Are you an early bird or a night owl? Washing your hair is a very personal thing, but did you know there are different benefits depending on when you wash it?
This is one of those questions that has no right or wrong answers, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, it is completely subjective. For this reason, there are benefits for people who wash their hair in the morning and at night:
People who shower at night: the time savers
Washing your hair at night can save you a lot of time the next morning, so it's great if you'd rather get 15 more minutes of sleep than spend your morning doing your hair.
There's also the fact that you have more time for it to dry. And that's great for your hair and scalp. Using a hairdryer on the highest setting in a hurry to get ready faster in the morning could damage your hair.
However, people who shower at night have plenty of time to let their hair air dry. This way, the hair and scalp are not at the same risk of drying out as with heat.
People who shower in the morning: the clean starters
There is a downside to washing your hair before bed. If your hair is not 100% dry, it can actually stimulate dandruff.
Trapped moisture can create a damp environment that favors the development of scalp microbes, such as Malassezia.
This plays a key role in causing scalp irritation and dandruff.
What's worse, if you have particularly fine hair or are prone to oily hair, you may find that you produce a lot of oil overnight and your hair doesn't have the same healthy shine when you wake up.
For people who shower in the morning, it's all about starting the day clean and fresh.
Should I leave conditioner in my hair overnight?
Leaving conditioner in overnight will quickly replenish moisture and soften your hair.
However, about 30 minutes is enough for hair to absorb moisture, and there are generally no additional benefits if you leave conditioner in for up to 8 hours.
Why not alternate?
While most people tend to follow a regular hair washing routine, it's important to remember that sometimes you'll need to break the routine.
Wash your hair thoroughly after exercising, use a deep cleansing shampoo because perspiration will have built up on your scalp and this can cause irritation.
Also make sure to wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo after swimming, both in a chlorinated pool and in salt water.
Both salt and chlorine can damage your hair, so it's a good idea to wash your hair with a damage repair shampoo after swimming to help keep your hair strong and healthy.
More hair care tips and tricks
