THE TRUTH ABOUT GOING TO SLEEP WITH WET HAIR

You probably think you’re a monster for doing it all the time, right? Here’s what dermatologists really think.

In general, the experts we spoke to said the health risks

of going to sleep with wet hair are pretty minimal. But depending on how fragile your hair is and other issues you might be dealing with (such as dandruff), you may be better off waiting for your hair to dry before hitting the hay.

DOES IT CAUSE BREAKAGE?

When hair, is wet it’s generally more prone to breakage, says clinical professor Dr Cheng. That’s because, when wet, the hair cuticle (the outer protective layer of the hair shaft) opens and makes the hair stretchier and more brittle. “When the hair cuticle is open, it can stretch more, so it can stretch in ways that can make the hair break more easily,” she says. That might happen if you’re brushing your hair while it’s still wet or, yes, if you’re naturally moving around while you sleep.

How much that matters depends on the natural state of your hair, which is determined by some other factors that will be unique to you. Those factors include genetics, continues Dr Cheng, but also how often you heat style your hair, whether or not you chemically or colour treat your hair, and in general, how much damage it’s already sustained.

It comes down to you and your hair preferences. If you feel like going to bed with your hair damp causes breakage, that might be true for you, and it might be worth thinking about changing your habits. But if you don’t notice any ill effects, you can totally keep doing it.

“Do what feels best for you,” says assistant professor Dr Stevenson. If you, like me, are someone who knows they prefer going to bed with damp hair, note that she adds, “I can reassure you that it’s fine to go to bed with your hair damp.”

POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS

In addition to the possibility for hair breakage, going to sleep with damp hair could contribute to some other health issues. In particular, the wetness of your hair coupled with a damp pillow could create the perfect moist, warm environment for yeast to flourish, including the yeast associated

“You may be better off waiting for your hair to dry before hitting the hay”

with dandruff, explains Dr Cheng. If you’re already prone to dandruff, know that consistently going to bed with damp hair might contribute to that.

HOW TO SLEEP MORE SAFELY WITH WET HAIR

Make sure it’s not sopping wet. Let’s be clear: your hair shouldn’t be so wet that it leaves your pillow damp, adds Dr Stevenson. Do your best to let your hair air-dry at least a bit before going to bed to reduce your risk for damage and dandruff.

Alternate your shower timing. It’s not like you’ll go to bed with damp hair one night and wake up the following morning with your hair falling out. The kind of breakage that comes with sleeping with wet hair only develops after doing so chronically, says Dr Cheng. So, if you can, try not to only sleep with wet hair and try not to do it every night. But doing it once in a while probably won’t cause problems.

Don’t wear it up. Going to bed with wet hair isn’t the biggest hair-slashsleeping mistake people make – it’s going to bed with their hair up in a tight hairstyle, explain Dr Stevenson. Some people find that putting their hair up in a loose bun helps give them curls or waves when they wake up. But consistently wearing tighter hairstyles (especially in your sleep when you may unknowingly put even more pressure on the hair) can pull too much on the hair follicle and cause real damage – even more so if your hair is wet and already prone to breakage.

Avoid other sources of hair damage. The degree to which going to bed with wet hair will cause damage depends partly on how much damage your hair has already sustained. So, if you’re someone who prefers to sleep with damp hair, avoid introducing other sources of hair damage, such as a colour treatment.

Try silk pillowcases or hair wraps. The thinking here is that these fabrics are much smoother than the standard cotton pillowcases, which means your hair movement while you sleep isn’t as aggressive. “Because the hair moves more naturally and its interaction with the material is different, it can be helpful,” says Dr Stevenson. But this isn’t something that’s been thoroughly researched, so, as usual, your mileage may vary.