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.
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.
“Going to bed with a head of wet hair allows moisture to seep directly into your pillow, creating the perfect environment for unwanted fungi, bacteria, and more,” says Coleman. Don't worry: this isn't a catch-22. As long as you dry your hair before bed, it may be more hygienic to shower in the evening.
Bowman suggests flipping your head upside down—it may dry faster this way—and blasting it with a hair dryer until it's damp, not wet. Then, twist your hair into four loose buns (secured with scrunchies), and call it a night. If you have naturally straight hair, a single bun will give you a looser wave.
So, is it okay to shower at night? While keeping your head and body clean before bed can be beneficial, avoid going to bed with wet or damp locks. Wet hair is more fragile and brittle, especially if it is highly porous. Water can damage hair over time, degrading the integrity of its outermost layer.
Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out. You can still benefit from the shower length you prefer, whether long and luxurious, quick and efficient or somewhere in the middle.
"You can actually make yourself more prone to infection if you over-wash because the skin is protected with some really nice natural bacteria and things that protect it and you want to preserve those," she says. So typically showering multiple times a day isn't a great idea, she shares.
Avoid rubbing the hair vigorously, as the friction causes the strands to tangle and generate frizz. Then, keep your hair wrapped for 10 to 15 minutes. Next, moisturize the strands with a leave-in conditioner and avoid getting it on your scalp.
The kind of breakage that comes with sleeping with wet hair only develops after doing so chronically, Dr. Cheng says. So, if you can, try not to only sleep with wet hair and try not to do it every single night. But doing it once in a while isn't likely to cause problems.
Wetting your hair every day is not necessarily bad for it, but it can have some negative effects on your hair and scalp, such as dryness and irritation. How often should I wash my hair? The frequency of hair washing depends on your hair type, lifestyle, and personal preference.
Our Expert Agrees: If you want to keep your hair from frizzing after you wash it, blot out most of the water with a towel first. Then, use a taming product of some sort, like a heavier styling cream, a hydrating cream, or an air-dry foam. Let your hair air-dry instead of blow-drying it.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.)
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
“You shouldn't shower for more than 5 to 10 minutes,” says Dr. Farris. “Shorter is better.” Long showers strip your skin of moisture, too.
When incorporated into a bedtime routine, a nighttime shower may help send your brain the signal that it is time to sleep. Showering at night also ensures you will be cleaner when you go to bed, reducing the buildup of sweat, dirt, and body oils on your bedding.
Flat hair is often the result of hair that has been weighed down, as buildup in the form of product residue, dirt, excess oil, and other impurities can pull and flatten your strands over time. That's why when you go a while without washing your hair, it becomes noticeably flatter at the roots.
On the other hand, washing your hair at night can be disadvantageous, too. For starters, your hair stays damp for a long time, and going to sleep while your hair is still wet can harm both your health and the quality of your hair. It is important that you dry your hair, comb it, tie it properly and then go to bed.
As Ciraldo notes, "Many people find an evening shower very soothing not only to skin but also to soothe the senses after a long day." Research backs it up, too, showing that taking a warm bath or shower one hour before bed actually cools the body's core temperature and promotes sleep2 .