I Changed the Temperature of My Shower Water and My Hair Looks Better Than Ever
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Everyone's hair type, hair story, hair woes, and hair joys vastly differ from person to person. And no matter what your personal hair likes or dislikes are, all hair is in need of proper care and treatment. It is an extension of our bodies that requires nourishment. Personally, I love that my hair is thick, I like the brown shade it is naturally, and I like its curliness (regardless of the fact that it makes it about 10 times harder to maintain). It's a part of what makes me, me. So it's about time to embrace what we have, learn how to manage its needs, and enjoy it!
Figuring out how to properly manage and care for my specific hair type has been a process, especially when it comes to dealing with frizz. Years ago, a hairstylist told me a trick that helps not only with tackling frizz, but also other hair issues like brittleness and dryness.
The trick is this: When you shampoo your hair, use warm (not hot) water. The hair follicle will open to the heat and will make the most of the cleaning. When you condition, rinse with ice cold water. This closes the follicle during the rinse, locking the moisturizer of the conditioner in the follicle.
Amazing right? It's a simple concept, backed up by science, that helps us to make the very most of our cleaning opportunities for our hair. Washing is basically the starting point for hair care, hair styling, and hair treatment. It is our foundation, so this gives you a solid base when it comes to the next step of styling.
During the Summer, this technique is even more important because we are more exposed to the elements. The sun is out (so investing in SPF hair products is a must), we are in water, exploring outside, in wind, in sand — basically, we need to make the most of the time we have to clean our locks. So, if we are thorough with our rinsing and efficient with our conditioning, we give our hair the advantage to not only look great, but be healthy as well.
I do this every time I wash, whether I'm styling my hair curly or straight. It always makes my hair feel noticeably more smooth and strong than when I wash it in scorching hot water. Since the cold water locks the benefits of the conditioner in, it keeps my hair maintained, no matter if I'm vacationing in a humid climate, out in the sun, or even in the cold.
Try it out in your next shower and enjoy the upgraded quality of your hair!