Here’s What Can Happen When You Go to Bed With Wet Hair

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

• Though it’s not always easy to find the time, dermatologists say people should dry their hair before going to bed.

• Consistently sleeping on wet hair can raise a person’s risk of hair breakage, as well as other health concerns such as scalp infections.

• However, sleeping on wet hair from time to time isn’t likely to cause any significant harm, dermatologists said.

Showering at night can be a great way to relax and wash off the day. But could the practice be risky for your hair health?

Ideally, those who wash their hair at night would let it dry completely before heading for bed. But this is easier said than done—using a blow dryer could wake up a sleeping family member, while waiting for your hair to dry cuts into precious sleep time. As a result, people may find themselves falling into bed at night with wet hair.

Though this is certainly more convenient, people should avoid sleeping on wet hair if possible, dermatologists agreed—it can raise your risk of hair damage, as well as open the door to possible scalp issues like infections or worsening skin conditions.

Here’s what experts had to say about the health risks associated with sleeping on wet hair, as well as other strategies you should know to keep your hair protected at night.

Sleeping on Wet Hair Could Lead to Breakage

When someone doesn’t dry their hair fully before going to bed, they run the risk of hair breakage.

When hair is wet, it becomes more elastic and stretchy, Ife J. Rodney, MD, dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetics, told Health.

“That is why we usually detangle hair when it’s wet and not dry,” she said.

But when hair is wet, it’s also more fragile, added Cindy Wassef, MD, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The combination of wet, fragile hair and “friction and tension” from sleeping can cause those hair strands to break, Rodney said.

“For that reason, I would recommend letting your hair dry before going to bed,” she said.

Sleeping on wet hair can cause damage, but it’s important to note that the practice doesn’t often lead to extreme hair health issues or hair loss.

“Unless there is significant head movement, or tossing and turning, it’s not likely that there will be large amounts of hair damage,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Health.

Related: Here's How Often You Should Wash Your Hair

Other Problems Linked to Sleeping on Wet Hair

Beyond the possibility of hair breakage, going to bed without drying your hair can also lead to potential skin issues.

“Sleeping with wet hair can also contribute to a moist and warm environment on the scalp, which can predispose you to bacterial and yeast infections,” Wassef told Health.

A person could develop bacterial or fungal folliculitis, which can manifest as small bumps or pustules on the scalp, said Zeichner. Yeast can also build up on the scalp and cause infections; Malassezia yeast on the scalp can cause seborrheic dermatitis—an itchy, flaky rash—while Candida yeast can lead to symptoms such as scalp itchiness or blisters.

Sleeping on wet hair can also make existing dandruff worse, Zeichner added.

Beyond skin concerns, going to bed with wet hair may lead to respiratory issues—damp pillows and bedding could make it easier for mold to grow, Wassef said, which can irritate your airways.

However, going to bed with wet hair shouldn’t lead to any other respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, said Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo.

“Whether you go to bed with your hair wet or dry is not going to affect that,” Russo told Health. “This is an urban legend.”

Related: 7 Reasons Your Scalp Hurts

How to Keep Your Hair Protected at Night

Drying your hair before bed is best for your health, but don’t panic if you go to bed here and there with wet hair.

“While it’s better to go to sleep with a dry head of hair, going to bed with a wet head will likely not cause irrevocable harm,” Zeichner said.

However, if someone’s interested in improving their hair health, there are other things they can do to reduce friction and hair breakage, in addition to sleeping on dry hair.

For one, people with longer hair can “use a loose scrunchie or [hair tie] to gather hair” before going to sleep, Wassef said. It’s important that the hair isn’t tied up too tightly, Rodney added, since that can further damage hair.

People can also try sleeping on a silk pillowcase—this is thought to reduce friction on your hair while you sleep, Wassef said.

“While they have not been shown in any studies to reduce breakage, they certainly will not hurt your hair,” she said.

Similarly, sleeping in a satin head covering may also protect hair and reduce friction, said Rodney.

Other ways to keep your hair looking healthy include concentrating shampoo on the scalp and conditioner on the ends of your hair, using products specifically formulated for your hair type, and protecting your hair while swimming.

Related: 12 Foods To Eat For Healthy Hair Growth

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