Health Update: Health Update: Is it bad to sleep with wet hair? How to maintain healthy hair – What Experts Say– What Experts Say.
Recession-proof hair is trending again, here’s what women are doing
Here’s why the term “recession-proof hair” is trending again.
In the realm of hair care, there’s a few crystal clear dos and don’ts: cleanse regularly, heat protectant is a non-negotiable and the occasional hair mask can do wonders for replenishing lost moisture. But what about sleeping with wet hair?
More than likely, you’ve heard that going to sleep with a head of wet hair probably isn’t the best idea, but is it flat out terrible? Overall, hair is pretty resilient, but sleeping on it wet could lead to damage, frizz and possibly a fungal infection – all of which are less than ideal. We asked a trichologist — a hair and scalp specialist — to break down a few key concerns.
Is hair more fragile when wet?
Yes, hair is more fragile when wet. When you wash your hair, your strands absorb water, and the cuticles that protect your hair from everyday wear and tear open up. While this isn’t inherently bad, when your hair is in this state, it becomes more vulnerable to damage and frizzing, says Kevin Mancuso, a trichologist, hair stylist and formulation co-creator at Nexxus.
Here’s the science behind it: Hair is made up of proteins, and virtually everything we do to our hair, including sleeping on it when wet, causes a natural loss of these protective proteins, Mancuso says. However, just because your hair becomes more fragile when wet doesn’t mean you should stop shampooing and conditioning on a regular basis; it just means you need to take steps to be extra gentle with your hair as it dries.
There are certain hair types that are more prone to breakage than others, including fine hair, frizz-prone hair with an uneven texture and bleached or color-treated hair, says Mancuso.
Is it OK to sleep with wet hair?
While it might be OK to go to sleep with wet hair occasionally, you should probably avoid it where possible. “I don’t really think hygienically, it’s a good suggestion for anyone,” Mancuso says. But in particular, “I would never recommend that anyone with fragile, extremely damaged hair go to bed with wet (or damp) hair.”
Not only can this contribute to further damage to your strands, you run the risk of developing a fungal infection on your scalp. Yeast and fungi grown in moist, warm environments, and if you’re consistently lying back on your pillow with wet hair, it effectively becomes a petri dish, he says.
If you have underlying scalp issues, such as seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), sleeping with wet hair is a particular concern, and could definitely make the dandruff worse. So, if you’re prone to dandruff, Mancuso recommends incorporating a shampoo like Nizoral, or more broadly speaking, a shampoo that contains a high percentage of zinc, into your hair care routine.
How to maintain strong, healthy hair
“Hair is an extremely robust and resistant fiber,” says Mancuso. “(But) when it’s damaged, that’s when things change.” You’ll want to select a treatment regimen that’s going to protect your hair from further damage.
To keep your strands strong and healthy, and to protect the proteins in your hair, prioritize keeping your scalp clean and hair moisturized, Mancuso says. If you’re going to wash your hair at night, you’ll want to make sure it’s at the driest stage it can be before applying a heat protectant and blow drying your scalp on low heat. Then, to protect your hair as you sleep, loosely tie it back, and consider using a silk pillowcase to keep your hair friction-free, he recommends.