Washing your hair in cold water can help preserve color, lock in moisture and control breakage, but it's not all good news. Cold water may cause your hair to lose volume and give you a thin hair look.
Now, you may think that cold water spells bad news for your hair, but you couldn't be more wrong, because cold water can actually make your hair shinier and reduce frizz. This is because cold water can help seal your hair cuticles and pores after your hair is washed.
When washed with cold water, there are chances that your enclosed hair cuticles lock in excessive moisture. This may weigh down your hair and make it flat. Also, the moisture increases the binding of your hair strands, resulting in a decrease in hair volume overall. This could be a concern for people with thin hair.
Cold water does, however, have several benefits which should be taken advantage of. It closes the fibre's scales, smoothing down the cuticles and making your hair look glossier as a result. Conveniently, rinsing in cold water also locks in moisture at the heart of the hair fibre!
“Washing your hair with hot water may help remove dirt, grime, product, and oil more effectively than cold water,” Granite says.
Though the research is still sketchy, some experts have attempted to draw a connection between washing hair with cold water, hair growth and improved blood circulation. But Longsworth isn't one of them. "There is no evidence or scientific data that cold water has an impact on hair growth," Longsworth said.
First of all, always wash your hair with distilled water. Hard water contains minerals like magnesium and calcium that can build up on the scalp and hair and harm them in the long. Secondly, wash your hair every two to three days as per your need.
Hair transplant surgeon and researcher Dr Bessam Farjo tells me that cold water's power to improve hair quality is a common myth. “There isn't any solid scientific data or proof that washing hair with cold water increases the quality, or has any benefit.” This was not what I wanted to hear.
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.
For example, cold and dry air can actually cause the cuticle of the hair strand to lift ever so slightly. As a result, moisture doesn't stand a chance of staying locked into the hair shaft. This explains why many women find themselves battling breakage and frustrating frizz during this frigid time of year.
Cold showers increase circulation and decrease inflammation, improving skin and hair health and appearance. Cold water also tightens skin pores.
To this, we say, yes! Lukewarm water is advisable to wash your face with, but cold water has its benefits, too. Cold water tightens the appearance of your skin, so it may make you look renewed and refreshed. It also helps boost your circulation, which can help give your skin a healthier appearance, albeit temporarily.
Washing your hair with water every day is generally safe and will not harm your hair, as long as the water is not too hot and you're not scrubbing your scalp too vigorously. In fact, rinsing your hair with water can help remove excess oils and dirt, keeping your scalp and hair clean.
Can thin hair become thicker again? A person cannot change the texture of their hair. However, the hair may grow back after chemotherapy or pregnancy, for example.
As a person gets older, it is natural for their hair to lose strength and volume. Sometimes, hair loss can also result from stress or an underlying health condition. In this case, the hair often regrows over time. Some treatments and home remedies can help improve the hair's strength and overall health.
Cold water not only helps the scalp retain its moisture—it also seals down the hair cuticles and helps lock moisture into the strands themselves. "The cool water temperature closes and strengthens the hair cuticle, which can result in stronger, healthier hair over time," notes celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
Water is a key ingredient that supports vitamins, which contribute to your hair growth. Believe it or not, but water makes up almost 25% of the weight of a single strand of hair. Drinking at least two liters of water a day will help the strength of your hair, increasing growth.
Using warm water will help open the hair follicles and remove the dirt, while cold water will help close the follicles and prevent frizz. This is the right way to use warm and cold water to keep your hair healthy and clean.
The no-poo method is a hair-cleansing technique that removes shampoo from the equation, says Geeta Yadav, MD, a dermatologist in Toronto. Instead of using shampoo, followers of the practice use alternatives such as apple cider vinegar, a cleansing conditioner, or just plain water.
While your locks may not smell “bad,” so to speak, when using the water-only technique, they likely won't have that alluring fragrance you've come to expect after washing with products. Consider picking up a refreshing dry shampoo or a hair perfume if you want to enhance your hair's scent.
The experts agree: Only a small group needs to shampoo daily, like those with very fine hair, someone who exercises a lot (and sweats), or someone living in very humid place, Goh says. “If you have oily scalp, then daily washing is needed,” she explains.
But! Cold water is good for your hair if you have a dry or itchy scalp. That's because colder water relieves dry, painful scalps and any lingering itchiness. Cold water also closes up your cuticles, leading to shinier and more voluminous hair.
Additionally, cold water can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores, making skin look smoother and more even.