Bedhead cure/preventative?
April 11, 2008 2:02 AM Subscribe
Taking a shower at night instead of in the morning: what do I do about my crazy morning hair?
I've started exercising after work in the early evening, so I take my showers at night before going to bed. I wake up in the morning and head off to work without having to take a shower, which is convenient, but my bedhead! My hair (which is very straight and fine) sticks out all over the place. That part is manageable--I just flatten it down with some water--but it often has a sort of greasy sheen to it if I don't wash it in the morning, if not apparent in the morning it looks quite greasy by the afternoon. I'm envious of the folks who seem to have nice-looking hair all the time.
How can I prevent this? Any magic wand out there? I would rather not have to take two showers a day.
I've started exercising after work in the early evening, so I take my showers at night before going to bed. I wake up in the morning and head off to work without having to take a shower, which is convenient, but my bedhead! My hair (which is very straight and fine) sticks out all over the place. That part is manageable--I just flatten it down with some water--but it often has a sort of greasy sheen to it if I don't wash it in the morning, if not apparent in the morning it looks quite greasy by the afternoon. I'm envious of the folks who seem to have nice-looking hair all the time.
How can I prevent this? Any magic wand out there? I would rather not have to take two showers a day.
I haven't tried any of these, but there are no-rinse haircare products out there that will cut down on the time spent on a full shower. You will still have to deal with drying and styling your hair after shampooing though.
posted by hellopanda at 2:50 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by hellopanda at 2:50 AM on April 11, 2008
i don't get it. do you wash your hair at night and it still gets greasy by the next morning?
posted by violetk at 2:51 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by violetk at 2:51 AM on April 11, 2008
also, i've heard good things about bumble+bumble hair powder for soaking up grease and oils in between shampoos.
posted by violetk at 2:52 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by violetk at 2:52 AM on April 11, 2008
My hair is greasy and I simply have to wash it before I leave the house. Well, truth be told I don't always because I don't give a shit and don't have a job, but I would have to were I a jobbed man. If you're a man with short hair it should take you 5 minutes flat to shower, wash your hair and dry it afterwards, so I would suggest doing that as quickly as possible before work. There's no other way I know of to de-grease your hair.
posted by creasy boy at 2:57 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by creasy boy at 2:57 AM on April 11, 2008
Best answer: I shower at night. In order to prevent morning hair, it has to be really, really dry when you go to bed. This is where hair dryers come in. If your hair is short, it shouldn't take too long, but half-drying it will not work - you have to take the time and make sure all of it is dry.
Mid-day greasiness can be dealt with with cornstarch, although bringing that to work is a bit tricky.
posted by cobaltnine at 3:43 AM on April 11, 2008
Mid-day greasiness can be dealt with with cornstarch, although bringing that to work is a bit tricky.
posted by cobaltnine at 3:43 AM on April 11, 2008
Stop washing your hair every day, instead try every other or every third day. It will take a few weeks of greasiness before your scalp adjusts, but soon your hair will resist becoming greasy for a long time.
Ignore this suggestion altogether if your head is regularly dirtied or sweaty (i once had a roommate who worked in construction, but was too cool to wash his hair. It was soo gross.)
posted by rhinny at 3:44 AM on April 11, 2008
Ignore this suggestion altogether if your head is regularly dirtied or sweaty (i once had a roommate who worked in construction, but was too cool to wash his hair. It was soo gross.)
posted by rhinny at 3:44 AM on April 11, 2008
Best answer: My hair is oily and I have to wash it every day, whether I want to or not. It has not been my experience that going days without washing my hair fixes this at all, unfortunately, and since I work at home I've been able to test this for very long periods of time. It just gives me nasty hair in the interim. I'm not saying this will be the case for you, just that others' advice isn't guaranteed to work.
Like you, I can't take a shower at night and then not have oily hair by the middle of the next day. I'm sorry to say I have found nothing that fixes this except just showering in the morning. I really wish I could bathe at night. When I've showered the previous night because of exercise, I just do nothing else in the shower but wash my hair and get out.
Alternatively, you could exercise in the morning before your shower. I've tried that before, but I'm not enough of a morning person, and some things are just better at night. I wish I could be more help. It sucks.
posted by Nattie at 4:28 AM on April 11, 2008
Like you, I can't take a shower at night and then not have oily hair by the middle of the next day. I'm sorry to say I have found nothing that fixes this except just showering in the morning. I really wish I could bathe at night. When I've showered the previous night because of exercise, I just do nothing else in the shower but wash my hair and get out.
