Why Does My Hair Not Dry Overnight?

Have you ever gone to sleep with wet hair, only to find that it’s still damp when you wake up? Hair that takes too long to dry can be a sign that it’s time to change your hair care routine, so in this article, we’ll dive into a few different reasons why your hair doesn’t dry overnight. We’ll also give you tips on how to work around it, so make sure you read all the way to the end!

You Have Low Porosity Hair

One potential reason your hair takes so long to dry is that you have low porosity hair. Low porosity hair has a tightly sealed cuticle. Although water has a hard time penetrating your strands, it has even more difficulty getting out once it's inside.

As a result, you may find that your hair dries very slowly. If you want your hair to be dry when you wake up, make sure you wash it early in the day so it has plenty of time to dry. You can also speed things along by partially blowdrying your low porosity locks.

You Have High Porosity Hair

Low porosity hair isn’t the only type of hair that takes forever to dry. In fact, hair on either side of the porosity spectrum can take longer to dry. While low porosity hair holds onto water more tightly, high porosity hair has the opposite problem. Although high porosity hair dries quickly, your hair’s loose cuticle allows much more water to enter your strands.

Because your hair is holding onto so much liquid, it’ll take significantly longer to dry. Want your high porosity hair to dry more quickly? Wring your hair out before you leave the shower, and try switching to a more absorbent microfiber towel.

You Covered Your Hair with A Scarf or Bonnet

Although sleeping with your hair in a scarf or bonnet is a great way to prevent breakage, the fabric can trap water in your strands. If you want to make sure your hair dries overnight, try going to bed without covering it. Instead, sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. Unlike cotton pillowcases, silk and satin are gentle on your strands, so your hair won’t dry out or break off while you snooze.

Your Hair Is Too Bunched Together

When you sleep with your locks in a tight hairstyle like a ponytail, twists, or braids, fresh air isn’t able to circulate around your hair and scalp freely. So instead of evaporating, the moisture stays in your strands. Want your hair to dry overnight? Try sleeping with your hair in a looser style so the trapped water has room to escape.

There are a number of different reasons why your hair isn’t drying overnight. Luckily, there are just as many ways to encourage your hair to dry more quickly! Sleeping with damp hair can lead to breakage and scalp issues, so make sure you try out the solutions we’ve gone over today. We hope this article has provided you with all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best of luck.

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.