Introduction
Your hair is composed of protein, therefore it can be affected by many factors that are good for your overall health. It is believed that cold water may promote healthy hair growth, as well as help in strengthening it. This article will discuss the potential benefits of cold water when used on your hair, such as increased elasticity and shine, and help you to determine if cold water can actually aid in hair growth.
Benefits of Cold Water
Cold water can have a range of benefits for your hair and scalp. It can help seal in moisture, stimulate blood circulation, preserve colour, and promote healthy hair growth. Cold water can also help reduce split ends and make your hair look shiny and healthy. Additionally, cold water can help reduce scalp irritation.
In this article, we’ll explore the many benefits of cold water and why it can be beneficial for your hair:
Increase blood circulation
Cold water can help increase blood circulation and stimulate natural growth in the scalp. As the blood vessels in the scalp constrict when exposed to cold water, they are subsequently stimulated and improved. This increase in blood flow can help boost the strength of your hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. Additionally, a stronger supply of blood to your scalp means that it is better able to absorb nutrients that are essential for growth.
Cold water also helps protect the protein structure of your hair strands by closing cuticles or outer layers of each strand of hair. When cuticles remain open, moisture from your scalp escapes out easily and this can cause frizz as well as damage. But when closed with cold water, these same cuticles prevent heat from escaping, trapping and boosting hydration levels for longer-lasting hairstyles. Furthermore, closing these cuticles will leave your locks shinier and smoother.
Stimulate hair follicles
Using cold water on your hair can have a stimulating effect on the scalp, helping to improve circulation to the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. The cold water shock also helps close cuticles, which boosts shine and reduces frizz.
Hair is composed of proteins and amino acids which become damaged when exposed to heat – so washing your hair with cold water helps prevent heat-related damage that can weaken strands and lead to breakage. Cold-water rinses also help reduce redness and irritation caused by hot tap water. Along with boosting shine, they can help seal in natural oils and lock in moisture, preventing dryness or itchy scalp.
Improve scalp health
Research has found that cold water can help improve scalp health, contributing to healthier and faster hair growth. The cold temperatures help close the cuticles of your hair shafts, which seals in natural oils and helps to keep them shiny and healthy. Cold water also has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it helps reduce itchiness, redness and swelling of the scalp.
Cold water also increases blood circulation to the scalp, providing your hair follicles with essential nutrients such as proteins and minerals needed for healthy growth. Improved blood circulation ensures that all parts of the scalp are nourished, leading to better hair growth. Additionally, cold water helps flush out toxins from your scalp which can lead to unhealthy and thinning hair.
Lastly, when coupled with a regular shower routine involving shampooing and conditioning products containing natural moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera or coconut oil, using only cold water on the hair may help lock in those all-important nutrients for longer term benefit.
How to Use Cold Water
Cold water can be a great way to improve the health of your hair. Cold water helps to close the cuticle that is on the surface of each strand of your hair, which can help to retain moisture and create a smoother texture. Furthermore, the use of cold water can also increase the circulation to your scalp and encourage the growth of healthy hair.
This section will explain how to use cold water to effectively promote the health and growth of your hair:
Use cold water only for the last rinse
Using cold water can help seal the cuticles of your hair and give you a shinier, healthier look. But if you’re using cold water for too long on wet hair, it can end up drying it out.
To get the most out of using cold water to enhance your hair’s appearance, opt for a quick rinse with cold water without shampoo only during the last step of your cleansing routine. After washing and conditioning your hair as usual, switch to a colder setting so that the cuticle of your strands can lay flat, leading to increased shine and softness. To avoid damaging your locks, avoid subjecting them to extremely chilly temperatures – lukewarm or cool is enough.
By changing your shower habits slightly and adding one simple step at the end of your routine, you can make small changes that will lead to major improvements in both how healthy and shiny your locks look!
Use cold water for scalp massages
Massaging your scalp with cold water can encourage healthy hair growth and reduce overall hair loss. Cold water increases circulation to the scalp, stimulating the blood vessels and sending extra nutrients to the follicles. This extra attention can help promote faster hair growth, nourish tired strands, and restore the natural luster of your locks.
In addition to its health benefits, cold water soothes and tightens the skin of your scalp, giving you a more refreshed feeling after your shower or massage session. Cold water also helps close the cuticles of each strand, which makes for shinier, smoother locks. Unlike hot water—which strips natural oils from hair—cold water preserves those essential oils that bring out a healthier looking mane.
For best results choose extremely cold or ice-cold water when massaging your scalp—anything warmer than lukewarm will not have as profound an effect on circulation as colder temperatures may. For extra invigoration add a few drops of peppermint oil or tea tree oil to your base shampoo or conditioner before washing. Peppermint oil has unique qualities that stimulate blood flow to your scalp while reducing tension headaches; use it sparingly (1-2 drops max), as a little goes a long way! Tea tree oil works wonders at healing flaky skin while leaving behind a pleasant tingling sensation when applied in cold-waterwashesses; use in moderation (3-5 drops) for best results!
Risks of Cold Water
While some might believe that rinsing your hair with cold water helps your hair grow, there is no scientific proof to back this up. In fact, cold water can have some negative effects on your hair. In this article, we will discuss some of the risks of cold water and why you should be careful when using it.
Can damage hair
Although cold water can help reduce inflammation on the scalp and increase circulation, it can also have a damaging effect on the hair when used on a regular basis. Cold water may make your hair look shiner, but it can actually damage it in the long run.
Cold water will close cuticles in the hair, which can cause loss of moisture, leading to weak and brittle hair. It may even make your hair appear dull over time due to lack of vital nutrients caused by closing cuticles. When this happens, split ends are more likely to occur as the damaged cuticles are not able to lock in moisture or protect the ends of your hair.
Therefore, if you wish to give your hair some shine using cold water instead of heat styling products, try using warm or lukewarm water instead, so that you don’t damage it further. Applying conditioner after washing is also recommended to help moisturize and regenerate lost nutrients in the scalp.
Can cause dryness
Drinking cold water can cause dryness in the hair. Even when drinking an adequate amount of cold water, you may start to see some dry, frizzy or split ends due to the lack of moisture. Cold water does not contain much of the essential oils that your hair needs for proper nourishment and hydration.
When exposed to cool temperatures, oil glands in the scalp tend to close up, thereby resulting in scaliness and dryness along the surface of your head. In other words, cold water can cause dehydration and this may be a contributing factor for thinning hair or hair loss over long time spans.
If you notice that your tresses are becoming dehydrated due to excessive exposure to cool liquids, try switching back to room temperature or warm water instead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no scientific evidence that cold water can help promote hair growth. However, this does not erase the fact that cold water can help improve overall scalp health and provide a refreshing wakeup call in the morning. Cold water may also improve hair texture and make your hair look shinier due to its tightening effect on the pores.
If you decide to try using cold water as part of your routine, start by shampooing with lukewarm or warm water first, then end your shower with a quick blast of cold water—for no longer than 30 seconds—on your scalp and down the length of your hair.