Sleeping with Wet Hair is Not an Old Wives’ Tales: Real Facts!

Sleeping with wet hair is one of the old wives’ tales that most of us are still believing. But we should not fall into that trap? Instead, let us look for the facts!

Sleeping with wet hair has little evidence that it causes illnesses. But the real facts are it can damage your hair. There are different reasons why you should stop sleeping with wet hair. If this is one of your old habits, this is the time to stop it.

Real Facts of Sleeping with Wet Hair

Face the truth that you cannot sleep with your wet hair. Why? There are many valid reasons which can give you the gorgeous hair you are dreaming about.

Severe hair breakage, not a headache, though.

When you sleep with wet hair, do not be surprised if you will see some breakage to your hair.

Science proves that: Your hair is at its weakest when wet, so you will need to be extra careful. So sleeping with wet hair increases the chance of breakage by making friction while you toss and turn. The conflict will cause your hair to snap more quickly than if your hair was dry.

It can make you feel colder, not the AC.

Maybe you are wondering why you feel colder when you are in an air-conditioned room while sleeping with wet hair? Do not be afraid; you are not getting sick.

Science proves that: The wet hair makes your body temperature lower, making your body shivers. So, after getting a bath before going to sleep, do not forget to use a hairdryer to make you feel a little bit warm.

Spend more time at the salon for treatment

Do not expect that your stylist can get your hair fixed after sleeping with it while wet. They can use alternative ways to stop the breakage and give you the bouncy and shiny look.

Science explains that: As your hair dries while sleeping with it, you can make your hair twisted in all sorts of directions. Then when you wake up, you will be shocked by your hairstyle.

Increase bacteria growth in your pillows and bedsheets.

Wondering why your pillow and bedsheets have some smell like it was laundry and did not fully dry afterward? It is because you tend to sleep with your wet hair.

Science explains that: When you lie down with your wet hair, you will be growing plenty of bacteria on your pillow. The warmth from your head will make it the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold. There is no solution with this, but to make sure your hair is dry before you sleep.

Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp problems.

Aside from hair tangle and breakage, sleeping with wet hair can cause other hair problems. The warmth of your head and the prolonged dampness can cause your scalp to develop bacteria while sleeping with damp hair.

Science says that: When you sleep while your hair is wet, your pillow can easily absorb the excess moisture from your hair. Hence, the combination of bacteria and loss of natural oils will make your scalp more likely to develop dandruff.

Also, this can cause hair loss because of scalp ringworm. Scalp ringworm is a type of fungal infection that is caused by warm and damp conditions of your scalp. So you should not hesitate to check your anything that has come into contact with your scalp.

Not enough drying of hair can cause dehydration of your hair.

If sleeping with wet hair is one of your habits, then you should stop doing it. One of the reasons is related to the hydration state of your hair. Remember that dehydration is about hair breakage.

Science says that: When water from your hair is absorbed into your pillow’s fabric, then natural oils are taken too. It is the cause of why your hair looks duller and dehydrated.

Our Insights

When sleeping with wet hair, different problems may occur. Aside from scalp problems and getting ill, you can get acne. Bacteria can cause acne in your pillow, which can get to your skin.

Now you know the things that are caused by sleeping with wet hair, you should take some remedies if you cannot avoid it. One rule you should follow is to keep your damp hair from dampening to your pillow. For instance, you can wash your hair a few hours before you go to bed and make sure you dry it thoroughly. You can also opt to use a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and prevent breakage. Also, you can skip using a regular towel if you want to lessen the damage to your hair. Instead, you can use your t-shirt. Then you can apply conditioner to your hair, but make sure you can leave it so it can protect your hair for tangles and breakage.

If you are a fan of using hair extension, make sure you remove it before sleeping with it. It will cause breakage to your hair and get matted. But if you cannot avoid sleeping with wet hair, you can consider putting a waterproof pillow cover so you can prevent your pillowcase from getting wet.