While the temperature of your shower may not be the first thought that comes to mind when it comes to hair care, there are pros and cons to washing your hair in both hot and chilly water! Really, which is better comes down to a few key factors to understand:
What type of hair you have – curly hair has different maintenance requirements than someone with straight hair. The same goes for people who have thick hair versus thin hair.
What your main problems of concern are – it’s vital to listen to what your hair is trying to tell you and your hair will have diverse needs depending on what issues you have and need to address. For example, frizz, breakage, and unruliness all require slightly different care.
What products you’re using – if you’re using a 2-in-1 product, your needs will differ from someone who uses a shampoo and condition separately.
In order to decide if washing your hair in cold water is more fitting for your specific hair care needs, we will first go over the advantages and disadvantages of washing your hair in warm water.
Pros of Washing Your Hair in Warm Water

• Warm water removes excess oil from your hair and scalp – this works well for people who tend to be more prone to oily or greasy hair or if you wash your hair every few days. On the flip side, if you feel the need to wash your hair daily, have dry hair, or your hair is on the thinner side this could lead to dry, duller hair.
• Warm water opens the cuticles of your hair – alike your pores opening up in a steamy hot shower, your scalp does too! This allows your hair to be thoroughly cleaned, but…it does leave your hair vulnerable to breakage, over-stripping of your hairs natural oils, which in-turn leads to frizz. You’re even more vulnerable to hair loss or excessive hair shedding so be gentle when washing in hot water.
• Warm water allows extra texture within the hair – this allows for extra texture within individual strands which helps the ‘staying power’ of any hair-do, gives the appearance of fuller hair, and prevents your hair from falling flat.

Cons of Washing Hair in Warm Water

• Can lead to overly porous hair – which is brittle and prone to breakage and ‘fly-aways.’
• Can potentially strip too much oil or moisture from your hair, leaving you with frizz – these cons are especially accurate for those of you who have naturally curly hair. At Modena Hair Restoration, we recommend the curly Q’s to steer away from warmer temperatures.

Now that we’ve discussed warm water, lets ‘dive’ right into the pros and cons of washing your head of hair in chillier temperatures.
Pros of Washing Your Hair in Cold Water

• Cold water leaves your hair with a healthier shine – with extra moisture, come smoother hair which results in shinier and softer hair.
• Cold water locks in that moisture – smoothing out the hair and generally keeps it healthier and more durable.
• Reduces those pesky fly-aways, frizz and breakage – which is especially important for those of us with thin or curly hair.

Cons of Washing Your Hair in Cold Water

• Flattens the hair a bit – with all the extra moisture your hair is getting it can weigh down your hair. Heavy hair is typically more prone, which can be hard to combat even with premium hair sprays!
• Less of a clean – if you are prone to grease and excess oil on the scalp, the oil won’t be cleaned out quite as well with cold water due to the closing of the hair cuticle, similar to splashing cold water on the face closes the pores.

Now that you understand the pros and cons of both water temperatures, you should have a better idea which one is best for your hair type and your hair concerns. If hair loss is your main concern, start with using a powerful hair loss prevention shampoo such as GroMD and steering clear of warm water if you can withstand the icier temperatures. If not, try to at least rinse your conditioner out at the end of your shower with cold water to close up those hair cuticles!
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link