All you need to know about wet hair? (Caring Tips)

It’s far too simple to treat wet hair the same way you would dry hair; after all, it’s still your hair. Wet hair undergoes a great deal of change at every level of the hair shaft, thus it should be treated very differently than dry hair.

All about wet hair

Here are a few things you should know about wet hair so you can properly care for it and avoid unnecessary future harm.

  1. It’s more elastic

Have you ever observed that when your hair gets wet, it becomes stretchy? For this flexibility, your hair is prone to breaking while moist and should be handled with caution. After you get out of the shower, untangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb or a soft-bristled brush like a Wet Brush. Never use a standard brush.

As damp hair is elastic, you should never pull it into a bun at this stage. Any type of hairstyle will keep the hair from drying out and might create long-term discomfort on the scalp.

  1. Comb damp hair from the ends to the roots

This may need the use of a leave-in conditioner. Starting at the top of the head while combing will merely force down any knots, breaking hair and causing more tangles. Comb hair one area at a time, starting at the bottom and working your way up for a smooth finish.

  1. It’s more permeable

For the porosity, this is also the greatest time to apply products that need to penetrate, such as curl cream, oils, or a leave-in conditioner. If you’re going to use a pre-poo mask or an oil treatment, make sure your hair is moist first. Just make sure your hair is moist, not dripping, before applying any products.

  1. Damp hair should be dried before going to bed

Have you ever gone to bed with damp hair only to wake up with it looking strange and matted? Going to bed with a damp head can produce tangles and breakage unless you sleep on a 100% silk pillowcase. Before going to bed, give your hair a brief blow-dry.

  1. It should be handled with caution

It’s so simple to step out of the shower and rough-tussle damp hair with a towel. Remember that damp hair is elastic and requires cautious handling. If you find yourself being too rough with a towel, try a microfiber towel or shammy.

  1. It can’t handle hot tools

Straightening or curling damp hair may appear to be a quick remedy for getting ready quickly, but all you’ll do is fry the cuticle and evaporate the wetness inside the hair shaft, inflicting serious harm to your locks. If you’ve ever done this and heard sizzling or popping sounds, you’ve seen this terrible damage.

If you’re in a hurry, use a pre-styling oil or serum to damp hair and blow-dry on the cold setting.

Things You Should Never Do With Wet Hair

If you desire thicker and healthier locks, you must take great care of your moist hair. Avoid the following to keep your hair from breaking:

Brushing Wet Hair

Brushing wet hair is damaging, according to almost every hair expert. Only use a comb on damp hair if your hair is severely tangled and you are unable to untangle it. Allow your hair to dry for at least 90 minutes before brushing it lightly.

Tying up wet hair

Avoid tying your wet hair up in a bun or ponytail. Damp hair has the most flexibility and is the most prone to breaking. If you tie it up, you may end up with really dry ends. Ponytails are in the same boat. Your scalp will not be able to dry out properly, which may result in eczema or other skin irritations.

Rubbing wet hair 

To dry our hair, we commonly use towels and massage them together. This approach is incorrect in so many ways since it destroys your hair, makes it frizzy, and even dries it out. Always use a microfiber cloth to pat dry your hair.

Sleeping with wet hair

We frequently wash our hair at night and sleep with it damp. It also damages and breaks your hair. Friction is created when your head brushes against the pillow. It shatters your hair from the roots to the ends. It also causes more frizz in the hair.

Curling iron or straightener use

It’s really tempting to style your moist hair. However, you must avoid it at all costs. Using a curling iron or straightener on damp hair is just hurting it on purpose.

High-Temperature Blow Drying

Blow drying your moist hair saves time. So, if you really must use it, avoid using it on high heat. Use extremely low heat to avoid hair damage.

Use a Hair Mask

Applying a hair mask on damp hair is less effective than applying a regular hair mask. To get the most out of your hair mask, make sure it’s completely dry. If you insist on applying the mask to moist hair, you must first completely towel-dry it. The mask would be able to pierce your shaft more easily

How to Brush Your Hair Properly?

