The Tamesis
Between work, daily exercise, hobbies, and just plain exhaustion, creating and sticking to a hair washing routine can feel like an Olympic sport. While there is a heated debate about how often you should wash your hair, another factor to consider is the time of day you choose to wash your hair. Whether you swear that a morning shower helps you wake up and start your day, or you’re a staunch proponent of night showers who need some relaxation time and extra sleep, the key to knowing the best time to wash your hair depends on your hair type. Here’s what the experts have to say.
How does my hair texture affect when I wash my hair?
One of the main factors to consider when deciding when to wash your hair is hair thickness, which refers to the diameter of an individual hair and is measured by touch and sight. For example, if your strands are thicker and more opaque, you have thick hair; if your strands are harder to feel and less noticeable, you have fine hair.
With this in mind, fine hair tends to be more prone to oiliness than thicker hair. Jose Sanchez, a hairdresser at Oramai Salon in Madrid, says that because friction with pillows activates the scalp’s sebaceous glands, it’s best to wash fine hair in the morning to ensure it stays clean throughout the day. María Baras, hairstylist and director of the Cheska Salon in Madrid, adds that washing your hair in the morning can also help maintain volume in fine hair. People with fine hair should also wash their hair more frequently to prevent oil buildup, MDCS board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, has previously said. Fashion.
On the other hand, those with thick hair are more tolerant of washing their hair at night and can wash their hair less frequently so their hair doesn’t lose its natural oils.
If I wash my hair at night, can I sleep with wet hair?
One caveat to washing your hair at night is that you shouldn’t make a habit of going to bed with wet hair, especially if you have straight or curly hair.
“Wet hair tends to be more fragile because water can temporarily break the hydrogen bonds in the protein structure of the hair,” Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told us Fashion. “This increases elasticity, which makes the hair more susceptible to breakage.” Even though curly and textured hair experience the opposite in terms of elasticity and breakage, it’s still not recommended to regularly sleep with wet hair as this can disrupt your head’s microbiome, bacterial growth, breakouts, and scalp conditions.
If you know you’re pressed for time and don’t have time to blow-dry your hair before bed, experts recommend using a satin or silk pillowcase, using nourishing products, and depending on your hair type, consider styles that help prevent tangles and allow oxygen to flow to your scalp, such as braids, braids, or pineapple braids.
So while the time you choose to wash your hair comes down to personal preference, these factors can help you make a more informed decision about your hair care routine.
