There are pros and cons to washing hair with hot or cold water. Below we discuss these as well as when you should be using hot or cold water on your hair.
Hot water
Dirty, oily hair – because hot water opens pores, it works great at cleaning dirty, oily hair and skin. Hot water has exfoliating and cleansing properties. Because it cleans deeply as opposed to superficially, it can even help rid the scalp of oily build-up.
Overly porous hair – one pro of using hot water (cleansing the hair and pores of oil), is also its con. Because hot water opens the pore of the scalp and the cuticle of the hair, using it very often can cause hair to become overly porous. Overly porous hair is dry, brittle, and dull.
Frizz – any heat to the hair, whether in water or styling tools, can cause frizz. Heat rids the hair of moisture, which keeps hair frizz-free.
Cold water
Seals moisture – opposite of hot water, cold hair seals pores and cuticles, keeping your hair’s natural oils secure inside. Additionally, this prevents dirt and oil from entering the hair, meaning your hair stays cleaner longer.
Increases shine – cold water and cold air can increase the shine. Additionally, it can make hair soft and smooth. It does so by closing the scales of the hair’s cuticles.
Flattens hair – for the same reason cold water increases hair’s shine and smoothness, it also can flatten hair. If you are prone to lacking volume, you may want to stay away from washing hair in cold water.
So, what’s a girl to do?
Match your hair’s style to your hair temperature. If you have hair that is prone to being oily, you may want to use warmer water. If you are prone to frizz, finish your shower with a cold hair rinse. If your hair is thirsty for moisture and shine, try washing in colder water. If you aren’t sure which method to use, experiment to find the temperature that works best for you.
Tag Archives: oily hair
How to keep oily hair in check
If you have naturally oily hair, then you are familiar with the oily hair struggle. Many individuals who suffer from oily hair have fine locks, which allows the oil to move quickly down the shaft from the scalp.
Our scalp produces oil naturally via the secretion glands under our scalp tissue. This oil moisturizes hair and keeps it soft, shiny, and healthy. Unfortunately, for some, the scalp overproduces oil causing unwanted oily hair.
While you can’t change your chemistry or genetics, you can change your habits and the products you use to help eliminate oily hair. Below are a few tips to keep your oil under control.
Don’t wash everyday – while this may seem counterintuitive, (if your hair is oily, you should wash it more, right?) washing your hair everyday could be causing your hair to overproduce oil. When you wash your hair it strips it of its natural nutrients. Doing this often could cause your hair to overproduce oil as a way to counteract the over-washing.
Stop touching your hair – touching or playing with your hair causes an increase in oil production.
Try conditioning your hair first – this technique, known as ‘reverse washing,’ allows your hair to reap the benefits of moisturizing, without the weight of residue left behind. Simply condition hair first, then finish with shampoo and a good rinse.
Make dry shampoo your best friend – using dry shampoo in powder form in between washes soaks up the oil in your hair and leaves behind a fresh smell. It’s a great tool to help you stretch the time between washes.
Turn down the heat – washing your hair with hot water can cause the scalp to overproduce oil. It also opens your hair’s cuticle and causes hair damage. Instead, use luke-warm water throughout the wash, and finish with a cold rinse.
Go au natural – your hair needs a break too. Don’t use hot styling tools every day. This can cause oily hair and hair damage.
Mix it up – try different hair styles in between washes. Maybe wear it down the first day, in curls the second, and in an up-do on the third. Oily hair actually helps make up-do’s look better and last longer.
