Blow drying your hair can seem like such an endeavor, especially when you’re ready to pop straight into bed after a long day and a nice relaxing shower. But as it turns out, there are actually some major downsides of going to bed with wet hair that may make you reconsider not plugging in your hot tools.
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The first negative side effect is purely aesthetic - but hey, it’s still important. If you sleep with wet hair, you won’t be able to predict how your tresses will look in the morning. And if you’re like most of us and not blessed with naturally tame locks, you may wake up with a frizzy mess you simply don’t have time to deal with. “When you wake up to unruly bedhead, you’re probably going to have to re-wet it again to properly dry it and regain control,” hairstylist Olga Gilbert of J. Russell Salon in Southern California tells Reader’s Digest. “This unnecessarily adds time to your morning routine."
Sleeping with wet hair can also do major damage to your locks. Because hair is weakest when it’s wet, it's more pliable and prone to breakage. “If you pull your wet hair up into a tight ponytail or bun, you have a much greater chance of breaking it during the night,” Gilbert said.
If you absolutely have to go to bed with wet hair, there are few tricks you can use to avoid future breakage. Try sleeping in a loose braid rather than a tight bun to give the hair more breathing room. In addition, switch your rough elastic bands for soft scrunchies that won’t pull out strands. You can also try silk or satin pillow cases, as they’re less abrasive on wet hair than those of the cotton variety.
And don’t forget to use product! Leave-in conditioners, protective serums, dry oils, and texturizing mousses keep your strands smooth no matter how much you toss and turn throughout the night. Plus, they’ll help protect your locks from tearing!