Are you brushing your hair correctly? Yes, there is a correct method. Even if you’ve been doing it for years, it turns out you don’t have the talent down pat. Continue reading to learn the best technique to brush your hair, whether it’s dry or wet!

Most women do not receive formal instruction on how to brush their hair properly from a young age. What’s the reason? Maybe because the process of brushing one’s hair appears to be rather simple. Take a hairbrush and run it through your hair, and there you have it! Right? No, not at all.

The reality is that detangling hair strands need far more than just combing them with any brush at any moment. But don’t be alarmed. We’re here to teach you how to brush your hair correctly. Scroll down to find out what you could be doing wrong so you can modify your habits before extra harm is done!

Technique 

Do you brush your hair from the roots to the ends? You’ve already had a horrible start! Pulling hair from the root to the ends can cause strands to fall out of the follicle, resulting in hair breakage.

To eliminate hair knots, start a few inches from the bottom and work your way up the strand in tiny portions and brief strokes. This method is far more effective in preventing unpleasant hair-problem-damaged hair and breakage.

How Should We Brush Wet Hair?

Hair that is damp and full of moisture is more delicate than hair that is dry, and it might snap when combed. As a result, it’s best to brush hair while it’s dry. Allowing your hair to air-dry after showering may be necessary before trying to comb through hair strands. If you’re in a hurry or simply impatient and need to brush your wet hair, there are a few options to help decrease the amount of hair damage:

  1. To begin, dry your hair with a towel. Instead of combing damp hair, use a microfiber towel to wring out as much water as possible beforehand. You’ll get extra points if you let your hair air-dry for roughly 10 minutes.
  1. Use a detangling product on your hair. If your hair is thick, curly, or tangle-prone, we recommend applying a conditioning hair product for de-tangling spray before brushing to assist smooth hair strands.
  2. Make use of the proper hair brush. There are hair brushes designed particularly for damp hair, believe it or not! Thin, flexible bristles on these brushes are softer on strands and detangle hair without severe pulling.


There are even brushes that enable air to pass through while you comb, assisting in the drying of strands as the action continues. Invest, invest, and invest again. On damp hair, a wide-toothed comb is also a fantastic alternative.

Does brushing wet hair make it straight?

Brush damp hair till it dries, yes. Allow your hair to air dry entirely after washing it, but continue to brush it every five minutes. Pull out each piece of hair and hold it for a few seconds to encourage it to straighten out.

Brushing damp hair, on the other hand, can cause breaking in straight hair. Those with curly hair, on the other hand, must supply appropriate moisture in the form of water, detangling spray, leave-in conditioner, or oil to prevent damage during brushing.

Is it possible that your hair brush is causing your hair loss?

That may appear to be a simple yes or no question, but the relationship between hair loss and brushing is really rather complex. At the most basic level, delaying hair brushing will not prevent hair loss, as some people believe when they hear brushing may lead to hair loss.

Brushing your hair, on the other hand, can contribute to greater breakage and a specific kind of hair loss in some conditions.

Should I comb my hair wet or dry?

We are frequently told not to use a comb on our hair until it is soaked with conditioner. We are also instructed not to brush our hair when it is damp. So, which one is it? What state is our hair in? Is it weaker or stronger?

Is our hair stronger or weaker when wet?

To find an answer to this issue, we must first understand the structure of a hair strand. Keratin proteins make up each strand of hair. Keratin is composed of a long strand of amino acids bound together by the following chemical bonds:

  1. Hydrogen
  2. Saline
  3. Hydrophobic
  4. The strongest of the bonds, disulfide bridges

Water, heat, and humidity can temporarily break the weaker hydrogen bond, making the hair moldable. The disulfide bridges are significantly stronger and can only be broken down chemically. When the hair gets wet, the connections break down, making it weaker, more delicate, and bendable. When it dries, the connections are restored, which strengthens the hair. This is obvious to curly ladies. This entire procedure explains your shrinking.

