If you frequently sleep with wet hair, we suggest investing in a silk pillowcase. Silk doesn't retain moisture well, thereby allowing your hair to dry faster. More importantly, it's slick and produces less friction when compared with a cotton or flannel pillowcase.
If you're someone who goes to bed with wet hair often, you might want to consider resting your tresses on satin. Unlike cotton, which can cause damage to your hair if you sleep with it wet, satin pillowcases will be more forgiving and allow your wet hair to move more freely and prevent creases while you sleep.
Twist your hair into a top knot and wrap it into a bun while going to bed. Use a silk scarf and tie it into a headband to make sure your hair doesn't touch the pillowcase. In the morning take your hair down and flip it upside down and side to side. Resist the urge to brush as it causes more friction and frizz.
The moisture from your hair could, in turn, also cause more bacteria to grow on your pillowcase, and sometimes the pillow itself. If you don't mind a slight crinkly sound and want to be extra safe, you could also invest in a waterproof pillow protector such as this.
“Going to sleep with wet hair is not often recommended because it limits your styling options in the morning in most cases,” shares Stenson. “Soaking wet hair can lead to unwanted mold and mildew in your pillows.” Saviano agrees, adding that sleeping on wet hair can harm the hair cuticle and create lasting damage.
“Finger comb your hair up into a loose twisted bun at the crown and tie with a wide soft elastic tie,” says Pamela Neal, celebrity hairstylist. “When you take it down in the morning, you will get a beautiful, shiny natural-looking, sexy bedhead look.” Emi Jay Hair Ties ($11 for five, emijay.com) won't cause any dents.
When your hair is wet, it's more fragile and prone to breakage, says Jasmine Burnside, a hairstylist in New York City. "Going to bed with wet or damp hair will most likely lead to more friction on the strands, ultimately leading to potential damage." That's why she says it's something that she advises against.
While excessive heat can cause damage to the surface layer of the hair, air-drying can cause trauma to that inner lipid layer, which will make your strands weaker as a result.
By not drying hair at all after a shower, the water droplets stay in your hair, which makes your hair swell up. This swelling causes damage to the proteins that make up the structure of your hair. When these proteins are impacted, your hair looks and feels rough (cue frizz). Does air drying your hair make it frizzy?
“Hair can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water,” he said, which typically makes it weaker and more susceptible to damage from brushing and styling. “Natural drying takes time,” he added. “The longer hair stays wet, the more the cortex swells and cracks, permanently damaging hair.”
Hair is more vulnerable when wet, therefore sleeping with wet hair down may result in damage, split ends, and tangles. It may also cause scalp issues, such as flakes and irritation.
Keep hair moisturized after shower
Moisture in your hair makes it easier to combat frizz and detangle any knots after a shower. Many hairstylists recommend hydrating with a conditioner before applying your oil of choice. If you have tight curls, use heavier emulsifiers like shea butter to loosen the knots.
Set hair in a lose plait and wrap it around your head as much as you can. To prevent even more frizz, you can also wrap your head in a silk headwrap and gently dry when you wake up. In the morning, remove your braid and comb through your hair with you fingers. Set with your favorite hairspray.
Which one you choose comes down to a few factors, like price and preference. "I like satin more because it's less expensive than silk, but it's also smoother than silk, reducing the friction between the hair strands and the pillowcase," says Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, Trichologist, Ph. D.
Despite their similar appearance the biggest difference is that satin is a weave and not a natural fibre, whereas silk is a natural fibre fabric.
The best way to dry your hair is to let it air dry under the fan as much as possible. However, some experts believe combining air and blow-drying is healthier than just air drying. It is good to let your hair air-dry seventy percent of the way and then blow-dry till they become dry ultimately.
Air dry hair
If you have the time, it's best to let your hair air dry naturally. Air drying minimizes heat damage and allows your hair to rejuvenate at its own pace.
On top of breakage, air-drying can also increase frizz, build-up, and mildew, especially for afro-textured and curly hair. "Hair that stays wet or damp for a long period can attract bacteria and fungus, especially if you have very dense hair," explains Jennie Roberts, a celebrity hairstylist and texture hair educator.
Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
When used timely and moderately, blow drying is better for scalp and hair. Air drying (like over washing) over an extended period can cause scalp to compensate, over produce oil leaving hair more oily, and causing you to fight the imbalance with more and more shampoo for oily scalp and hair.
Research suggests that wearing socks to bed can help people not only fall asleep faster, but sleep longer and wake up fewer times throughout the night. One study found that young men wearing socks fell asleep 7.5 minutes faster, slept 32 minutes longer, and woke up 7.5 times less often than those not wearing socks.
If you're using an overnight product in your hair, first comb it with a wide-tooth comb and tie it in a loose braid. Remember not to use metal or rubber hair ties. Instead, go for a soft, silk scrunchie or headwrap. Avoid tying your hair up too tight as it will only lead to hair breakage and damage.