@thesarajaneho: In China, we’re taught not to go around with a wet scalp—especially not to sleep with wet hair. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, wet skin and scalp makes your skin susceptible to external pathogens (head wind, wind dampness, cold) and by blow drying the roots it closes up the pores, seals it, and protects your natural defensive energy. If you don’t, over time going around with wet hair is believed to contribute to headaches, heaviness, feeling cold, and other imbalances. A follower asked if it’s okay to just dry the roots and scalp and leave the ends wet. While it’s preferable to give it a thorough dry over, the priority is the scalp and roots. My parents’ generation was very strict about this: wash your hair, then blow-dry your scalp before going outside or going to bed. And especially during colder weather, after giving birth, or when your body is considered more vulnerable in TCM, keeping your head warm and dry is of utmost importance. That’s why in Chinese postpartum confinement the mother does not wash her hair for 30 days. For more listen to “The Chinese Remedies I Actually Swear By” episode 78 of my podcast Hot Water

Sara Jane Ho

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Friday 02 October 2026 21:07:14 GMT