Mandy PhillipsDid you know that cotton pillowcases can actually steal moisture from your hair while you sleep?
This can lead to dryness, frizz, and even breakage.
Learn how a simple solution like sleeping with a shower cap can be the key to unlocking healthier, more manageable hair.
Explore the benefits of sleeping with a shower cap and find out if it’s the right choice for you.
Benefits of Sleeping with a Shower Cap
1. Hair Growth (The Baggy Method)
The baggy method encourages hair growth by locking in moisture, re-hydrating your ends, and increasing sebum production.
When you go to sleep with a shower cap over your hair, your scalp produces more heat.
The extra heat encourages the release of more sebum that promotes hair growth.
It also hydrates and moisturizes your hair and prevents it from becoming brittle and prone to breakage.
2. Softer Hair
Sleeping with a shower cap can lead to softer hair by helping you maximize the benefits of a deep conditioner.
After washing your hair, apply conditioner, and put on your shower cap.
When deep conditioning, it is always best to leave the product on your hair for a while.
The shower cap allows heat from your head to create the perfect environment for the conditioner to work its way into the hair cuticle.
By following this method, you will not only have softer hair throughout the week, but you will also avoid getting conditioner all over your bed.
3. Protection from Breakage
If your hair is prone to breakage, sleeping with a shower cap on can change that for you.
First, wearing a shower cap to bed means less pulling and breaking.
If you are someone who likes to sleep with their hair up in a bun, it can be too tight and cause the hair strands to break.
A shower cap can keep your hair away from your face without too much pulling.
Also, if you wake up with a lot of tangles, heavy brushing to get your hair in place can cause damage to your hair follicles.
Second, brittle hair is more prone to breakage.
When you maintain the softness of your hair with the help of sleeping with a shower cap and conditioner, it makes it less prone to breakage and allows your hair to grow longer and healthier.
4. Hair Style Retention
Do you have a bad case of bed head in the morning?
Sleeping with a shower cap on will help you solve that by keeping your hair in place no matter how much you toss and turn.
It can also help you whether you just want to stretch the style for one more day or keep your curls from getting ruined.
This may not be the most glamorous way to sleep, but it ensures that you will still have great hair in the morning.
5. Saves Your Sheets
This benefit may not be on your hair directly, but for those who regularly dye their hair, this is an essential one.
When your hair dye is new, especially when you apply it at home, chances are some of the color will rub off on your sheets.
To prevent this from happening, wear a shower cap to bed after you just dyed your hair.
It will not only help lock in moisture that your hair needs after treatment, but it will also keep the color from bleeding into your pillowcases and sheets.
Potential Side Effects of Sleeping With a Shower Cap
Just like any beauty regimen, sleeping with a shower cap on can have its side effects.
When you notice these adverse reactions such as dandruff and itchiness, make sure to tweak your routine and the products that you are using.
While sleeping with a shower cap on has its benefits, remember that every hair and scalp has its own unique needs.
Residue Buildup (Dandruff)
Dandruff due to residue buildup can be caused by either natural or product buildup.
A natural buildup of sebum and sweat can cause dandruff.
Since sleeping with a shower cap on traps in more heat and moisture, it can cause too much natural buildup on your scalp.
Residue from products that you use overnight, such as conditioners, oils, and gels can also buildup on your scalp and cause dandruff if they are not washed thoroughly after every use.
When you are experiencing scalp buildup and dandruff, you may need to change how frequently you sleep with a shower cap on, exfoliate your scalp, and wash your hair thoroughly.
Itchiness
Many of those who sleep with a shower cap on report having itchy scalp during the first few times that they try this regimen.
This can be caused by too much sweat on your scalp or a reaction to the products you are using while wearing a shower cap.
If it does not subside, itchiness can be a sign to adjust the frequency of your regimen or to switch to more natural hair products.
Use Moisturizers for Maximum Benefits
To maximize the benefits of sleeping with a shower cap, you need to use hair moisturizers that do not strip your hair of its natural proteins and will not make your hair too heavy by leaving a lot of residues.
Use good moisturizers that are gentle and natural such as coconut oil, coconut milk, jojoba oil, plain olive oil, sweet almond oil, and shea butter.
This leave-in hair conditioner is great to detangle, protect and control frizz. It leaves natural hair wrapped in a light coastal coconut breeze.
For an at-home moisturizing hair mask, you can also try banana and honey.
This combination makes your hair thick, strong, and shiny.
It can also help with a dry, flaky scalp.
For damaged hair, a concoction of aloe vera gel and coconut oil applied overnight will repair, moisturize, and strengthen your hair strands.
Wrapping Up
Sleeping with a shower cap on is a simple and easy addition to your hair care routine.
Keeping in mind that your hair and scalp can have their unique needs, it is now time to get a shower cap, give this method a try, and see the benefits for yourself.
