You’ve just stepped out of a warm shower, your hair is clean and damp, and the comfort of your bed is calling. It’s tempting to just skip the blow-dryer and hit the pillow. But is sleeping with wet hair a harmless time-saver, or a habit that could be causing more problems than it’s worth?
While it might seem like a simple convenience, this common practice can have some surprising effects on both your hair and your health. Let’s look at what really happens when you go to bed with wet hair.
The Problem with a Wet Pillow
Your hair is at its most fragile when it’s wet. Tossing and turning on a cotton pillowcase creates friction, which can lead to increased breakage, split ends, and frustrating frizz. This friction can also rough up the hair’s outer layer, leaving it looking dull and feeling rough.
Could It Cause a Headache?
You might have heard an old warning that sleeping with wet hair can give you a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, not temperature. However, sleeping with a wet head can cause the blood vessels in your scalp to constrict from the cooler temperature of evaporation. For some people, this can potentially trigger a tension headache or make you feel chilly and uncomfortable, disrupting a good night’s sleep.
A Closer Look at Scalp Health
This is perhaps the most significant concern. Your pillow is not a perfectly clean, dry environment. When you sleep with a damp scalp, you’re creating a warm, moist, and dark environment—the perfect breeding ground for fungi and bacteria. This can lead to scalp issues like irritation, dandruff, or even infections like folliculitis, which causes small, itchy bumps.
Tips for Safer Damp-Hair Sleeping
If you absolutely must sleep with wet hair, there are ways to minimize the risks. The best approach is to swap your cotton pillowcase for a silk or satin one. These materials create much less friction, helping to prevent breakage and frizz. You can also try loosely braiding your damp hair or using a soft, coiled hair tie to put it in a loose, high ponytail. This helps to prevent tangles and reduces the amount of time your scalp is pressed against a damp surface.
Wrapping Up
While sleeping with wet hair occasionally is unlikely to cause major long-term damage, making it a regular habit can lead to weaker, more brittle hair and potential scalp problems. For the health of your hair and your comfort, it’s generally best to let your hair air-dry completely before you go to sleep, or at least take steps to protect it if it’s still a little damp.