6 Ways You Might Be Damaging Your Hair While You Sleep
indrani karmakarBA Hons Experience: 2.5 yearsIndrani is a writer and artist who likes to add a dash of humor to everything she does. She has two years of experience in writing articles across beauty, health, and lifestyle genres. After graduatin... more
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Honestly, no one wakes up with silky smooth hair bouncing off their shoulders; so you can stop beating yourself up for not waking up with a cascade of silky hair. The good thing is, if you maintain a good hair care routine and supplement your hair and scalp with nutrients, your hair will go back to being shiny and glossy with a few strokes of your hairbrush. However, if combing your hair feels like a painful match of tug of war, you may be making mistakes with your hair while sleeping. Here in this article are a few common mistakes people make with their night hair care routine that leads to damaged and dull hair. Read on to know them all.
In This Article
1. You Are Sleeping With Damp Hair
We know there are days when you can hardly muster the strength to wash your face, let alone blow dry your hair. However, the consequences of sleeping with damp hair go well beyond the annoyance of a bedhead in the morning. The nightly tossing and turning can cause a lot of damage to your delicate wet hair. Therefore, it’s best to dry your hair with a hair dryer a few hours before you go to sleep.
2. You Sleep With Your Hair Scrunched Up In A Bun
Nothing feels more practical than securing your long hair in a bun or ponytail before going to bed at night, but in reality, that is the last thing you should do to your hair. If you don’t let your hair rest from a tight hair style at night, you risk damaging it and trigger hair loss. In addition, your scalp needs to relax and rejuvenate when you sleep, so never sleep with a tight hairstyle, including a bun.
3. You Use Cotton Pillow Cover
If you are used to sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, consider upgrading to a high-quality silk option. Cotton pillow cases are notoriously scratchy and impedes the smooth movement of hair, both of which can lead to breakage, dryness, and frizz over time (1). On the other hand, silk pillowcases are suitable for your hair and skin and may help you maintain your hairdo while sleeping. If you feel like investing in a silk pillow cover won’t work well for you, you can cover your pillow with any silk clothing and check if you can keep your head on it without slipping.
4. You Forget To Brush Your Hair Before Going To Bed
Most of us spend considerable time in the morning combing and styling our hair, which often feels like trials for tug of war. The easy way to untangle hair is if you brush it before going to bed. This will save you a lot of time in the morning. In addition, hair that is brushed regularly has a better shine and is less prone to breakage because the natural oils produced by the scalp are distributed evenly from the ends to the roots.
5. You Don’t Braid Your Hair Before Sleeping
Curling your hair with a curling iron may be the quickest way to achieve beachy waves, but there are plenty of other ways to style your hair that won’t damage or dry it out. Of course, the quickest approach is to tie a loose braid the night before and apply a leave-in hair treatment. This is one of the most popular tricks Indian women employ to maintain their hair’s length, health, and luster. In addition, sleeping with a protective loose hairstyle will help you avoid breakage, fortify your strands, and speed up your hair’s growth cycle.
6. You Don’t Use Enough Hair Oil
Our hair, like our skin, undergoes regeneration while we sleep. Thus, you can use this process by employing easy overnight treatments. If you want strong and healthy locks, apply hair oil in the morning, the day before you wash your hair. Then, repeat the oiling process twice a week. If you’re uncomfortable spending all day with oily hair, you can oil your hair three hours before shampooing to let your scalp hydrate before washing it out. Also, you can choose hair oils depending on your hair type to get the best results.
Many of us are guilty of making these hair mistakes, as we follow mostly what we see others do. But often, the realization comes when it’s already too late. However, there is always time for inculcating good hair care habits. Make sure you eat healthily and take supplements to keep your hair healthy. So, which of these hair mistakes are you guilty of? Let us know in the comments section!
