When taking care of your hair, preserving the health and condition of the natural locks underneath your wig is just as important as your wig care routine. The cooling weather can take its toll on your wig and natural hair, with winter well known for drying out wig fibres, making now a great time to get your hair care regime on point for your needs and hair type.
There are several myths that need to be busted to carve out a hair care routine that works for you, whatever the weather outside. Over-shampooing and excess heat styling should be avoided for instance, with protective styles like wigs and cover-ups providing great defences against moisture loss, tangles and breakages. But, could the myth of rinsing your hair in cold water have some truth to it?
You may not want to hear this – especially as temperatures continue to plummet outside! – but rinsing your hair in cold water can work wonders for the health and condition of those locks. While there are lots of resources on the web detailing which hair care products you should use and how often, the temperature of the water you’re using to rinse off that shampoo or conditioner makes for essential reading.
If the water is too hot, you’ll risk stripping follicles of their natural moisture, leaving your hair dry, brittle and lifeless.
Cool water is a real lifesaver for the hair, whether you need a helping hand or your locks are more luscious than ever. By rinsing with cold water, the natural oils that are essential to health can stay exactly where they’re needed, and it’ll benefit your hair and scalp no-end.
Yes, hair oiling may be all the rage, but the natural oils already produced by your body have an important role to play too. Those naturally occurring oils prevent dryness, minimise itching, and reduce irritation to boost health and support growth.
The improved condition of your hair and scalp won’t just feel better, it’ll look great too. Rinsing with cold water actively closes hair cuticles and scalp pores to hydrate and preserve all-important moisture. The result is hair that looks shiny, healthy and thoroughly hydrated.
People who suffer from dandruff will see flakiness reduced too, with added moisture actively soothing irritation.
If you dye your natural hair, keeping that colour will be a constant battle. But, did you know regular cold water rinses can help with that too? Here Loving Kinky Curls explains more:
“Heat damage arising from using hot water can cause loss of hair colour. This is mainly because heat increases the porosity of hair… As a result, hair easily absorbs colour. During colouring, the hair absorbs too much colour causing a darkened look. Additionally, the high porosity of the hair causes hair to lose colour quickly. This then leads to a faded and lighter appearance on coloured hair.”
Forget spending money on scalp massage, you can reap similar rewards by rinsing your hair in cooler water after washing. The cold water stimulates the scalp and blood flow to promote healing and growth. Team this with the natural oils we mentioned earlier, and your hair and scalp are in for a real treat without stepping foot in a spa!
