Does it matter what temp you wash your hair?

[nodisrespect]

I can't figure out what it is that seems to start/stop my breakage with daily co washing but I think it has something to do with water temperature.

 

[JustKiya]

I couldn't answer - I haven't noticed a change in shedding/breakage when I rinse with cold water, but I have noticed that my hair feels better when the final rinse is cool/cold.

 

[trini_rican]

I couldn't answer - I haven't noticed a change in shedding/breakage when I rinse with cold water, but I have noticed that my hair feels better when the final rinse is cool/cold.

I was gonna say the same thing. I don't think it's the wash temp that matters but when you rinse with cool water it does something to the cuticle (smooths it or locks in moisture) hopefully someone with more knowledge will step in and explain

 

[cieramichele]

Warm water until the final rinse.

 

[chebaby]

i've been washing my hair in the shower lately with a warm temp that i shower with. i dont know if its the warm temp or the products but the warm water makes my hair feel better

 

[MizAvalon]

I just wash and rinse with the temperature that I use for my shower.

 

[Lil'MissSunshine]

Cold water for my hair seems to make it feel softer and gives it a bit of shine. Whereas washing with warm/hot water makes it look a bit dull.

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I always start with warm and finish with cold. It does give my hair a natural shine, so I can avoid using extra products.

 

[cmesweet]

Cold water makes my hair feel strange and sound strange, not good. Also, I shower while I wash, so I use the same temp all over.

 

[LadyEuphoria007]

I wash and rinse in as cold as i can stand it and I've noticed less breakage BUT I also stopped baggying as much too so maybe it's a combo of both. My hair feels better after the cold water washes vs. the hot.
erplexed

 

[leiah]

Cold water rinsing has never had any effect on my hair. I think it's because I have low porosity so the cuticle is already closed or whatever the cold water is supposed to do

 

[AlliCat]

I just wash and rinse with the temperature that I use for my shower.

same here

 

[LushLox]

I always rinse with very cold water, it's not particularly pleasant but the shine I get is worth it.

 

[Roux]

I aint freezing in the shower for NOTHING and NOBODY.

 

[Bnster]

I wash my hair with warm water and my last conditioner and PC rinse is done in cold water.

 

[Bajanmum]

Cold water makes my hair feel strange and sound strange, not good. Also, I shower while I wash, so I use the same temp all over.

I agree with cmesweet's 2 year old comment.
I once DC'd over night and then rinsed with cold water hoping that it would seal in the moisture, close the cuticle or whatever it's meant to do.
Shock, Horror...My hair went rock hard, like the starnds were frozen or something, and I was actually scared to pull on them in case they snapped in their frozen state. It was not good!!! I might as well not have DC'd at all, because my hair did not recover until I washed it again 2 days later, despite all the moisturiser I fed it.
I will never do that again, I now rinse with warm water and my hair stays as soft as butter after I co-wash or DC.

 

[melissa-bee]

I've heard rinsing in hot (like too hot for your hair) and too warm water can cause split ends... so yeah think it does matter. Heat is more likely to cause splits.

 

[isioma85]

If you're a heavy oil user like myself, then you know what cold water produces for ya hair - globs of oil that solidify

The emulsifying action of my shampoo doesn't do enough to get my oils out of my hair, so warm water is a must. Final rinse is always cold with ACV though

 

[lana]

I use the warm water that I shower with to wash and then my final rinse is cold because the shine factor is for real. I used to ACV and then condition and then rinse. But I haven't ACV'd in a while. I'm not sure I ever saw a benefit from ACVing except that it helped remove any excess product from my scalp.

But lately I like to leave just a little conditioner in when I rinse my hair. Just a tad.

I would think super hot water would be bad for the hair and skin, it can cause dry skin, so I'm sure it can cause dry scalp.

 

[Nonie]

I never use cold water to wash my hair and don't think it has any effect on the opening or closing of the cuticles. It is pH that affects cuticles not temperature. I think the reason people say their hair feels better when they rinse with cold water is when water is cold it doesn't rinse as well as warm water, so much of the conditioner is still left on the hair.

