Here’s why you should never go to bed with wet hair

When you wash your hair in the evening, you don’t always have the time or the desire to dry your hair. However, sleeping with wet or very damp hair could have some pretty annoying consequences. When your wet hair mixes with makeup residue and dead skin on your pillow, it can have harmful effects on your skin and hair! Here are the possible consequences.

A habit that increases hair breakage

For starters, going to bed with not completely dry hair can really damage your hair. Indeed, when it is damp, the hair fiber is more fragile and therefore more exposed to breakage, particularly with the friction of your head against your pillow.

Risks of infections on the scalp

American dermatologist Noelle Sherber explains in Allure magazine that “certain bacteria tend to grow and proliferate in warm, humid environments“. This is the case if the skin of the scalp remains damp for hours. The expert specifies that in most cases this is due to a type of fungus called “Malassezia”: “When it accumulates on the scalp, it can lead to flaking of the skin, which can be confused with dandruff.”.

On the other hand, small pimples and pustules can appear at the hairline. They can possibly lead to itching or even pain, warns Doctor Sherber. “This type of infection is called: bacterial or fungal folliculitis. Although it is not rare, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist to diagnose and treat it”she recalls.

Pimples that extend to the rest of the body

Unfortunately, these infections don’t always stop at the scalp, and the rest of the body can also be impacted by sleeping with wet hair! Indeed, with this bad habit, fungal acne can extend to the face, upper back and chest.

According to the American dermatologist, if at first glance these pimples look like acne, they could actually be a form of folliculitis linked to “Malassezia”. She explains that she has already diagnosed this in patients.who had slept with their face on a damp pillow while going to bed with wet hair“.

What are the right actions to adopt?

If you don’t have the choice of washing your hair in the evening, here are some tips to avoid unwanted effects.

First, wrap your hair in a towel (preferably microfiber) to absorb the majority of the water. Then do a quick dry. To do this, focus on the roots of your hair because this is the part in direct contact with your pillow.

Even if it is not forbidden or dangerous to sleep with wet hair, it is better to avoid doing it too regularly and remember to wash your pillowcases regularly. This simple action will prevent the proliferation of bacteria and the development of infections.