Cool Water Rinse for Shiny Hair

Cold water cure

Cool water has a reputation for producing smooth, shiny hair. It does not work well to use cool water to wash the hair, however. Instead, it works well to wash the hair in warm water, and rinse it in cool water. Not only does cool water make the hair look shiny, but it also decreases the amount of fading that occurs in hair that has been colored.

Method

• Use warm water when shampooing hair, to open the hair cuticle.
• After conditioning, rinse the hair in cool water, to encourage the cuticle to close.

Why It Works

Each hair has three layers: the innermost layer, the cuticle; the middle layer, the cortex; and the outer layer, which is comprised of scales arranged like the shingles on a roof. Warm water opens up the cuticle, causing the scales on the outer layer to stick out. This makes it possible for shampoos and conditioners to penetrate the hair shaft more easily. But if the cuticle is left open, the scales continue to stick out, and they make the hair look frizzy, rough and damaged. Rinsing the hair with cool water causes the cuticle to close again. When the cuticle is closed, the scales on the surface of the hair shaft lie flat, and the hair looks smooth and shiny.

Precautions

Cool water is safe to use, but if it is too cold it may startle you.

More Remedies

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