The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (2024)

Why do people go to bed with wet hair?
Why you shouldn't go to sleep with wet hair
What you should do instead

If you've been told the old wives' tale that says you should never eat before going swimming, you've probably also been told that sleeping with wet hair will make you ill.

With little evidence or explanation, it's highly likely you've ignored this warning, but could you be putting yourself in danger?

Before we get started, make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel for more household tips!

Why do people go to bed with wet hair?

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (1)

We've all been there. You've got to be out the door early the next morning, but your hair is looking less than presentable. You've got to make dinner and maybe even get the kids to bed so you'll leave the hair washing for later that night.

You've washed your hair but, either because you don't want to make noise or you simply don't have the energy, you skip the blow-dry. Heat is bad for your hair, isn't it? It'll be better to let it dry in your sleep.

You wake up and you wonder why you look like you've been electrocuted, but you don't have time to rewash it. It'll have to do.

Why you shouldn't go to sleep with wet hair

1. It could cause severe hair breakage

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (2)

Hair is at its weakest when wet, so it's not surprisingto hear that you'll be increasing the amount of breakage by leaving your hair wet whilst you sleep. As you toss and turn, friction will cause the hair to snap more easily than if your hair was dry.

You might think leaving your hair to air dry is better than applying heat, but is it really?

2. It'll make you feel cold

If you're sleeping in an air-conditioned room or it's the peak of winter, sleeping with wet hair will make you feel much colder.

Stop the shivers by giving your hair a proper blow dry. For a real treat, you can even blow dry your socks,pyjamas and bed sheets so they're nice and cosy.

3. You'll spend more time styling your hair

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (3)

The term 'bed head' exists for a reason! As your hair dries, it sets into place. When you sleep, your hair is twisted into all sorts of strange styles, and if it's drying while you sleep, it'll set that way too.

4. Worsens your immune system

The old wives' tale that you'll get ill from sleeping with wet hair isn'tcompletely true - you can't catch a virus simply from having wet hair.

That said, sleeping with wet hair can weaken your immune system which makes it more likely that you could catch a cold or flu virus.

5.Bacteria growth

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (4)

If there's one thing we all know, it's that the combination of water and warmth equals a rapid growth of bacteria. Just think how much bacteria will be growing on your pillow if you sleep with wet hair! The warmth from your head will make the damp pillow the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mould.

You might think that changing your bedsheets frequently will help, but the dampness from your hair will have penetrated into the pillow. Do you really want to rest your head on a bacteria haven every night?

6. Causes dandruff

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (5)

The warmth of your head and the prolonged dampness of your hair will cause bacteria and fungi to multiply on your scalp as well as your pillow.Sleeping with damp hair also strips the natural oils away from your hair as they are easily absorbed by the pillow's fabric along with the excess moisture.

The combination of bacteria growth and the loss of natural oils will make your scalp more likely to develop dandruff, and who wants that?

7. Makes your hair dull

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (6)

When the water is absorbed from your hair into the pillow's fabric the natural oils are taken too. Your hair will look so much duller and dehydrated without these oils.

Dehydrated hair is also much more likely to break. Remember that there is a big difference between hair that is dry to the touch and hair that is dehydrated of natural oils.

8. Can cause hair loss

Can you believe this? Going to bed with wet hair can result in hair loss and, more specifically, scalp ringworm. Scalp ringworm is a type of fungal infection, caused by warm and damp conditions.

It's highly contagious, so take care to wash anything that has come into contact with your scalp.We'd rather grow long hair than lose it!

9. It'll give you acne

If your pillow is crawling with bacteria, chances are you'll soon be experiencing a break out of acne. Your skin will thank you for drying your hair before you sleep.

What you should do instead

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss (7)

Sleeping with wet hair might cut a few corners, but to avoid any of the above, here's what you can do:

Wash your hair earlier in the evening - this will allow it to air dry before bed, without dampening your pillow.
Sleep with a silk pillowcase - this will reduce friction and prevent breakage.
Dry your hair with a t-shirt - this will cause less damage than a regular towel or prolonged blow-drying.
Apply a leave-in conditioner to strengthen your hair.
Never sleep with wet hair if you have hair extensions - they will become tangled and matted.
If you do sleep with wet hair, consider putting a waterproof pillow c overon your pillow and change fabric pillowcases every second day.

