Explainer / Does going to sleep with wet hair really make you sick? No, but it causes damage and brittleness – take care of your locks by blow-drying, using protein-rich masks and brushing before bed

Oct 9 , 2023

While it’s a myth that going to sleep with wet hair can lead to coming down with a cold or flu, it is true that wet hair is more prone to damage. To keep your hair healthy and shiny, make the effort to dry it before bed. Photo: Shutterstock

Have you ever wondered if it’s truly a bad idea to go to sleep with wet hair?

We’ve all heard the old adage, but let’s dive into the science behind it and explore what you can do to protect your hair while catching those Z’s.

Debunking the myth

Wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage, including through combing or brushing. Photo: Handout

Many of us have grown up with the warning that sleeping with wet hair can lead to catching a cold. However, scientifically speaking, colds are caused by viruses, not wet hair. So why the cautionary tales?

“When the hair is wet, it swells. This prolonged inside-out pressure weakens the cortex and cuticle, making hair brittle,” explains Dee Toh, associate director of Chez Vous, a Singapore-based hair salon. Kuah Beng Lee, education manager for Kao Singapore’s salon division, notes that leaving hair wet will tend to exacerbate existing damage. And that’s not all: “Unneeded moisture will also cause an imbalance to our scalp microbiome,” Kuah adds.

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Always ensure your hair is dry before going to sleep

If blow-drying your hair is a time-consuming process, try applying a protein-rich hair mask first. Photo: Handout

We understand that blow-drying your hair can be a hassle, especially after a late night out. However, there’s a solution. Use a protein-rich hair mask after shampooing. This will saturate your hair with reparative amino acids, making each strand less porous – which in turn speeds up the drying process.

Brush your hair before bedtime

Spending time brushing your hair before bed may be a trope of films and TV shows. But it also provides actual benefits to your hair. Photo: Shutterstock

Remember those scenes in TV dramas where someone brushes their hair 100 times before bedtime? There’s a reason for it. Brushing keeps your hair untangled, reducing its susceptibility to damage. Plus, brushing wet hair – making sure it’s well conditioned to avoid damage – can reduce frizz and unruliness when it dries.

For times when you’re feeling lazy about drying your hair before bed, an overnight serum or leave-in mask can minimise damage. These products often use time-release technology, gradually releasing care ingredients to ensure your hair absorbs their benefits throughout the night.

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Coconut oil makes a great hair mask, and is especially beneficial for dry, frizzy or curly hair. Photo: Shutterstock

Avoid putting your wet hair up in a bun to air-dry overnight. The combination of swelling and tension from the bun can lead to breakage.

Reduce friction by using a silk pillowcase to protect your hair when you move during sleep.

Refresh your bedhead hair in the morning

Haircare products like conditioning spray and moisturising cream can help your locks stay as healthy and beautiful as possible. Photo: Shutterstock

Mist your hair with a light conditioning spray, apply moisturising cream, comb through, and let your locks air-dry naturally.

Sleeping in an air-conditioned room can dry out your hair and scalp. Combat frizz and flyaway hair by using aluminium foil. Rubbing your hair with tin foil smooths the strands and restores shine.

The verdict? While sleeping with wet hair won’t give you a cold, it can weaken your hair, making it more prone to damage. Taking a few precautions and following these tips can help you maintain gorgeous, healthy locks while you catch up on your beauty sleep. So say goodbye to bedhead and hello to gorgeous morning hair!

Beauty

We’ve all heard the old adage that going to bed with wet hair will give you a cold – but science proves that viruses cause illness, so why all the cautioning from our mums?
Wet hair swells, which ‘weakens the cortex and cuticle’, according to experts – here’s how to minimise damage, avoid frizziness and unruliness, and keep your locks smooth and shiny