As wet hair is stretched and loose, it shrinks back to its normal curl pattern when it dries. As a result, damp hair is ideal for re-styling, setting, or chilling the hair into various shapes and styles.

Even while damp hair allows for temporary rather than permanent changes, hair is at its strongest when it is dry and all ties are intact. This is entirely dependent on your hair type and chosen style methods. The good news is that success can be attained with any strategy under the correct conditions. Let’s compare the benefits and drawbacks of dry and wet detangling.

Dry detangling

The state of dry hair is far more powerful than that of wet hair. While the hair is dry, you may groom it using a variety of ways such as finger detangling, combing with a broad tooth comb, or brushing with a paddle or vent brush. You should be able to gently untie tiny knots and tangles when finger detangling.

Those with tightly curled and coiled hair should apply lubricating oil to their fingertips to create a smooth barrier that reduces friction. Detangle long, smooth, or loose curl patterns with a brush, beginning at the ends and working up to the roots.

The disadvantage is the time and attention required to gently dry untangle a head of hair. Another concern is that combing dry hair may result in breaking strands or chipping away at the cuticle since hair is less flexible in this state. If you want to go this way, use oil to preserve the strands.

Wet detangling 

The main advantage of detangling wet is the availability of water-based conditioners available to help you along the process. There are leave-in conditioners and normal conditioners available today that are designed to coat the hair strand and smooth the cuticle to strengthen the hair shaft as you comb your hair from ends to roots softly and boldly.

Although the strands are most brittle when wet, the hair is flexible and can survive a comb when treated with care and product. The disadvantage is that highly knotted hair may get much more knotted when exposed to water. Not to mention the general danger of breaking a strand when it is at its weakest.

If you choose this path, always use a slippery conditioner to help your efforts and meet your fragile strands with a delicate touch.

Who should wet & dry detangle?

Both wet and dry detangling have advantages and disadvantages, and both are appropriate in certain situations.

If you have hair that is dry, coarse, or tightly curled and coiled:

Wet detangling should only be used on dry, coarse, or tightly curled and coiled hair when it is packed with a slippery conditioner. Finger detangle with coconut oil before wet detangling with conditioner for severe tangling.

If you have looser curls, thicker hair, and a heavier density,

Looser curls, thicker hair, and higher density hair might benefit from a small spray of penetrating oil, such as Argan, before dry detangling with a paddle brush or Denman brush before and during a washing session. After cleaning, use a smoothing conditioner to your strands before combing or brushing.

What comb should you use for wet hair?

Wet hair is more brittle and prone to breaking. When we wash our hair, the scalp’s pores are already open, making it sensitive. It causes hair breaking when combed. This results in hair loss and breakage. Wet hair should not be combed as a result.

It’s not always easy to avoid combing, especially when we’re rushing out the door in the morning. When combing damp hair, adopt the following measures.

  1. Make use of a wide-toothed comb.

Wet hair should always be combed gently with a broad comb. Even those with short hair should use a wide-toothed comb.

  1. After shampooing, pat dry your hair.

Please do not comb hair with water falling from it. After shampooing, a soft cotton towel should be used to gently wrap hair for at least 5 minutes. This always aids in the restoration of moisture to the hair. When the hair is dry or nearly dry, it is time to comb it.

  1. Dry your hair in the sun or with a hairdryer.

Getting some sunshine just after patting your hair dry with a towel is also quite good. Also, if you are in a rush to go, you may use the dryer to dry your hair, especially if you have long hair.

  1. After shampooing, apply a serum.

Finally, I would recommend using a decent serum to detangle the hair ends. Serum should be applied from the mid-lengths of the hair to the ends. This also helps to reduce frizzy hair and provides nutrients. Close the pores with hair serum before combing hair with a wide-tooth comb.

Those with curly hair should avoid using a comb on damp hair at all costs. Rather, after applying hair serum, they should crush the curls from the ends with their palms and allow them to dry naturally.