Do you ever go to bed with wet hair? Let us know in the comments below!

FAQs

The SCARY Reason Why Sleeping With Wet Hair Can Cause Hair Loss? ›

The friction caused by your hair rubbing against the pillow can cause it to break or develop split ends more easily. “In general, wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage than dry hair,” says Timothy Schmidt, MD, a dermatologist at University of Utah Health.

Does sleeping with wet hair cause hair loss? ›

If you have to sleep with wet hair, Gitau recommends pulling it back. Just do so gently — remember, wet hair is more prone to breakage, so avoid extra-tight hairstyles and stick with loose twists and braids. Sleeping with wet hair can cause hair breakage, which isn't quite the same thing as hair loss.

View Details ›

Can sleeping with wet hair cause illness? ›

However, there is no scientific evidence that wet hair directly causes any type of illness. Similarly, it has been long thought that exposure to cold temperatures causes the common cold, but there is little evidence to support that theory.

Discover More Details ›

What do people believe about sleeping with wet hair? ›

Despite the belief that sleeping with wet hair can cause health problems, there is little scientific evidence to support this idea. Sleeping with wet hair is unlikely to cause significant health problems for most people, but there are other reasons to reconsider going to bed with wet hair.

How to sleep with wet hair without damaging it? ›

Continuously sleeping with wet hair can lead to increased breakage, frizz, split ends, dryness, dandruff, and various scalp health issues. To mitigate potential damage you can sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, sleep in a loose braid or bun, or apply leave-in conditioner or hair oil before bed.

View Details ›

What happens if you sleep with your hair wet everyday? ›

The cuticles naturally lift up when wet, making the hair more vulnerable and prone to breakage. There are also scalp concerns associated with sleeping with wet hair like unwanted bacteria, fungal infections, skin irritation, itchiness, dryness, redness, and dandruff.

Is leaving your hair wet bad? ›

Sleeping and going out with wet hair cannot give a person a cold. However, doing so may have some disadvantages, including hair breakage and an increase in yeast and fungal overgrowth on the hair. People may decide that they should alter their routine to allow more time for drying their hair.

Read On ›

Is it bad to sleep with wet hair in a braid? ›

According to Branda, sleeping with wet braided hair is an absolute “no.” “You're giving bacteria a place to grow hiding in the weave of the wet braid,” she explains. Plus, she points out that wet hair is more elastic when wet than when it's dry, so all the pulling while braiding can result in breakage.

Find Out More ›

Is it okay to sleep with wet hair in a towel? ›

"Going to bed with wet or damp hair will most likely lead to more friction on the strands, ultimately leading to potential damage." That's why she says it's something that she advises against.

Is it bad to sleep with socks on? ›

“The wrong socks may overheat your legs and cause discomfort,” Dr. Singh says. “It may also cause sweating in between your toes and promote cutaneous fungal infections and irritation.” Lightweight and breathable materials are your best bet if you want to experiment with wearing socks to bed.

What is pineappling hair? ›

When done correctly, hair pineappling creates a beautiful pile of curls on top of your head that resembles — you guessed it — a pineapple. The idea is to loosely pull your curly hair off your neck and face so it stays out of the way to prevent tangles and creases.

Get More Info ›

What are reasons for hair loss? ›

Hair loss can happen due to many variables, such as genetic factors or predisposition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, skin problems, hair growth disorders, poor diet, hormonal problems, certain internal diseases, drug use, stress and depression, cosmetic factors, childbirth, and the chemotherapy process.

View Details ›

How to prevent hair loss? ›

To help prevent hair loss:

Eat a healthy diet that includes enough calories, protein and iron.
Find ways to cope with stress.
Manage thyroid disease or other medical conditions that could result in hair loss.
Avoid hairstyles that pull hair tightly.
During chemotherapy treatment, try a cooling cap.

View Details ›

Is it bad to sleep with your hair up? ›

Many will debate whether it's best to go to bed with an updo or if you should put your tresses down, but as with most things in beauty, it really depends. If you're putting your hair in a ponytail but you're creating too much tension at the crown of your head, it's not good for the health of your hair.

See Details ›