When you wash your hair at night time, it can be all too tempting to just leave it to dry naturally, rather than drying it with heat. This may save you time - but it could be seriously detrimental to your hair health, ruining your luscious locks.
Sleep expert Max Stephens from The Sleep Checklist has warned of the dangers of going to bed without drying your hair, highlighting that he understands many people will struggle to find the time to wash and dry, but he's offered some alternatives for those who are time-poor but still want a healthy and bouncy barnet.
So why is going to bed with wet hair a no-no? Well, Max explained that the structural integrity of your hair weakens when wet and makes it more prone to breakage.
Going to bed with wet hair can create frizzy and brittle hair, so if you have noticed yours isn't in as good condition as it used to be then it could be time to ditch the nightly bath or shower.
He said: "As you toss and turn during your sleep your hair is put under pressure. This pressure can cause your hair to snap and when your hair is wet it's much easier to cause damage to it than if it were dry."
Damp hair can also cause bacteria to grow in beds and on pillows, and that can lead to acne and dandruff. Bacteria can also cause respiratory issues if mould were to form.
Max said: "If you do have to go to bed with wet hair you should invest in waterproof pillowcases as this will stop the damp from penetrating your pillows and will stop harmful mould and bacteria from building up.
"Smooth fabrics cause less friction when you toss and turn when sleeping and they also help retain the natural oils within your hair which will result in healthier hair."
Also, in a period where we're trying to avoid becoming unnecessarily cold, going to bed with wet hair can make you feel cold, so you may be turning up that thermostat to compensate for your body's heat loss. And, Max points out that going to bed with wet hair will also increase your electricity costs as you will spend more time styling your hair in the morning.
"While running the hair dryer may seem like an additional cost you don't need right now, letting your hair dry overnight is not only bad for you but it will also take longer to style back into shape", he noted.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the answer is to cut down the amount you wash your hair. Max said: "One of the easiest ways to cut down on the risks associated with sleeping with wet hair is to cut down on the number of times a week you wash your hair. While this advice may seem simplistic it does help minimise the damage you do to your hair.
"Damp hair that's been air drying for an hour is much better for you when going to bed than having soaking hair, if you can wash your hair earlier in the day and arrange your schedule around this it's going to be better for your hair and your health."
Ultimately, the best way of avoiding all of these issues is to find a wash and sleep routine that allows for your hair to dry before getting your beauty sleep.
Will you be following this advice? Let us know in the comments.
