Why Should You Avoid Sleeping With Wet Hair?
Sleeping with wet hair can decompensate fungus on the scalp and cause dandruff, as well as cause other discomfort.
There are people who go to sleep with wet hair -even when it is cold- without taking into account that perhaps this is not recommended. They do it because it gives them a great feeling of freshness and a unique relaxation, especially in summer. But the truth is that they do more damage than they imagine.
Unlike what happens with other topics, the idea that “going to bed with wet hair is not healthy” is correct. Now, contrary to what you might think, the negative effects go beyond a cold; and it is that the scalp, as well as the muscles, are capable of being damaged. Find out how in the following article.
What happens when the hair is wet?
The damage that occurs when one falls asleep with wet hair is due to the increased sensitivity that is generated in the hair. By absorbing moisture, the cuticle opens; that is, it increases in size. This means that the proteins separate and break down. As a result, you are more exposed to bacteria and germs.
At the same time, as a result of the excessive sensitivity we were talking about, hair is more easily damaged: it dries, breaks, opens … Therefore, if you usually use masks or other treatments to beautify your hair, you will be minimizing its effect.
Finally, according to an article published by the Journal of the Spanish Pain Society , humidity favors inflammation of the muscles. Thus, sleeping with wet hair would also have a disastrous effect on it. You will notice it when the back pain is more and more frequent, when you are unable to get rid of the tightness of the neck or you experience how it suffers with crunching every time you twist it.
What problems can appear when sleeping with wet hair?
Once you have seen the reasons for not sleeping with wet hair, we invite you to discover the main problems that cause this bad habit. Read on and you will find a list of the complications that this activity brings with it.
Itching
Moisture causes the scalp to become inflamed. This will result in an uncomfortable itchy sensation. By instinct you will tend to scratch and, if you do it often, you run the risk of making small wounds that will increase the discomfort. Have you not had moments when this discomfort has appeared without knowing why?
Dandruff
According to a study carried out at Ain Shams University, one of the fundamental requirements to reduce the amount of dandruff is not to go to bed with wet hair.
The origin of dandruff is linked to a malfunction of a fungus in this part of the body. Its name is Malassezia , and its function is to feed on the fatty oils of the follicles to initiate the cellular renewal of the scalp. Process that lasts a month.
However, humidity alters the life of the fungi. In this case, they reproduce more quickly; so cell turnover accelerates uncontrollably. Thus, the new ones are mixed with the fatty oil to form a kind of flake, known as dandruff.
Headache
Again, the person responsible for this problem is humidity; as explained in the following study carried out by several researchers from the GATA Training Hospital. At night, the body warms up; Therefore, when it comes into contact with moisture, evaporation occurs, the effect of which is a progressive inflammation that leads to an intense headache.
Cold
The cold is inserted through the pores, but also it is transferred to the sheets and pillows. In turn, its tissues are in contact with the skin, throat, back … causing cough, mucus, pharyngitis, etc.
How to dry without a dryer to avoid sleeping with wet hair?
Some of the people who sleep with wet hair do so because they do not want to use the hair dryer. Therefore, we give you some tips to eliminate humidity without using this device:
- Use a good conditioner.
- Drain your hair before you get out of the shower.
- Take a cotton towel and rub your hair gently.
- Unravel it with a wooden spike comb; undoing the pulls gently.
When you finish, you will notice how it is almost dry; so you will need little time to achieve the desired objective.
In any case, try to wash your hair at least a couple of hours before going to bed to make sure it is the way you want it. By doing this, you will preserve the freedom of air drying, without giving up on taking care of your health and skin.
