and tight braids or messy knots can lead to hair loss and breakage. If you prefer not to sleep with your long hair down, opt for a very loose braid or a gently twisted bun secured with a silk or satin scrunchie to prevent creasing, especially if you have fine hair. Water and shampoo break down the protective hair cuticle, leaving your hair exposed to damage. Read on to find out what’s at risk if you don’t dry your hair before bed, plus ways to minimize the damage if you’re pressed for time or just too tired to pull out the blow-dryer.
Benefits of Sleeping With Damp Hair
To reduce the chance of damage or issues from having wet hair when sleeping, a person can try the following techniques. When wet hair extensions get tangled, this can also damage your natural hair, says Dr. Engelman. Drying your hair thoroughly before going to bed will prevent these issues.
When it comes to wet hair, these pillowcases absorb less moisture, keeping hydrating products on your head instead of your pillow. Even if you don’t go to bed with wet hair, bacteria, sweat and dead skin cells all build up on your bedding. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you should wash your bedding twice a week, but many experts suggest at least once a week to prevent skin breakouts and to avoid exacerbating conditions, such as allergies and asthma. Many people believe that sleeping with wet hair can increase the risk of developing a cold.
If you regularly sleep with wet hair, you’ll want to do this more often due to potential bacterial growth. There is no scientific evidence that sleeping with wet hair causes a cold. The common cold is caused by viruses spread from person to person through droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing, or contaminated surfaces. Most adults experience a common cold infection about two to three times per year, whether or not they sleep with wet hair.
What Are The Downsides Of Sleeping With Wet Hair?
The latter are usually riddled with problems of drying their hair correctly before bed. Taking a shower with warm water can soothe your muscles and relieve stress, making it easier to fall asleep. It can not only help you relax and improve sleep quality but also help keep the mattress clean and promote better hygiene. Look for a waterproof mattress protector designed for your mattress type. Breathable options like cotton terry or micro-vented materials will prevent overheating. Fitted protectors that wrap the whole mattress are more effective than pad styles.
5 reasons why sleeping with wet hair is a terrible, terrible idea - Health shots
5 reasons why sleeping with wet hair is a terrible, terrible idea.
Posted: Sun, 17 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If your hair is prone to tangles, consider trying coiled hair ties like these spiral ones from Kitsch. Because they're made of plastic coils, they don't sit flush around the hair and are less likely to cause unruly knots, breakage, and ponytail bumps (especially if you tie it loosely at the nape of your neck). When it comes to the health of your hair and skin, there may be a few other legitimate reasons to worry about water-logged locks. Research from 2015 shows that coconut oil can reduce protein loss in undamaged and damaged hair. A study from 2015 suggests that a person may wash their hair every day without causing an issue. Frequent and regular cleaning with a well-formulated shampoo will not damage the hair.
If you shower before bed, allot some time for your hair to air dry or blow dry your hair to about 70 percent dry before you check out for the night. Removing most of the moisture from your hair will help to make it less vulnerable while you sleep. To prevent sleeping on wet hair, use absorbent towels, time your hair wash strategically and swap your pillowcase for a silk one to decrease friction. Hair is more vulnerable when wet, therefore sleeping with wet hair down may result in damage, split ends, and tangles.
You may even need to change your sheets if your hair was wet enough to dampen them during the night. Also, a waterproof mattress protector can help extend the life of your mattress and keep it as clean as possible if you’re going to be sleeping with wet hair regularly. Park recommends laying a towel over your pillow if you’ll be sleeping with wet hair. “This limits moisture penetration into the pillowcase, and helps absorb moisture from the hair to help it dry while you sleep,” she says. Braiding wet hair can help to keep your strands protected and when you wake up, you’ll have gorgeous loose waves.
One of the main duties of a leave-in conditioner is to protect hair from physical damage. Essentially, they coat the strand with a protective layer of nutrients, oils, and emollients that keep hair from snagging and tangling. Sleeping on a damp pillowcase may create a breeding ground for microbes such as bacteria, and may cause problems for those prone to clogged pores and acne. Be sure to (gently) detangle your hair before going to sleep to help avoid any extra stress on your hair. Acne can happen when pores become blocked by the body’s natural oils and dead skin cells.
Another less-considered drawback, Dr. Gohara says, is that sleeping with wet hair could interrupt your sleep, making you less likely to get a good night’s rest. Repeated nights of poor sleep may cause your cortisol levels to rise, which can increase inflammation throughout the body, potentially leading to more breakouts, Dr. Gohara explains. But hair breakage and flaking aren’t your only concerns—the risks of sleeping with wet hair extend to your skin, too. However, if someone’s interested in improving their hair health, there are other things they can do to reduce friction and hair breakage, in addition to sleeping on dry hair. Another common belief is that sleeping with wet hair can result in headaches.
Some may choose to shower at the end of the day as part of their relaxing bedtime routine and feel more comfortable getting directly into bed with wet hair. Some hairstylists may suggest sleeping with conditioned damp hair to enhance certain hairstyles. There is no direct evidence that sleeping with wet hair will cause a person to develop acne. Nonetheless, some people caution against sleeping on a damp pillow, believing it to be an ideal environment for certain types of bacteria to thrive, potentially increasing the risk of skin problems like acne.
“Generally, it’s thought not to be good for hair to sleep with it wet,” says Dr. George Cotsarelis, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Over time—anywhere from a few days to weeks or months—water can degrade a hair follicle’s protective outer layer, which is called the cuticle, he explains. Once that cuticle breaks down, water can penetrate it and rupture the follicle’s inner cortex. The resulting damage can lead to breakages, he says, as well as a loss of shine and elasticity.
However, doing so may have some disadvantages, including hair breakage and an increase in yeast and fungal overgrowth on the hair. People may decide that they should alter their routine to allow more time for drying their hair. Going outside or to bed with wet hair does not increase the risk of becoming sick. However, warm and damp environments, such as a pillow in contact with a person’s wet hair, may lead to infections on the scalp or face.
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