Beauty

[suzyQ3]

On 1/5/2014 NYC Susan said:

On 1/5/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

Right. Our hair contains no living cells. The most that can happen from a cold rinse might be a slight contraction of the cuticle (think Seinfeld's shrinkage episode), but that would last only a second or two.

And yes, hair stylists continue to repeat this myth.

Yes, there is certainly disagreement. But - for me - rinsing with cold water absolutely makes a big difference. No one will convince me otherwise when I know what I see with my own eyes. My usually out-of-control hair is very tamed and straightens much easier when I do a final rinse with cold water. And it's much more work to get it the way I want when I don't. For me, that's all I need to know, and I'm certainly not going to stop doing it just because some people think it's a myth.

I have all the proof I need that rinsing with cold water does make a difference (and it lasts much longer than a second or two). And really, what could be easier!

Of course you shouldn't stop. It's not as if anyone is saying that it's harmful. If you think it helps you get the result you want, then that's what matters.

[LBandS]

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

What you are saying is true for virgin hair.

But once you induce a chemical process that opens the cuticle (permanent color, straightening, perms, maybe others too) the cuticle is artificially opened and never completely closes. The cold water is the best way to close the cuticle without additional chemicals and get the best possible closure at home.

[suzyQ3]

On 1/5/2014 annnacat said:

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

What you are saying is true for virgin hair.

But once you induce a chemical process that opens the cuticle (permanent color, straightening, perms, maybe others too) the cuticle is artificially opened and never completely closes. The cold water is the best way to close the cuticle without additional chemicals and get the best possible closure at home.

I have no idea whether this is true or not, but I found an article on WebMD supposedly reviewed by a doctor that supports what you're saying about color-treated hair:

Keep it cool. Steaming hot water definitely has an effect on strands. Wet hair has more stretch than dry hair, and the "stretchiness" of hair increases with the water temperature. This indicates the hair structure is more relaxed, which can allow more pigment to escape. So wash with lukewarm water or (gasp!) cool H2O.

[wilma]

Yes, I try to rinse with cold water, but I don't always do it in winter, because I know it is going to make me feel even colder than it already is.

[LBandS]

On 1/5/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 1/5/2014 annnacat said:

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

What you are saying is true for virgin hair.

But once you induce a chemical process that opens the cuticle (permanent color, straightening, perms, maybe others too) the cuticle is artificially opened and never completely closes. The cold water is the best way to close the cuticle without additional chemicals and get the best possible closure at home.

I have no idea whether this is true or not, but I found an article on WebMD supposedly reviewed by a doctor that supports what you're saying about color-treated hair:

Keep it cool. Steaming hot water definitely has an effect on strands. Wet hair has more stretch than dry hair, and the "stretchiness" of hair increases with the water temperature. This indicates the hair structure is more relaxed, which can allow more pigment to escape. So wash with lukewarm water or (gasp!) cool H2O.

Thank you SuzieQ3, I personally find WebMD to be very reliable and so do my docs.

[Fabilola]

On 1/5/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

Right. Our hair contains no living cells. The most that can happen from a cold rinse might be a slight contraction of the cuticle (think Seinfeld's shrinkage episode), but that would last only a second or two.

And yes, hair stylists continue to repeat this myth.

Myth? Have you tried it? As with most other posters, it works like a charm for me.

[suzyQ3]

On 1/7/2014 Fabby said:

On 1/5/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 1/5/2014 Gimmea Break said:

I don't know how true it is, but I read that rinsing in cold water cannot close the hair shaft because hair is notalive and cannot respond to temperature. That's why cutting it doesn't hurt. It's dead. I do know that humidity can affect hair. Anyway, the follicle is alive, but hair itself is not.

Right. Our hair contains no living cells. The most that can happen from a cold rinse might be a slight contraction of the cuticle (think Seinfeld's shrinkage episode), but that would last only a second or two.

And yes, hair stylists continue to repeat this myth.

Myth? Have you tried it? As with most other posters, it works like a charm for me.

As I posted later, if it's something you like and think helps, then that's what matters. It certainly isn't harmful.

If you ever have a spare second, though, google "hair cold rinse myth," and you'll get dozens and dozens of hits to credible sources.

[magemay]

When I was in school we did a little experiment during lab class. We started with virgin hair and immersed a number of them in warm/hot water and allowed them to remain for approx. the same amount of time that it would take in the shower when you wet your hair prior to shampooing. We then removed from the water and immediately placed under the scope. We then compared them to the dry strands which were already under another scope. The cuticle on the warm wet shaft had expanded, looking much like the bark on a maple or oak tree. The cuticle of the dry shaft of the virgin hair strands were relatively smooth.

We then immersed the wet/warm strands into cool water for a minute or so and scoped. The cuticles on all of the shafts responded to the cool water by contracting.

We repeated the experiment with chemically processed strands and although the cuticle was already damaged (raised) it still reacted similarly to the virgin hair strands but not as completely.

It didn't appear to our eyes that what the experiment concluded was a myth at all.

[suzyQ3]

I don't think there is any disagreement that cold causes contraction and heat causes expansion.

What many people think is a myth is that the contraction that occurs would last long enough to affect the hair in any way.

And many people believe that it's not a myth and that it does improve their hair.

It's all good. I hedge my bets and choose tepid.