Calling all people who prefer night showers to morning showers: this one’s for you. If you shower at night, chances are you hit the hay with wet hair more often than not. Ever wonder if there are repercussions to sleeping with wet hair — or if there is a proper way to sleep on hair, like braiding wet hair before bed? If this question and more like these have ever crossed your mind, we’re here to share some answers. Keep scrolling to learn about what can happen when you sleeping with wet hair for each hair type, plus some easy hairstyles you can sleep in to preserve your wet strands.
Is Sleeping with Wet Hair Bad?
You may be familiar with your mother or grandmother telling you not to go outside with wet hair for fear of catching a cold, but what about sleeping with wet hair? According to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the belief that the common cold can be caused by wet hair is, in fact, nothing but a myth. So, in short, sleeping with wet hair won’t make you sick.
Does Sleeping with Wet Hair Cause Headaches?
Another common belief is that sleeping with wet hair can result in headaches. The NCBI reveals that there is some research that suggests wet hair in cold weather can be a shaping factor for sinus headaches. That being said, more research needs to be done. When in doubt, though, it’s best to dry your hair before heading to sleep.
Can Sleeping with Wet Hair Damage Your Strands?
If you need a good reason not to sleep with hair, let it be the fact that it has the potential to be super damaging for your strands. As we mentioned, your hair is in its most fragile state when wet. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that wet hair should be handled as little as possible because wet hair breaks more easily than dry hair. This means some simple tossing and turning or sleeping on a rough pillowcase can cause breakage and split ends to occur.
Due to the fragile state of wet hair, the AAD recommends allowing your hair time to partially air dry before styling or combing it. This suggestion should also be applied to sleeping on your wet strands. If you don’t want to give up your nightly showers, consider leaving a few hours between your shower and bedtime to give your hair time to dry, or try using a blow dryer (with a heat protectant, of course) to rough dry your hair and speed up the process.
Does Sleeping on Wet Hair Lead to Knots and Tangles?
A few knots may not be as concerning as getting sick or causing damage to your hair, but it is a concern when it comes to sleeping on wet hair and it has some serious implications. If you tend to move a lot while sleeping, knotty hair can certainly be a result and this can lead to tugging and friction that can cause hair breakage. Brushing those harsh knots from your hair every morning can also lead to breakage because a hairbrush pulls on your strands.
Via: Lorealparisusa.com