Alternatively, you could exercise in the morning before your shower. I've tried that before, but I'm not enough of a morning person, and some things are just better at night. I wish I could be more help. It sucks.
posted by Nattie at 4:28 AM on April 11, 2008
Best answer: I agree with the person who says you should dry your hair before bed. Also, you might want to experiment with other shampoos, specifically ones for oily hair. You could try using a clarifying shampoo every few days; I caution against daily use, as those shampoos are kind of harsh and can strip all oils from your hair, which isn't always a good idea. If you have really greasy hair, though, it might be an option.
posted by bluefly at 5:08 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by bluefly at 5:08 AM on April 11, 2008
I used to be in the same kind of situation. I never really did address the greasiness directly - I just told myself it was no big deal until I believed it. If you shampoo once a day your hair is clean: worrying about it looking greasy is just being vain.
The bedhead problem I solved by asking my barber to cut my hair as short as he could without using clippers. After that I'd still wake up with rumpled hair, but when your hair is that short no-one notices. In fact, some people use product to get it looking that way. Go figure.
posted by Ritchie at 5:10 AM on April 11, 2008
The bedhead problem I solved by asking my barber to cut my hair as short as he could without using clippers. After that I'd still wake up with rumpled hair, but when your hair is that short no-one notices. In fact, some people use product to get it looking that way. Go figure.
posted by Ritchie at 5:10 AM on April 11, 2008
I have really oily hair. I sometimes use dry shampoo every other day, but I must admit, it's not that great. Your hair takes on a kind of gray cast and your scalp has a film of powder.
The only thing that "de-greased" my hair was highlighting. It dries out your scalp a bit and allows you to get away with fewer washings. Some might say that it also ruins your hair, but my hair is still pretty healthy - I think the oil and the drying effects of the highlighting cancel each other out.
posted by Evangeline at 5:22 AM on April 11, 2008
The only thing that "de-greased" my hair was highlighting. It dries out your scalp a bit and allows you to get away with fewer washings. Some might say that it also ruins your hair, but my hair is still pretty healthy - I think the oil and the drying effects of the highlighting cancel each other out.
posted by Evangeline at 5:22 AM on April 11, 2008
I don't think anyone mentioned this, but make sure your pillowcase is changed/cleaned at least once a week as well, this will probably help, as well as the above have said about completely drying your hair before going to bed.
posted by Grither at 5:25 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by Grither at 5:25 AM on April 11, 2008
Best answer: No answer for you; I just wanted to chime in and say I FEEL YOUR PAIN. I love having a shower before bed, but I too have the crazy hair in the morning. And if I don't wash my hair in the morning, I feel like an absolute greaseball by afternoon. My hair just feels really lank and gross.
Whenever I see a shampoo discussion on AskMeFi, somebody *always* jumps in to say you should just stop washing your hair and it'll eventually normalize. But realistically, who can afford to have greasy, disgusting hair for three weeks?
posted by web-goddess at 5:53 AM on April 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
Whenever I see a shampoo discussion on AskMeFi, somebody *always* jumps in to say you should just stop washing your hair and it'll eventually normalize. But realistically, who can afford to have greasy, disgusting hair for three weeks?
posted by web-goddess at 5:53 AM on April 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
I've recommended this to people before, but some seem to have a very different follicular reaction to it than I... I find massaging a bit of pure shea butter into my hair after drying it (and not worrying about drying it so completely) stops me getting bedhead, or such oily or dry hair the next day. Might be worth looking at.
posted by opsin at 6:35 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by opsin at 6:35 AM on April 11, 2008
Use one of those ancient egyptian pillows. Or don't wash your hair the night before. Keep it dry and sink wash it in the morning.
posted by sgobbare at 6:50 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by sgobbare at 6:50 AM on April 11, 2008
My husband and I use the spray in conditioners. They are called leave in and you can just spray them on your hair. Then blow dry as usual. No problems.
posted by JAD'E at 7:06 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by JAD'E at 7:06 AM on April 11, 2008
I personally have slightly greasy hair, but am incredibly lazy. My shower head is detachable, so usually just wash my hair quickly under that, then little shampoo, then rinse, this takes no longer than 3
minutes. 5 to have it dry enough to leave the house.
posted by munchbunch at 7:26 AM on April 11, 2008
minutes. 5 to have it dry enough to leave the house.
posted by munchbunch at 7:26 AM on April 11, 2008
This comes from a person with curly hair (& also very fine hair), but I find using one of those straightening balm/lotion (textureline, but I'm crazy and order it since it's the only thing that works on my particular hair) makes it much less likely to do crazy things while I sleep. I let it dry naturally. Not sure if it'd work with straight hair but you could try a similar product.
posted by ejaned8 at 7:29 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by ejaned8 at 7:29 AM on April 11, 2008
I can't leave the house without washing my hair in the morning (yes, even if I wash it the night before). So when I shower at night after exercising, *that's* my mini-shower. I just rinse off, wash the sweat and funk off with soap, but I don't wash my hair. In the morning, I wash my hair and shave and do all the stuff that takes time. (Because otherwise my hair is greasy and my legs are stubbly in the morning.)
