You are in a hurry to step out almost every time you wash your hair, aren’t you?
You often end up blow-drying your wet hair. Are you aware of the damages caused by fast-drying processes to your hair?
Your hair is the most delicate part of your body and is predominant in maintaining your beauty. It becomes more delicate after a wash, so it has to be taken care of more gently. Believe it or not, how you treat your damp hair determines the texture of your hair until the next wash.
In this blog, you get the information to take care of your damp hair, including steps you can follow for quick drying without causing any damage.
What Is Damp Hair?
You may notice that your hair only partially dries up on towel-drying after a hair washes. But it will not be dripping water out from the edges. This slightly wet condition of your hair is known as damp hair. At this time, you can examine more elasticity in your hair than dry hair.
Damp hair is more prone to breakage. Thus it needs special care. Furthermore, when your hair is damp, it becomes more porous, and this is the best time to apply oils and leave-in conditioners.
What Is the Difference Between Damp Hair and Wet Hair?
There is a myth that damp hair and wet hair are similar, but it is not true.
Post a shower, when your hair is completely soaked in water with dripping off water from the ends, then it is considered wet hair. Damp hair, as mentioned above, is conditioned between completely wet and fully dry locks.
The moisture level of damp hair is 70-80% whereas wet hair is entirely soaked in water. Also, when you apply any styling products like gel, wax, etc, you achieve a sleek, wet, and gel-styled appearance that is different from completely wet hair.
Damp Hair and Your Scalp
The biggest problem that you can face with damp hair is scalp fungus. Large varieties of microbes are found on your scalp which is harmless. But, Malassezia Globosa can cause irritation, dryness, itching, and dandruff and has to be taken care of properly.
Damp Hair and Serum
Serums should be applied on fresh, washed, and damp hair. This will add a layer of protection for your hair.
To get the best results, start with your hair ends and work towards the middle. Do not apply serum to your scalp or roots, as it can make your hair look oily and greasy.
The best way to apply your hair serum on damp hair is mentioned below:
- Serum should be applied initially to clean, damp hair
- Apply 1-2 drops of hair serum to your palm and warm it by gently rubbing your palms for 5 seconds
- Apply to your hair, working from the ends to the middle part of your hair.
- Be gentle when applying serum. Do not put more pressure.
- Once you apply serum, use a wide tooth wooden comb to distribute serum evenly in your hair strands.
Damp Hair Styling
A wet hair look is always on trend which is easy to pull off without hot tools for a ton of time.
Here we are providing step-by-step information on how to pull it off.
What you need:
- A wide-tooth comb: To define your part and pull products through evenly.
- Hair gel: To get slick-backed looks on any hair texture.
- Hair cream: Cream-based products create a smooth, natural sheen with lots of nourishment for split ends. It is especially a changer for those with dry hair, wavy hair, and curly hair
- Glossing spray: Enhances wet looks by providing shine and softness
- Hairspray: A medium hold mist with light-reflecting particles is all you need to lock this look for the whole day.
How to get the look:
Step 1: Wash and Towel Dry
In order to achieve a damp look it is important to lock down your hair when it is halfway dry. Sopping wet hair will not absorb the products you use to create definition and hold.
If you have straight hair, towel dry first. If you have wavy curly hair, use a T-shirt to blot out moisture and prevent frizz.
Step 2: Mix Hair Gel and Cream
Hair gel gives you ultimate hold, whereas hair cream provides maximum nourishment. Mix a quarter-sized amount of both in your palm and apply. This will give your hair a healthy, shiny look
If you have short hair: run the gel-cream mix from root to tip to keep your hair smoothened down against your scalp.
If you have medium to long hair: focus on your roots and mid-lengths
If you have fine or straight hair: you can choose cream to volumize your hair, mainly on roots.
If you have curly to coily hair: using more cream will help to avoid crunchiness.
Step 3: Comb and Add Shine
For a natural and beachy look, use a wide tooth comb.
Once you get the desired look, you can go with glossing spray to add up shining to your hair
Step 4: Spray and Style
Mist your head with hairspray before the previous products dry fully. This will maintain your look for a longer period of time.
Damp Hair Care
Things You Should Never Do to Your Damp Hair:
1. Brushing Damp Hair
It is highly recommended not to comb your damp. Let your hair dry at least 90% before you brush it.
2. Tying up Damp Hair
Avoid tying up your damp hair into a bun or ponytail. It is because damp hair has more elasticity and is more prone to breakage. If you tie up your hair, it may cause dryness in your hair ends. Your scalp will not have enough water to dry itself, leading to eczema or other skin irritations.
3. Usage of Heating Equipment
Styling your damp hair is highly tempting, but you should avoid it to protect it from damage.
4. Blow Drying on High Heat
Blow drying is a time saver when comes to drying your damp hair. So if you are really in need of it, you can use it at a very low temperature as high temperature can cause hair damage.
5. Apply a Hair Mask
Applying a hair mask on damp hair is less effective when compared to that applied to dry hair. If you are in real need of it, you should towel-dry your hair first, and then a mask can be applied.
Precautions to Avoid Damp Hair Damage
1. Application of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has a great role in hair care and it can prevent hair damage. Your hair cuticle is made of flaps. Wet hair soaks water and swells up, which makes your hair more fragile and can be damaged. Coconut oil helps to reduce the water content that your hair absorbs.
2. Use of Appropriate Conditioner
Hair conditioner helps to maintain your hair in smooth and healthy condition. It works as a shield for your cuticle. It helps to lower friction between your hair strands and helps in easy detangling.
