Hot water is more effective than cold water to dissolve dirt, grime, product buildup, and any other forms of scalp buildups. Washing hair with hot water opens up your scalp pores and enables your shampoo [2] to unclog your hair follicles efficiently.
Apart from locking in moisture from your conditioner, closing your hair cuticles and pores with cold water will help to prevent grease, oil, and dirt from entering your scalp. In short, washing your hair with cold water can go a long way in helping to keep your hair hydrated and strong.
Factor, a clinical dermatologist and researcher, said, "Cold water can help your hair to become stronger and healthier over time. Cold water not only helps the scalp retain its moisture, [but] it also seals down the hair cuticles and helps lock moisture into the strands themselves."
Cold water also helps improve blood circulation, ensuring better delivery of the nutrients and minerals from your diet up to your scalp. Better circulation also helps your body remove wastes more efficiently, which otherwise could cause your hair to grow more slowly. Cons: However, cold water tends to flatten the hair.
This is because cold water closes the hair cuticles and pores in the scalp. This process adds luster and shine to the hair as the cuticles have been closed. It helps in sealing in the hair's moisture and also helps in clumping your coils and curls together for even more definition.
Finishing a shower with a cold blast can help lock moisture in your hair, while also tightening your hair follicles, meaning reduced hair loss. Additionally, cold water helps to close hair cuticles, which enables the hair to reflect light resulting in a high shine.
The double shampoo method is simply washing your hair with shampoo twice. Lather, rinse, repeat. Doing so gives your hair an even deeper cleanse & truly takes care of all product or scalp buildup. The first wash will take care of any product buildup, while the second scrubs your scalp & strands clean.
And that's where a cold shower comes into play: "Taking a cold shower leaves room for the cold water to close up your pores and cuticles, which helps keep the moisture in and creates smoother, shinier, and less frizzy hair," says Taylor.
Cold Showers Prevent Skin Aging
Poor skin blood flow results in dry, dull, and aged complexion. Given that cold water improves blood flow, you're essentially helping your skin prevent premature skin aging every time you shower using cold water.
Healthier Skin
The heat of the water also expands your pores. If your pores are open from hot showers, they are more likely to become clogged. Because of this effect, hot showers often lead to acne or blackheads. A cold shower will keep your skin healthy, clean and moist.
Having a cold shower every morning and evening is the cheapest and quickest anti-aging hack. It helps to reduce inflammation and makes you calm but alert. This is because cold exposure stimulates the Vagus nerve.
The main cause of frizz is a lack of moisture in your hair. This causes your hair to seek out and absorb moisture from the air, causing frizz - which also explains why humidity can make frizz even worse.
Take it slow: Start with 30 seconds of cold water. Work up to a minute and progress until you take a cold shower for two to three minutes. Alternate hot and cold: UCLA Health athletic trainers often recommend a contrast shower post-workout.
' The first shampoo wash will remove dirt and residue caught up in the hair, while the second wash will help your locks benefit from the nourishing properties of the shampoo. And celebrity hairstylist George Northwood agrees.
The problem with shampoos without silicones is that they can work too well, leaving hair feeling dry and squeaky (which is why people need conditioner). The added conditioning from 2-in-1s prevents that dryness and makes hair more manageable."
No matter how greasy or oily your hair and scalp are, skipping conditioner is not going to help. Never leave the shower without applying conditioner to your tresses after shampooing. Skipping this essential haircare step will make your hair fragile and more prone to damage.
Reverse washing your hair is as easy as you might imagine. Wet your hair, and then apply your conditioner. Follow up with a shampoo, making sure to lather from your scalp to your ends, and then rinse well.
If you prefer the silky feeling (or just the convenience), it's completely fine to use 2-in-1 products. You just may need to add a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week. "The only downside to using a 2-in-1 is that the hair can begin to feel heavy over time," says Cardona.