Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Sleep with Wet Hair

It’s not news that sleeping with wet hair can make you sick. At the very least, our mothers must have bugged our ears with that. But wait for a second! What if they’re correct? What if sleeping with wet hair makes you sick? But perhaps not in the way they’ve told you.

The Wet hair vs. the Cold myth

To think about it. But why haven’t you heeded your mother’s advice? It’s because you probably haven’t experienced the negative consequences they warned you about. Sad for mums.

The bad news for moms is that, while there is a correlation between cold and wet hair, there is no evidence of a causative relationship. That is, there is no scientific proof that wet hair causes cold. Instead, the common cold is caused by infection with one of over 200 cold-causing viruses, the most common of which is a rhinovirus. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks, the virus enters your body via your nose, mouth, or eyes and spreads through air droplets.

However, this is the point at which the game shifts in their favor. Moms could also be correct. Woohoo. Yes. While they are incorrect about wet hair and colds, sleeping with wet hair increases your chances of developing some hair conditions. Let’s go over a few examples.

Common hair conditions associated with wet hair

Hair breakage

Wet hair is much more prone to breakage and damage than dry hair. Keratins are proteins that make up the majority of hair. The cuticles, which act as a protective covering, keep them safe. These proteins form weaker hydrogen bonds in wet hair than in dry, keratinized hair (protein-protein bonds). Therefore, when the hair is exposed to water, this weak bond makes it prone to breakage.

But how, right? It’s because wet hair expands as it is combed, but hair, unlike a rubber band, does not spring back to its original shape after being stretched. This causes cuticle cracking and lifting. Even if the hair relaxes back, the cuticle remains lifted, causing your hair to feel rough and damaged. Wet hair, therefore, necessitates additional attention to maintain its shape.

Scalp conditions

Sleeping with wet hair can encourage the growth of harmful microbes, leading to scalp problems. Let’s look at some of the most common examples and how they occur.

Bacteria

Bacteria thrive in moist, warm conditions because they thrive on the combination of water and heat. If you sleep with wet hair, you’ll have a lot of germs on your pillow. This becomes a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria and molds.

Even though you may think that changing your sheets frequently will help, the dampness from your hair will have gotten into the pillow. Do you want to sleep on a bacteria-infested mattress night after night? I guess not.

Dandruff

Dandruff is caused by a fungus called Malassezia, and Like bacteria, fungi also thrive in moist conditions. Your scalp and pillow will become infested with bacteria and fungi due to the heat of your head and the long-term dampness of your hair. The natural oils in your hair are also lost when you sleep with wet hair because the pillow’s fabric absorbs them along with the excess moisture.

Hair loss

I understand that this is where the rubber meets the road for many people. Unfortunately, this is true. As you may be aware, several factors contribute to hair loss. While androgenic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, dandruff and ringworm are also significant factors. According to research, if these conditions are not treated, they almost always result in some form of hair loss.

What can I do?

But that’s not all we’ve got for you. If you’re still that lazy person who would instead not take a bath than deal with the stress of drying? If you think drying your hair before bed is a difficult option for whatever reason, here are some things you can do to make sleeping with wet hair as safe as possible:

Apply coconut oil to your hair and scalp

According to reliable sources, coconut oil protects wet hair from breakage. Flaps of hair cuticle are similar to shingles on the roof of the hair follicle. The flaps that form when your hair is wet are more vulnerable to damage because of the water they absorb and the swelling that occurs. But coconut oil will reduce water absorption, making it less vulnerable to damage.

Seborrheic eczema sufferers should not use this method because coconut oil can exacerbate the condition.

Using conditioner is a good idea

Hair is easier to detangle when the cuticle is covered with conditioner, which reduces friction. When it comes to hair that has been dyed or chemically treated, conditioner can do better than usual.

As much as possible, dry and detangle your hair

If you can squeeze in a quick blow dry or a few extra minutes in the shower so that your hair can dry naturally, do so. It’s better to have less water in your hair to prevent damage. Ensure to detangle your hair before you go to sleep so that it doesn’t have to deal with any additional stress.

Invest in a silk pillow if you can

Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is thought to be better for your skin because it is less. It’s claimed that silk pillowcases and hair wraps are beneficial for your skin and hair. The idea is that because these materials are much smoother than standard cotton pillowcases, your hair will move less aggressively while you sleep. While this is not yet a proven fact, many experts have strongly agreed and recommended it as a remedy.

Conclusion

You’ve seen that sleeping with wet hair is bad for you, but not in the way the myth has claimed. We urge you to take seriously the safety precautions listed above; doing so will save you a lot of money and undue regret in the long run.