3. Natural Drying of Your Hair
Try to shower a few hours before bed so that maximum water is dried off naturally. The more you dry your hair naturally, the less is chance for hair damage.
4. Use a Silk Pillowcase
Though scientifically not proven, silk pillows can reduce the friction between your hair strands and can provide good sleep. It has wider benefits than other pillowcases.
5. Get Rid of the Damp Hair Smell
If your hair remains damp for too long due to the presence of water or sweat, use a pleasant-smelling mild shampoo with antibacterial compounds that can cleanse your scalp and hair.
Sleeping With Damp Hair
It’s not good to sleep with damp hair as the cuticles naturally lift up, making the hair more vulnerable and prone to breakage. Sleeping with damp hair may also result in scalp conditions like fungal infections, skin irritation, itchiness, dryness, redness, and dandruff.
Going to sleep with damp hair can contribute to waking up with an unpleasant smell, even for those with long hair. In addition to wet hair, wetness in your pillow case can create an environment for bacteria and other microbes to breed.
If you are not ready to give up your night shower routine, here is a solution. The right way to sleep with damp hair is described below:
- Wash less: it is best to limit your hair wash to reduce the frequency of sleep with damp hair.
- Add as much time possible between your hair wash and bedtime: if you are going to bed with damp hair, try to take shower in evening so that your hair gets enough time to dry up naturally.
- Blast with a blow dryer about 30% dries: try to air dry your hair or use a hair dryer on the underside of your hair.
- Sleep with silk pillowcase: cotton pillowcase creates extreme pressure on your hair strands leading to hair breakage whereas silk prevents this friction.
- Swap out your pillowcase frequently: As you sleep, your sebaceous glands in the scalp produce and secrete sebum, while skin cells continue to shed. This leads to the breeding of bacteria and fungi. Sleeping in that pillow case night after night will result in the transfer of these microbes into your scalp thereby leading to infections.
- Use a leave-in conditioner: it will prevent your hair from getting damaged and keep them soft and shiny.
- Flip your head upside down and place your microfiber towel all over your hair and gently wrap it around your head. You can keep a microfiber towel while sleeping and fluff your hair in the morning.
Mythe regarding damp hair
Common cold: experts suggest that cold has nothing to do with damp hair. The common cold is due to viruses and these viruses enter through the mouth, eyes, or nose through contact.
How to Get Rid of the Damp Hair Smell?
If you have curly or wavy hair there is a higher risk of a foul smell on the hair. The prime reason for the bad smell is mainly due to the excess microbial activity on your hair. It gets worsened when you do not allow your hair to dry completely.
however, there are other reasons which can lead to foul smells like hormonal imbalance, extreme humidity, using the wrong hair products, and, improper hair washing.
Fortunately, there are a few remedies that help in getting rid of the foul smell of your hair:
- Choosing the right shampoo: always try to choose a shampoo with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Ingredients you should look for on the label include aloe vera gel, neem, apple cider vinegar, etc.
- Including essential oil in your routine: A study suggests that essential oils like rosemary oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, lemon oil, and orange oil have antimicrobial properties and show a visible decrease in a microbial amount within the first few uses.
To use essential oil mix a few drops in carrier oil and massage gently on your scalp.
- Apple cider vinegar( ACV): it has a wide range of antimicrobial properties. To use it on your scalp, mix one part of apple cider vinegar with four parts of water and massage it on your scalp. After one hour wash it off with ACV shampoo.
Final word
We have discussed various issues related to damp hair. Now it’s time to get into action. Apart from the solution mentioned above, you should consult a medical professional in case of serious hair damage or scalp issues.
Besides these, it is of utmost importance to treat your hair with love. Once you start loving your hair, you can experience visible changes in your hair.
Read More:
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9 Different Methods by Which Dry Hair in Men Can Be Prevented
7 Best Keratin Treatment Products in India That Are Formaldehyde-Free
Tired With the Oily Scalp? Here Is the Causes, Remedies and Effects
Fed up With an Itchy Dry Scalp? Here Is the Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
FAQs
1. How do you get your hair damp?
Your hair is considered damp hair when it is neither dry nor wet. In other words, if it isn’t dripping wet, but you can still feel the moisture among your hair strands, then it is damp hair. After taking a shower, whether you towel dries it or leaves it to dry naturally, it will stay partially wet for a while.
2. Can you tie up damp hair?
No, damp hair should not be tied up into buns or ponytails or braided. If you tie up damp hair, the friction between the hair strands increases as it dries and thus leads to hair breakage and damage. The usual dents and snags that can happen in a dry ponytail worsen if the hair is damp. In some cases, it can lead to scalp eczema and other skin condition.
Make sure that your hair is completely dried before you tie it up.
3. Is damp hair good?
It should only be slightly damp, and definitely not completely wet. Sleeping with completely wet hair damages the hair follicle and causes breakage.
Different hairstyles are possible in damp hair and are hit among celebrities.
4. Does damp hair adds hair weight?
The longer and wetter your hair, the more weight hair will gain. Most of the weight is mainly due to the water trapped in between your hair strands.
Hair can swell about 15 % by absorbing water. In theory, you can decrease your hair weight by drying it completely. It is impossible to say how much weight will be gained by damp hair, it might be a pond or two when it is completely wet.
5. Can you sleep with damp hair?
It’s not good to sleep with damp hair as the cuticles naturally lift up, making the hair more vulnerable and prone to breakage. Sleeping with damp hair may also result in scalp conditions like fungal infections, skin irritation, itchiness, dryness, redness, and dandruff.