To summarize, please avoid combing wet hair because our hair is thin and brittle while wet and more prone to hair breakage. If you must use a broad comb, pat dry with a cotton towel and invest in a decent serum.

Why does wet hair shrink naturally?

When you wet your hair, the cuticles are open and ready to receive moisture. When this happens, your hair will naturally curl into its natural condition, revealing your curl pattern. Even if you don’t like it, this is how your hair likes to be.

Although hair shrinking may appear to be a bad thing, it is not since it indicates that your hair is in good health.

The more your hair shrinks, the more water it absorbs, which is exactly what it needs because natural hair is naturally dry, so you must always be on the lookout for strategies to fight dryness.

Ways to prevent natural hair shrinkage

1. Blow-Drying

Many women use blow-drying to get their hair to seem absolutely straight, but you should be aware of some of the disadvantages of doing so.

Always blow-dry your hair on a low heat setting to avoid sucking out all of the moisture. To avoid heat damage, it’s a good idea to use a heat protectant as well.

This is a nice heat protectant to test.

2. Bun 

Another fantastic way to extend your natural hair and avoid shrinking is to wear it in a bun.

Tie your hair up high or low, depending on your preference, and wait for it to dry.

If you choose, you can band the ends of your hair like the banding method.

3. Banding

Banding is an excellent technique to keep your hair looking long. To acquire the greatest banding effects, separate your hair into smaller, more manageable pieces and then lay the bands all the way down your hair to keep it stretched.

Some folks use rubber bands to achieve this, which I would not recommend because rubber bands can break. I would choose hair bands without metal closures.

How frequently should you shampoo your hair?

Regardless of your hair type, you should wash your hair if your scalp feels oily, filthy, or stinky. However, I recommend experimenting with washing your hair more or less frequently than normal and then checking your scalp and hair health.

If you don’t wash your hair for an extended length of time, natural oils, germs, and dead skin cells can accumulate, resulting in greasy hair. However, if you wash your hair every day, you may overstimulate the oil glands behind your scalp, resulting in greasy hair.

Some shampoos are harsh and remove all of your scalp’s natural oils. This leads your scalp to overproduce oils in order to replace the ones you’ve just removed. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t wash after going to the gym; I’m simply saying you should forgo the shampoo every few days. However, never omit the conditioner. If your hair gets wet, you’ll need to replenish the cuticle with conditioner.

Simply said, if you sweat a lot, wear a lot of product every day, and see your roots becoming greasy and dirty, it’s time to wash. You can usually skip a wash if your hair looks excellent, feels comfortable, and isn’t creating any problems.

What if you don’t wash your hair?

Poor hair cleaning can lead to scalp problems such as dandruff, acne, and excessive greasiness. Initially, a buildup of dead skin cells, natural oils, and germs will occur.

The essential point is that for many people, this may itch, and we will scratch, causing the scalp to get infected. A clean scalp is essential for healthy hair since blocked or clogged follicles can limit quality hair development. In certain situations, scalps can regulate themselves, where oil regulation decreases due to a lack of stimulation of the scalp, although this is uncommon. The hair itself retains its regular look but can get a bit “smelly” over time.

Trichologists advise against not washing your hair at all since it affects hair health. Your hair sheds between 50 and 100 hairs every day, and if you don’t wash it, these strands will gather oil and dandruff on your scalp. So, if you want to avoid terrible hair days, locate your “sweet spot” for how frequently you wash your hair.

What happens if you wash your hair too much?

Washing your hair too frequently can raise the pH of your scalp, causing it to become more alkaline while it should be somewhat acidic, causing it to become itchy, dry, or flaky, and even result in a greasy scalp when it begins overcompensating and creating more oil.

When you over-wash your hair, you strip it of all its natural goodness, causing it to become highly static and fly away, as well as experiencing excessive oiliness.

