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Let’s ask the question. Is it bad if you lie down in bed in the evening after a shower or bath with wet hair?
Our moms always told us that it’s not good to go to bed with wet hair, because you can catch a chill or even develop pneumonia.
Is it true or just a myth?
Pneumonia is probably not a threat to you. However, if after a bath you go straight to sleep without properly drying your hair, it can backfire. Prolonged dampness on the head can lead to skin inflammation, which manifests as unpleasant itching. It can also damage the hair itself. Now let’s take a closer look at each point to see what can happen.
1. Headaches
Did you know that sleeping with wet hair can cause you severe headaches?
The reason is that the evaporation of water is actually a physical cooling process. Your head thus cools during the night to a different temperature than the rest of your body.
You won’t even help matters if you wash your hair with warm water. Cooling will still occur, even faster, because warm water evaporates more quickly and thus more effectively carries heat away from the body’s surface.
One theory of headache development is that it arises as a result of either excessive or insufficient blood flow to the meninges.
The changed temperature of the head will therefore force the body to alter blood flow in order to compensate for the resulting temperature differences.
2. Hair breakage
Hair dried after a prolonged period of moisture has increased brittleness.
If you decide to go to bed with wet hair, there is a high chance that your hair will break to an increased extent.
3. Hair sticking together
Damp hair tends to stick together while drying. In the morning it will then be much harder for you to comb it out.
With short hair this may not be a big problem. However, if you have long hair, you should avoid this issue. Otherwise you’ll end up with matted and broken hair.
4. Infections
Pillows are an ideal place to absorb moisture, dead skin cells and body oils. Together this creates an ideal environment for the growth of various pathogenic bacteria.
Wet hair will dampen the bedding, then the pillow itself inside, and an infection may not be long in coming.
5. Itching
Sleeping with wet hair causes various kinds of itching and irritation of the scalp.
If you suffer from eczema, psoriasis or acne, these problems may be further intensified. Therefore always thoroughly dry your hair before going to bed.
6. Muscle and joint pain
Similar to headaches, changes in body temperature can also cause pain in the head muscles and joints or the neck.
There have even been known cases where severe cramps or even facial paralysis occurred. This can then spread to other parts of the body.
7. Dandruff
Damp skin prevents the proper functioning of the sweat glands. It will then begin to produce either more or less sebum than the optimal level.
The natural pH of your scalp is disrupted and the result is often increased dandruff and problems with greasy hair.
If you want to avoid all of the above problems, avoid lying down in bed with wet hair.
Dry your hair well with a towel and if you have long hair, also with a hair dryer, or don’t bathe right before bed but at least 1 hour earlier. Your health will thank you for it!
