Just mentioning that you frequently go to bed with wet hair will trigger aghast faces from most experts: It’s something that is widely considered a no-go. But, c’mon, is it really that bad? And even if it’s not ideal for strands, is there any way to make it better for the nights there’s really no other option? Or are you—gasp—going to be forced into a life of morning showers for good? “Simply put, hair is at its most vulnerable when wet. Sleeping with wet hair can lead to a host of problems for the scalp: unwanted bacteria, fungal infections, skin irritation, itchiness, dryness, redness, and dandruff,” says hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of hair care brand Miss Jessie’s Original. “Also, it can damage the hair cuticle, flatten strands, create an unpleasant hair odor (dampness mixed with natural sweat) and leave you with a matted mess of hair.” Essentially, the most concerning part about sleeping with your hair wet is that it leaves your hair open to damage, tangling, and splits. So if you are someone who perpetually wakes up to knotted, frizzy, and brittle strands, you may want to quit the night shower. And, too, if you are also someone who suffers from scalp concerns like irritation, flakes, and inflammation, you may also need to reevaluate your habit, as it may be the root cause you hadn’t considered yet. So sounds, ahem, not great. However, most stylists will also agree that there’s certainly some nuance here. “I think something like this is case by case,” says hairstylist Marcus Frances, an ambassador for hair care brand Better Natured. “Yes, when the hair is damp it usually is more fragile so the friction against your pillow can, not always, further weaken the hair causing split ends or breakage. But this tends to be a bigger concern for those who already have really damaged hair. If that’s not you, you’ll probably find you don’t run into these issues.” Basically: if you find that it’s not messing with your scalp, style, or strands, you can continue as normal, just with a few of these caveats. This will give your hair time to air dry, so even if your strands aren’t perfectly free of moisture, they’re better than sopping wet. “I would love to mention that sleeping with ‘wet’ hair isn’t great, but ‘damp’ hair, where there is some air and dryness throughout the hair, is fine,” says Frances. Branch agrees: “Always take a few minutes and try to let the hair dry before going to sleep—either air dry (the best dry), use a microfiber towel to blot excess water, or use a diffuser on a blow dryer set to low to get out some of the moisture.” This may just take some experimenting to figure out what products you need to apply and how best to “style it” as you sleep. For example, for those with very loose waves who are looking to amp up texture, using braids may be more beneficial; those with curls may employ the ‘plopping method’ with a silk scarf or water-wicking T-shirt to really get the hair to spring.
