This common bedtime habit is damaging your hair
Sorry lazy girls, this one's for you.
We’re all guilty of doing a late-night hair wash and going to bed before letting our locks dry — but experts have warned that this is a huge no no.
In fact, sleeping with wet hair can have some pretty dire consequences, from fungal infections to dandruff, not to mention damaged hair.
Trichologist Faisal Ahmed tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Due to the damp and warm conditions, sleeping with wet hair can attract fungal infections on the scalp, like ringworm. These can cause scars and hair loss.’
You can also develop dandruff which, while not serious, is extremely irritating.
‘Sleeping with wet hair can attract bacteria which can cause itchy and flaky scalp,’ says Faisal.
Then, there’s the damage to your lovely locks, too: ‘This unadvisable habit can cause breakage or split ends, because when the hair is wet, the follicles are also weak,’ Faisal, who is the co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com, explains.
‘With the hair prone to being tangled while being asleep, chances are there will be lots of hair loss and split ends.’
How to prevent hair damage
- Sleep with a silk or satin pillowcase which does not absorb moisture while preventing breakage and tangling
- Try applying oils that can prevent damage such as coconut oil or argan oil to maintain moisture in the hair
- Use a hair cap to protect your hair from pillow friction while sleeping
- Don’t go to sleep with wet hair — DUH!
But it’s not just your hair! Sleeping with wet hair can also mess with your skin.
As dermatologist Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed, tells us: ‘Sleeping with wet hair can cause pimples on your skin and even your scalp.’
This is caused by the bacteria build up on the pillow from your wet hair. Nice.
‘You could also get acne bumps on your scalp due to folliculitis or inflamed hair follicles,’ he continues.
So, basically, if you’re prone to nodding off when your hair’s still wet (guilty as charged, your Honour), you should probably stop.
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