How sleeping with wet hair is harmful + what to do about it

Restoring dry, damaged locks is not an easy task. The road to healthy hair can be a long one, especially if you use hot tools every day. Luckily, there are plenty of products on the market that make hair stronger and healthier, but even if you have all the people in the world making connections, a few sneaky habits can quickly get in the way of your progress.
Here, find a common mistake that can easily lead to breakage, especially for already damaged strands.
Here’s the sad truth for those with thick, slow-drying hair: sleeping with wet hair is not a good idea. Your hair and scalp are actually more susceptible to damage when your strands are wet. Some specific risks include “unwanted bacteria, fungal infections, skin irritation, itching, dryness, redness and dandruff,” hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie’s hair brand, previously told mbg.
What’s more, sleeping with wet hair can lead to more tangles and split ends. So if your hair is prone to knots or frizz at the ends, you might want to make sure your hair is completely dry before bed, or opt for a morning shower.
If you can give your hair more time to air dry (like showering earlier in the evening), that’s fine. Otherwise, choose a quick dry to remove most of the excess water. Hair doesn’t have to be completely dry, just a light swipe is enough. Just make sure you use a low heat setting – as we mentioned, frequent heat styling is the secret to loosening your strands.
However, if you don’t think your hair is damaged (heat, discoloration, etc.), you can sleep with damp hair. Just pay attention to how your hair and scalp look and feel (yes, look at your scalp in the mirror) and maybe buy a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction. If you’re not experiencing any of the problems Branch mentioned, that means you can still sleep with your hair wet if you want. After all, not everyone takes a morning shower.
Sleeping with wet hair can cause a lot of problems with your hair and scalp, because the hair structure is most fragile when wet, and therefore more susceptible to damage. Instead of going to bed with wet hair, take a shower before bed or dry it quickly with a hair dryer before going to bed. If you want your strands to grow, consider creating a complete routine – here’s a complete guide to getting you started.