I'd sell my soul to the devil to be able to shower at night. To avoid all the girly crap I spend my time on in the morning would improve my life dramatically. Alas.
posted by iguanapolitico at 7:32 AM on April 11, 2008
I'd sell my soul to the devil to be able to shower at night. To avoid all the girly crap I spend my time on in the morning would improve my life dramatically. Alas.
posted by iguanapolitico at 7:32 AM on April 11, 2008
To get rid of the dreaded sheen, I swear by this stuff. Alternatively, Klorane dry shampoo works really well.
While some like the Bb hair powder, it really didn't do anything for me...and reviews seem to be all over the place.
posted by pearl228 at 8:42 AM on April 11, 2008
While some like the Bb hair powder, it really didn't do anything for me...and reviews seem to be all over the place.
posted by pearl228 at 8:42 AM on April 11, 2008
As for the kinks, a straightener will typically do the trick. The website Make Up Alley has a wealth of reviews that should help in your selection should you consider this route.
(I have fine, straight hair, and wash generally every day to every other day depending on the season, activity, etc. Also--air drying, I find, greatly reduces fly aways, if it works for you!)
posted by pearl228 at 8:48 AM on April 11, 2008
(I have fine, straight hair, and wash generally every day to every other day depending on the season, activity, etc. Also--air drying, I find, greatly reduces fly aways, if it works for you!)
posted by pearl228 at 8:48 AM on April 11, 2008
I shower at night, too. I have curly hair, so I put in some straightener/anti-frizz whatever and then braid it into one tight braid in the back while it's still wet. I can sleep like that without getting crazy hair in the morning. (My daughter, who has the super straight hair I long for, must sleep with a braid, on wet or dry hair, otherwise it's a huge tangled mess.)
posted by mothershock at 8:55 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by mothershock at 8:55 AM on April 11, 2008
A satin pillowcase is supposed to help with bedhead. I've never tried it because I shower in the morning, but it lets your hair slide around instead of getting flattened while you sleep. Might help?
posted by peep at 9:17 AM on April 11, 2008
posted by peep at 9:17 AM on April 11, 2008
Best answer: I don't know what kind of hair you have, but this is an issue for me, as a guy with normal/short hair. My solution, In the morning, when you're doing your normal routine, brushing teeth, etc:
Put a towel around your neck (to keep you dry), then soak your hair pretty well just using the bathroom sink and your hands. Once it's dripping wet, grab the towel and dry your hair like you would after a shower. Be liberal with the wetting, and vigorous with the drying. At the end, your hair should be pretty well-behaved. This takes like 30 seconds total.
posted by knave at 10:27 AM on April 11, 2008
Put a towel around your neck (to keep you dry), then soak your hair pretty well just using the bathroom sink and your hands. Once it's dripping wet, grab the towel and dry your hair like you would after a shower. Be liberal with the wetting, and vigorous with the drying. At the end, your hair should be pretty well-behaved. This takes like 30 seconds total.
posted by knave at 10:27 AM on April 11, 2008
I've got the same problem, where my hair gets greasy and icky by the afternoon if I only washed it the night before. A friend suggested full or body-only nighttime showers followed by washing my hair in the sink in the morning, and I was dubious. It didn't seem like it would save me that much time over jumping in the shower, since I would still have to dry and style my hair afterwards.
BUT! It turns out that I waste a lot of time standing around in the shower, even when I'm trying to hurry. I've decided there's a lot of subconscious motivation to finish up quickly when my head is upside down over a sink, compared to the temptation to stay standing under a luxurious spray of hot water in the full-on shower. Without even trying, I find that the sink solution gets my hair clean a lot faster.
posted by vytae at 11:02 AM on April 11, 2008
BUT! It turns out that I waste a lot of time standing around in the shower, even when I'm trying to hurry. I've decided there's a lot of subconscious motivation to finish up quickly when my head is upside down over a sink, compared to the temptation to stay standing under a luxurious spray of hot water in the full-on shower. Without even trying, I find that the sink solution gets my hair clean a lot faster.
posted by vytae at 11:02 AM on April 11, 2008
I have long, straight, oily hair and one thing that works for me is to use cheap hair mousse where alcohol is high on the ingredients list. The alcohol is very drying (which is why nicer hair products won't have it) which is exactly what you need. You'd use this on your hair damp after washing.
posted by happyturtle at 12:35 PM on April 11, 2008
posted by happyturtle at 12:35 PM on April 11, 2008
i always wash my hair at night as well, when i do wash. I just use a hair straightening iron on the parts that need it. I'm not sure if this will work on straight hair though. I have thick wavy hair and only wash it once - twice a week.
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 6:56 PM on April 11, 2008
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 6:56 PM on April 11, 2008
« Older How do I get a definitive answer from a girl I... | am i putting all my eggs in one basket? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
You could wash just your hair in the sink in the morning.
You could use a shampoo at night for greasy hair.
posted by zephyr_words at 2:36 AM on April 11, 2008