Hot or Cold

• Hot or Cold
  

  

  C.S.S.

  
  

  Does anyone know if it is better to wash your hair with Hot, Warm,
  or Cold water? I heard Cold water was best, but there was no reason to support this. Any insight on this would be much appreciated.

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  • Re: Hot or Cold
    

    

    Victor

    
    

    Does anyone know if it is better to wash your hair with Hot, Warm,
    or Cold water? I heard Cold water was best, but there was no reason to support this. Any insight on this would be much appreciated.

    As you know, hair strands are made up of scales, similar to a pine cone. Hot water has the effect of softening and opening up these scales. Cold water has the effect of closing them up. You will get cleaner hair with hot water. However, more of the natural, desireable oils will also be stripped out. Rinsing with cold water will close the scales, aligning them so the hair is easier to comb.

    This is also why hot oil treatments work so well. The heat opens up the hair to permit the oil to permeate in.

    P.S. This may sound like I'm speaking from authority. However, I am just regurgitating someone else's comments and have not verified it myself.

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    • Re: Hot or Cold
      

      

      Paul

      
      

      Hot water has the effect of softening and opening up these scales. Cold water has the effect of closing them up. You will get cleaner hair with hot water. However, more of the natural, desireable oils will also be stripped out. Rinsing with cold water will close the scales, aligning them so the hair is easier to comb.

      This is also why hot oil treatments work so well. The heat opens up the hair to permit the oil to permeate in.

      So this would suggest washing with hot water, then applying an conditioner while the scales are open and then doing a final rinse with cold water

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  • Re: Hot or Cold
    

    

    Crystal

    
    

    For the reasons mentioned in the other responses, you can also use a VERY cold rinse after you shampoo your hair if you are caught (say on a trip, or just because you ran out at home) without conditioner and it will (temporarily) make your hair easier to manage, smoother and with less "flyaway."

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