Keeping hair moisturized is the key to great-looking hair and the equipment you use when washing may make a big impact. Most individuals use a towel to dry their hair, but a microfiber towel or a hair turban can help prevent dryness.

You’ve never seen a hairstylist cringe as much as I do when I see hair wrapped in a towel. It doesn’t matter if it’s the most costly cotton. Cotton is designed to absorb moisture, which it does, but when you wrap it firmly around your hair, it tugs on the most delicate hairs around your hairline, causing many of them to shatter.

Why Should You Keep Your Hair Damp Before Drying It?

Damp hair and sleeping have traditionally been thought to be a nasty combination. But it’s time to debunk a few myths:

The Common Cold

Your family has always advised you that sleeping with damp hair increases your chances of developing a cold. Right? That is, at best, a remote possibility. According to experts, the common cold has nothing to do with us being chilly for a longer period of time.

Viruses, particularly rhinoviruses, are the most prevalent cause of the common cold. If infected individual coughs or sneezes in front of you, these viruses enter your mouth, eyes, or nose by air droplets.

Yeast Infections

As previously said, moist hair raises the likelihood of fungal infections in your scalp. In addition to the natural bacteria in your scalp, your pillow is a breeding ground for fungus. It multiplies when you give it a damp and chilly pillowcase.

Research on fungal contamination of bedding discovered fungus flora is commonly used in pillowcases. The experiment was carried out on ten pillows that had been used for at least 1.5 years. And the most often discovered virus was fumigatus, which causes serious illnesses in persons with weakened immune systems.

Breakage of hair

When your hair is wet, it is at its weakest. There is a real danger of hair damage during sleeping. This problem is caused if you tie up your damp hair before going to bed. If you can’t avoid sleeping with damp hair, leave it down for the night.

How To Prevent Damp Hair Damage?

Application of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is well-known for its ability to reduce hair breakage. The cuticle of your hair is made up of flaps. Wet hair absorbs water and swells, making it more prone to damage. Coconut oil aids in reducing the amount of water absorbed by your hair.

A Word of Warning

If you have seborrheic eczema, we recommend avoiding coconut oil. Coconut oil may aggravate the situation.

Conditioner Usage

The hair conditioner acts as a barrier between the cuticle of your hair and the environment. It minimizes friction between hair strands and makes detangling simpler. Conditioning your hair on a regular basis will help it grow healthier over time.

Natural Hair Drying

Wash your hair for at least one and a half hours before going to bed. It will naturally dry at least 80% of your hair before you go to bed. The more you dry your hair naturally, the less likely you are to cause hair damage.

Silk Pillow to the Rescue

Silk pillowcases are really beneficial to hair. Though not scientifically proven, the gentler surface of a silk pillow may help decrease hair damage and provide you with the beautiful sleep you want.

Tip

After washing your hair, carefully squeeze out the excess water. You should avoid rubbing your hair with a towel. To protect your hair’s cuticle, we recommend patting it dry gently.

Can You Use Bleach on Damp Hair?

If you use bleach incorrectly on your hair, the results can be disastrous. Bleach includes strong chemical chemicals that can burn your scalp or dry out your hair. You don’t want to be a victim of this terrible accident, do you? Then continue reading!

To answer your question, depending on the color you want, you can apply bleach to moist hair.

If you prefer a lighter color, using bleach to damp hair is a fantastic option. When combining the bleach powder and the developer, add 10-30% hydrogen peroxide. This developer is already water-based, and your wet hair contributes to that. The water in your hair dilutes the bleach, making the procedure take longer.

However, bleaching damp hair will not provide the desired lighting. The bleach impact would be weaker than the standard technique. In general, if you apply the bleach correctly, your color will last at least six months before fading.

Final Words

Now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about wet hair problems, it’s time to take action. Aside from the treatments we discussed, it is critical to visit a doctor if you have severe hair damage or scalp problems.

But remember, no matter what decisions you make about your hair, it must be maintained with love and care. So, what are you holding out for? Wave goodbye to your hair problems and hello to your lovely hair. 

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