For ladies with long hair especially, I must admit that getting a thorough hair dry after a night shower can be tiresome. Who wouldn’t just want to jump on their bed after a stressful day? Of course, almost everyone wants that. But what if this innocent action is having a negative impact on you. What if sleeping with wet hair is a significant contributor to your hair conditions. How, right? I bet you want to know.
This article will explore some of the ills associated with sleeping with wet hair. But we will also provide you with a backdoor to circumvent the rules.
What is the risk involved?
Having wet hair when you go to bed is bad for your health, and hair, to be precise. There are risks involved in taking a late bath.
Some common risks are:
It might make your scalp itchy
Everyone feels unpleasant when their scalp itches or irritates them. Our shampoo is usually to blame for that when unknown to us, our habit of going to be with our hair wet is the cause of our problem. Scalps conditions, such as dandruff, ringworms, etc., can occur if you sleep on a wet pillowcase.
When there is a lot of water and heat, bacteria thrive. With wet hair, you’ll have a lot of germs on your pillow. It will become an excellent place for harmful bacteria and molds (fungi) to grow as your head heats the damp pad.
It doesn’t matter how often you change your sheets. Water from your hair will have dripped into the pillow, and that dampness will be there. The result will be the same: a hotbed for microbes.
It explains why you have a knotty and frizzy hair
When your hair is wet, it is very fragile. People who do not dry their hair before bed may get knots as they sleep. As soon as you get out of bed, your hair will be wavy and difficult to detangle, which will make your morning even more stressful.
It will also impact the appearance of your hair too. Frizz is caused when your hair and pillowcase make contact with each other in a damp condition. You sure don’t want that.
The good news is, by drying your hair before going to bed, you can save yourself cool money on anti-frizz treatments that they would have incurred if they had not done so.
It leads to hair breakage
Compared to dry hair, wet hair is far more vulnerable to breaking and damage.
Hair is composed mainly of keratin proteins. They are protected by the cuticles, which serve as a barrier. When hair is wet, these proteins form weaker hydrogen bonds than dry and keratinized (protein-protein bonds) hair. This makes the hair more vulnerable to damage and breakage.
Also, note that combed wet hair expands as it grows, but unlike a rubber band, hair does not return to its former shape after it is stretched. This results in cuticle damage and lifting. But even if the hair seemingly goes back to its former position, it is not so for the cuticle.
It can lead to loss of hair
It’s hard to believe. But there is the possibility that going to bed with wet hair can make your hair fall out and get ringworm on your scalp. People get scalp ringworm when they are in warm and moist places. If you touch something that has these bacteria and they come into contact with your scalp, you should make sure you wash immediately.
You can circumvent this rule
We have good news for you. You wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not you slept with wet hair if you can follow a few simple guidelines: a kind of immunity, if you will.
It will help if you wet less
The most straightforward approach to reduce sleeping on damp hair is to wet it less. Your scalp, hair type, and lifestyle determine the amount of shampoo you use. However, individuals with textured or curly hair are advised to use less shampoo. Dry, textured hair is very delicate. Curly hair should be washed less frequently, once or twice a week, using gentle cleansers and moisturizers.
A silk pillow will suffice
Silk sleepwear isn’t just pretty to look at; it’s also good for your hair: Use a silk or satin pillowcase, headband, or cap to sleep with. Silk and satin, unlike cotton, prevent friction (which causes hair pulling, tugging, stretching, breaking, and tangling) and help prevent absorption of natural oils.
Protect it with leave-in conditioners
A leave-in protects hair from physical harm. They cover the strand with nutrients and oils that prevent snagging and tangling.
It will help if you avoid other things that can damage your hair
The more damage your hair has already had, the more likely it is that going to bed with your hair wet will cause more damage. If you like to sleep with damp hair, try not to do things that can damage your hair, like coloring your hair or using heat styling often.
As much as you can, dry and detangle your hair
For example, if you can get a quick blow dry or show up at the bathroom a few minutes early, do it. The less water you have in your hair, the less likely it will get a lot of damage. Gently detangle your hair before you go to sleep so that your hair doesn’t have to deal with any extra stress while it is asleep.
The takeaway
You might not want to keep going to bed with wet hair if you already have damaged hair or a bad scalp. If that’s the case, you might want to figure out a new wash schedule so your hair is better cared for. No price is too much for perfect and good-looking hair. It may cost you comfort, but in the end, you will benefit from it.