Are Cold Showers Good For Your Hair?

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At what temperature do you wash your hair? Do you prefer to wash it with hot, warm, or cold water? Did you know that different water temperatures have different effects on your hair?

One of the most talked-about hacks currently circulating in various social media platforms is using cold showers for your hair. Are cold showers good for your hair?

Many people may seem skeptical about it. There’s not a whole lot of scientific evidence either way. And it’s understandable if there isn’t a lot of people who’d want to do it. But hear us out! Cold showers may have benefits for your hair. 

Today, we’ll explain some of the benefits of using a cold shower on your hair. We’ll also tell you how to use cold water when washing your hair. And we’ll look at the disadvantages of washing hair with cold water, as well.


Contents

Why Should You Avoid Hot Water For Your Hair?

A hot shower seems relaxing and feels very comfortable for the body. But what about your hair? Do you think hot water is also good for your hair?

It is not. 

Using hot water when shampooing your hair can damage the hair strands. It causes the hair to become dry and brittle. 

The more frequently you use hot water, the more damage it’ll get, since it’s a quick way to lose moisture from your hair.

Using hot water for washing your hair isn’t a great choice. 

Hot water doesn’t just make your hair strands frizzy and dry, it can also damage the hair roots. It can weaken the roots, which can lead to more hair loss than usual. 

Additionally, hot water on the scalp also isn’t ideal. It can irritate your scalp and cause inflammation –and other problems like dandruff, too. 

Instead, you should use lukewarm water for washing it. Lukewarm water is better because it won’t dry up your hair due to the scalding temperature. It is simply more tolerable. However, if you want the best for your hair, then you might want to go for a cold shower. 


Are Cold Showers Good For Your Hair? What Are The Benefits?

Imagine taking a cold shower just for your hair! Some readers may skip out because taking a cold shower is uncomfortable! Is this some sort of cold war military camp or what?

However, if you mustered enough courage to do that, you’ll be pleased with the effects your hair gets out of when you use cold water for your shower. 

Prevents Dandruff

The first benefit of using cold water when washing your hair is that it can help prevent dandruff. Dandruff is caused by yeast present on the scalp. The presence of yeast makes your scalp more oily and dry, which can cause dandruff to develop.

Coldwater can help dandruff by soothing your skin. With all the itchiness that could be caused by dandruff, using cold water acts as a relief so you don’t scratch it. That prevents further irritation on your scalp.

Supposedly Cold Water Helps Hair Grow Faster

One of the other benefits of using cold showers is that some feel it helps your hair grow faster. Supposedly, cold water does this by stimulating blood flow near the surface of your scalp. It also stimulates cells in your scalp that help your hair grow. 

With an increase in blood circulation to the scalp, nutrients are also better provided. That doesn’t only lead to your hair growing faster but your hair growing healthier too. 

So if you want to grow your hair faster and healthier, using cold water to wash your hair is the change that you need to do.

But does cold water help hair grow faster, really?

All this being said, there’s no scientific evidence that cold water causes faster hair growth, just anecdotal reports.

Prevents Hair Loss

We’ve all experienced having a lot of fallen strands in our shower drain. If you have been experiencing this too, then you might be concerned because it could be a symptom of hair loss. 

Hot water causes damage to the hair. And damaged hair is more prone to breaking and falling off. Switching to cold showers can help prevent the hair fall that might have been caused by using hot water showers.

Makes Hair Appear Shiny

Using cold showers can also be beneficial because it helps you improve the appearance of your hair. One of the reasons why hair looks shiny and vibrant is because of the moisture content in it

Hot water can strip or wash out all the moisture in your hair, causing it to look dull and lifeless. Cold water, on the other hand, helps seal the cuticles of each strand to keep them hydrated for a longer period. 

Cold water doesn’t just help keep moisture in. It can also help keep the other nutrients from the hair products that you use. That helps improve the appearance of your hair. 

Some find that the hair ends up being shiner particularly if you use cool water during the conditioning process.


Are Cold Showers Good For Your Hair?

When you’re taking a shower, you should switch your faucet from hot to cold. During your hair wash, go for a cool water temperature. This is best for your scalp and hair. 

The cold water can wash away any excess oils and dirt on your scalp and hair. 

Some people might find this uncomfortable or even painful to use, but you should do it anyway if you want the benefits we’ve mentioned above. 


Disadvantages Of Washing Hair With Cold Water

Although it is a good idea to use cold water when washing your hair, there are still some drawbacks to it. Here are a few things you should consider. 

Can Make Hair Dry

Cold water can make your hair dry because it can removes moisture. Your scalp is very sensitive to temperature changes so don’t be surprised if you have a few dry strands of hair after taking a cold shower. 

Reduces Hair Volume

Although the actual number of your hair may not be significantly affected by the cold water, it could still appear that the volume has decreased. Using cold water can make your hair fall flat and lose its volume. 

Uncomfortable Due To Cold Temperature

Let’s face it, nobody is comfortable washing their hair with cold water.  It feels very uncomfortable, especially the first few times you do it. Some might try it out then decide not to do it again because it is too cold. 

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Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).