When It's a Wash Night. After washing your hair, gently pat away excess water, then apply a leave-in hydrator. "The moisturizing formula protects strands while in bed," says Patrick Ferrara, a hairstylist in New York. "Damp hair is especially fragile.
If you wash your hair in the evening, it's very important to ensure that it is fully dry before you climb into bed. Hair is more prone to breakage and tangling when wet, so tossing and turning in bed with wet hair can cause it to become damaged, split, or broken.
Apply a leave-in conditioner or light serum to ensure your hair retains the moisture after a wash. This will also help you detangle your hair more easily, especially if it's long. Run a wide-tooth comb through your wet hair to remove tangles.
The kind of breakage that comes with sleeping with wet hair only develops after doing so chronically, Dr. Cheng says. So, if you can, try not to only sleep with wet hair and try not to do it every single night. But doing it once in a while isn't likely to cause problems.
There are high chances that if you wash your hair at night, you might go to sleep with wet hair. Practicing this can not only make you sick, but your hair will also appear more tangled than usual. This happens because the cuticle of hair remains open after the wash.
On the other hand, washing your hair at night can be disadvantageous, too. For starters, your hair stays damp for a long time, and going to sleep while your hair is still wet can harm both your health and the quality of your hair. It is important that you dry your hair, comb it, tie it properly and then go to bed.
Basically, if you're trying to minimize damage to your hair and keep your scalp healthy, it's probably not the best idea. When you go to bed with wet hair, you're creating a humid environment on your scalp, which leaves it more susceptible to the growth of yeast, explains Dr.
Bowman suggests flipping your head upside down—it may dry faster this way—and blasting it with a hair dryer until it's damp, not wet. Then, twist your hair into four loose buns (secured with scrunchies), and call it a night. If you have naturally straight hair, a single bun will give you a looser wave.
Leaving your long hair open while sleeping can increase frizziness and cause hair loss eventually. “Tying your hair tightly can damage your hair roots and cause traction alopecia [1]. Hence, you need to wear your hair in a loose ponytail or braid which does not apply much pulling force on your scalp,” says Dr.
On top of breakage, air-drying can also increase frizz, build-up, and mildew, especially for afro-textured and curly hair. "Hair that stays wet or damp for a long period can attract bacteria and fungus, especially if you have very dense hair," explains Jennie Roberts, a celebrity hairstylist and texture hair educator.
Twist your hair into a top knot and wrap it into a bun while going to bed. Use a silk scarf and tie it into a headband to make sure your hair doesn't touch the pillowcase. In the morning take your hair down and flip it upside down and side to side. Resist the urge to brush as it causes more friction and frizz.
Showering or bathing 1–2 hours before bed can also give hair a chance to dry naturally. To avoid hair damage, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that people: condition their hair every time they wash it. gently comb wet hair with a wide-toothed comb.
Washing your hair at night gives it more time to dry naturally, which is great for the health of your scalp and hair. Exposing your hair to the highest heat setting of your hairdryer when you're in a hurry can cause severe damage.
Many people prefer to wash their hair at night before they head to sleep. This is an ideal option for those who don't want to use excessive heat on their hair and would rather let their hair dry overnight. You can simply wash and condition your hair, gently comb through your strands, and head to bed.
Leave your hair damp and create a loose bun on the top of your head, in the morning you will have beautiful waves. “Use your fingers to comb through so you don't flatten your hair. Finish with a light hold hairspray,” says Celebrity Hairstylist Angelo David Pisacreta of Angelo David Salon.
It should only be slightly damp, and definitely not completely wet. Sleeping with completely wet hair damages the follicle and causes breakage, so you'll want to blast it with the hairdryer to dry out 70 per cent of your hair, or let it naturally dry till it's just a little damp,” says Sabanayagam.
Don't Go to Bed With Wet Hair
Additionally, you will cause frizz with any movement you make while sleeping. Make sure that if you are planning on washing your hair at night, you leave enough time for your hair to fully air-dry.
The best time to brush your hair is when it is almost or completely dry. But if you have tangles after washing it or after a swim, you can use a wide-tooth comb on your wet hair to restore order but make sure it has smooth tooth ends so you don't irritate your scalp. Try the Scunci de-tangling comb.
Hair that's wet and filled with moisture is more fragile than hair that's dry, which can result in snapping when brushed. As such, it's recommended to brush hair in a dry state (guide-to-detangling-curls). This may mean allowing your hair to air-dry post-shower before beginning to comb through hair strands.
It's been said it strips your locks of natural oils and can lead to breakages and frizzy hair. However an expert says it can in fact be more damaging to let your hair dry naturally - and in fact makes it greasier.