Why You Should Be Doing The TikTok Hair Slugging Trend At Least Once A Month

Slugging doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, it's picking up steam yet again, but in a different form – hair slugging.

Here's what you need to know about what hair slugging is and if it's worth trying.

What Is Hair Slugging?

Hair slugging is a process of deep conditioning your hair that involves applying a hair treatment, like a hair mask, oil, or serum, and leaving it in overnight to work its magic.

The idea is that the nourishing properties of the product you’re using will moisturize your hair from the inside out. This can help reduce hair breakage, frizz, and split ends, and leave the hair looking shiny, silky, and healthy.

Hair slugging is a process of deep conditioning your hair overnight.

Slugging actually has a long and storied history in many cultures; however, this method of deep conditioning is currently trending on TikTok, with posts tagging "hair slugging" racking up millions of views.

And while the results are definitely admirable, there are a few things to be aware of before trying hair slugging at home.

How To Do Hair Slugging the Right Way

Start by spraying water on your hair and leaving it damp for a few moments. Then apply your hydrating hair mask, serum, or treatment by starting with the ends and working your way up. Next, gently massage the treatment into your hair to ensure that every bit is sufficiently coated in product.

Once you do that, wrap your hair up in a smooth fabric such as a silk wrap, as these are less abrasive and prevent hair concerns such as frizz, breakage, and damage. You can also secure your bun with a silk scrunchie if needed, but make sure not to tie it too tight, as this could cause you a headache after some time.

Hop in bed for your beauty sleep and wash out your hair slugging treatment in the morning.

Hair Slugging Mistakes To Avoid

There aren't many ways to get hair slugging wrong, but here are the few things you should pay attention to:

Don't Apply Product on Your Scalp

The most important thing to remember when hair slugging at home is do not apply product to your scalp. Your scalp is naturally oily due to the sebaceous glands that produce a natural lubricant known as sebum which protects the skin from external pathogens. So if you add something oily to it, you increase the chances of triggering yeast overgrowth.

The most important thing to remember when hair slugging at home is do not apply product to your scalp. 

Yeast belongs to the world of microorganisms that live on our skin and contribute to a healthy and optimal skin function, but when there's an overgrowth, this can lead to issues like scalp or fungal acne, dandruff, hair loss, and severe itching.

Avoid Using Oils on Dry Hair

Using oils on dry hair won't do anything besides make your hair look greasy and could increase the damage. Oils don't actually hydrate the hair because they sit on the surface and can't penetrate the strand, which is why your hair will likely become even more brittle and dry after using any type of oil.

Furthermore, oils are difficult to wash off, and you will likely need a ton of shampoo to remove the layer of grease the next day, which will definitely leave your hair even drier and more damaged than it previously was. Oils can also trap dirt and bacteria, which will then end up on your pillowcase and your face.

Opt for a lightweight serum or a richer hair treatment that contains emollients instead.

Don't Wrap Your Hair in a Sock

Another thing to avoid is wrapping your hair in a sock after slugging. Socks can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, and if you're using them to wrap your hair overnight, then you're essentially trapping all of that bacteria and fungus against your hair, pillowcase, and face. Not only is this bad for your hair health, but it can also lead to skin conditions such as fungal acne. Plus the sock will absorb the moisture you want to go into your hair. Use a silk head wrap instead, as these are more hygienic and less abrasive.

Hot or Cold Rinse?

When it's time to rinse out the hair treatment, you might be wondering if you should use hot or cold water.

Sadly for those who love their hot showers, there are more proven benefits to using cold water than hot. Cold water locks in the hair's natural moisture and seals the cuticle layer, which makes the hair look shinier, smoother, and less frizzy. Hot water, on the other hand, can strip the hair of its natural oils and nutrients, leading to increased dryness, frizziness, and damage.

Cold water locks in the hair's natural moisture and makes the hair look shinier, smoother, and less frizzy.

Lukewarm water is a good option if you can't deal with the discomfort of rinsing your hair with cold water; however, if you’re determined to get healthy hair that looks straight out of a Garnier hair commercial, then cold water is the way to go.

Your Hair Is Dead, but It Still Benefits from Deep Conditioning Treatments

One thing that many people don't know about hair is that it’s dead. Yup, that's right. The hair you see on every part of your body is made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair receives nourishment from tiny blood vessels at the base of every follicle that feed the root to keep it growing. But once the hair grows past the skin's surface, the cells within the strand aren't alive anymore. 

But just because the hair is technically dead doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken care of. In fact, it should be taken care of even more because external care will make the hair look healthy and shiny for the most part, since it no longer receives nutrients from the blood.

This is where deep conditioning treatments come in, as they provide the hair with all the nutrients and moisture needed to look, well, less dead.

How Often Should You Do a Deep Conditioning Treatment?

How often you should do a deep conditioning treatment really depends on you, your lifestyle, and your self-care habits, as well as your hair type and hair condition.

If you have dry, damaged hair, you should aim to do a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week until your hair improves. When your hair starts looking healthier, you can then reduce the frequency of deep-conditioning if you so wish, or you can continue doing it weekly.

If you have oily hair, then you can probably get away with doing a deep conditioning treatment every other week. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend doing a deep conditioning treatment at least once a month. This will help keep your hair looking healthy and shiny, no matter your hair type.

Closing Thoughts

Not only is hair slugging a fun way to improve your hair health and participate in the latest TikTok trend, but it's also great for making you feel more confident in your looks. After all, who doesn't love having healthy hair that looks amazing?

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