new thread
Ran across this earlier today...
http://www.snopes.com/spoons/oldwives/hairgrow.asp
They talk about some hair rumors in it, here's the one I want to know about...
Is it true that washing your hair with cold water will really make it shinier and flatter? I've heard that many a time, but this article seems to claim that it's false.
They said brushing was no good. That contradicts what I've heard--that brushing helps distribute scalp oils, which in turn reduces tangles and keeps the hair more durable. I usually brush in the morning.
You're both right.
Brushing can benefit the hair by quickening the pace at which the oil makes its way down the stands. At the same time, over brushing or forceful brushing can rip, pull, split, or otherwise damage hair.
Personally, I brush when one really isn't supposed to-- right out of the shower, when it's wet. It's when hair is most likely to substain damage from brushing, so I tread lightly, so to speak. I have the benefit of having only slightly wavy hair, so it's straight as can be while wet, which aids in not getting damaged.
Most of the folks here will probably tell you to brush before you wash your hair, but it seems a bit counter-productive to me. At least on the days you shampoo, that is.
If I have the time, I'll also brush it when it's damp in hopes it won't "poof" so much (the fun part of awkward stage), or in the evening for the heck of it, really.
The key to remember is to be gentle. It's a lot easier to brush wet or damp (damp might be the best balance of ease/damage control) than when completely dry.
All that aside, cool water doesn't do anything? I've noticed Aussie 3 Minute Miracle mentions it for extra shine, but nothing else I've used has. Perhaps it's an ingredient dependent thing, or they've been leading me on all this time?
Ive got wavy hair too and Ive tried waiting for it to dry before combing, but Ive found thats just too time consuming, and it tends to tangle more when I do it that way. I use a leave-in to help strengthen it and it doesnt seem to be damaged at all when I comb while wet, but I still do it carefully just to be safe:)
Yea same here. I have very wavy hair, and I always brush, well, I brush like I'm using a wide toothed comb, carefully. If I don't brush my hair when it's wet, I cannot train it to stay flat and what I'm left with is my bangs reaching somewhere around my eyebrow when normally they should be top lip, or past bottom lip when pulled straight:)
Snopes is wrong! Rinsing with cold water does have a positive affect on your hair, leading to shine. I'm not sure what they mean by flatter -- if they're talking about volume (no, it won't affect that) or smoothness (yeah, in a way, it will).
Doing your final rinse with cold water closes down the hair's cuticle in a mechanical manner, as opposed to using a hair rinse or the ACV rinse, which are chemical manners. Both are good for your hair, because closing the cuticle is the proper, healthy state for hair. It enables moisture to be retained, facilitates easier detangling, and does enhance shine.
Not using a rinse or cold water rinsing leaves the hair's cuticle open, which is rough, so the strands catch on each other more, increasing tangles. Also, when the cuticle is open, hair can't shine as well because the surface isn't smooth. Closing the cuticle down restores a smooth surface to each strand of hair, so it reflects light better, bringing shine.
JE
I also believe that the cold water makes your hair's natural oils more solid than if they were warm. Therefore, drying doesn't strip as much of that healthy oil away.
I always rinse with cold water, whether I use conditioner or not - many conditioners advise on the bottle to rinse in cold water for extra shine eg. Aussie.
wolfeyes
Very good point (solidifying). I'd not thought about this issue in quite this way. I'm going to have to think about this some more. Thanks.
JE