I've always used warm water to wash my hair and it works for me because my hair is still left feeling soft and smooth. I never get buildup either like a lot of people and that could be because I don't leave more coating than I should by using cold water. (BTW coating hair is not a bad thing so I'm not telling anyone not to use cold water. I just think it might explain why some folks get buildup that needs to be clarified while others who might follow the same regimen don't.) Cold water would give me a headache too and I doubt would leave my scalp as squeaky clean as I like it.

 

[ms-gg]

I wash my hair with warm water or water that is pretty much neutral to my body temperature. Cool water made absolutely no difference in how my hair felt so why bother....

My hair isn't breaking, splitting, or damaged.....I don't believe in the cool water rinsing hype unless a dermatologist or trichologist can confirm it....

Natural haven agrees and says cool water temperature does not affect the hair.

 

[destine2grow]

I wash my hair with warm water and I rinse my deep conditioner with slightly cooler water.

 

[NaturalEnigma]

I noticed when I do a final rinse with cool water my hair stays moisturized longer. I only do cold water rinses when I do a wash and go, because it brings out the curl in my hair. Any other time I won't, because enhancing my curls makes it difficult to detangle my hair.

 

[kami02]

I've been rinsing with cool water - not cold. My hair feels weird when I rinse with really cold water. I've also been told by my uncle - who is Ms. Natural living for the past 20 years, that rinsing your body with cool with water in the shower is really good for your skin. It helps fight dry skin. Don't remember how though :-/

 

[Nonie]

I've been rinsing with cool water - not cold. My hair feels weird when I rinse with really cold water. I've also been told by my uncle - who is Ms. Natural living for the past 20 years, that rinsing your body with cool with water in the shower is really good for your skin. It helps fight dry skin. Don't remember how though :-/

kami02 The only way I see this "working" is if you use a soap that is moisturizing. By rinsing with cool water you don't wash off the oil from the soap. The opposite could happen if you use a soap that leaves a residue where you'd end up with this itchy, drying film on your skin.

I only ever use cold water on my skin if there's no hot water and I don't have time to heat some up. I do not believe in using any temperature extremes on the skin. Cold water doesn't close pores so the rumor that it's best to rinse your face with cold water to minimize pores is just that: a rumor.

The secret to cold water is it just doesn't rinse as thoroughly as warm water. The end.

 

[GaiasDaughter24]

I wash with warm water, rinse with warm water and then final rinse with cold water. My hair is super soft and very shiny when I do this.

I don't shower in cold water either. I'll rinse out all product with warm, step out of the shower, turn it to cold and just put my head in.

 

[ms-gg]

I've been rinsing with cool water - not cold. My hair feels weird when I rinse with really cold water. I've also been told by my uncle - who is Ms. Natural living for the past 20 years, that rinsing your body with cool with water in the shower is really good for your skin. It helps fight dry skin. Don't remember how though :-/

I know they say that taking hot baths dry out your skin:

Forman says the best way to combat dry skin, psoriasis and eczema is to cut back on the hot showers and moisturize. “A nice hot shower may be a great way to warm up in the winter months, but the hot water can dry out your skin and leave you itchy,” he says. “You want to keep your shower time short with lukewarm water. Also, make sure to apply moisturizer three to five minutes after drying off to ensure the best absorption.”

This comes straight from a dermatologist and not he say/she say.

http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=3347

My mother told me this since I was a little kid but I buck what they say and take baths as hot as I can stand it....and I have dry skin too

 

[LushLox]

I wash with warm water, rinse with warm water and then final rinse with cold water. My hair is super soft and very shiny when I do this.

I don't shower in cold water either. I'll rinse out all product with warm, step out of the shower, turn it to cold and just put my head in.

Yeah absolutely this is what I do. Wash in warm water and final rinse in cold and step out of the shower to do so. There is no way I would shower in cold water!

 

[SND411]

I shampoo with warm/hot water and conditioner rinse with cool water.

 

[JJamiah]

I am a Luke Warm gal and a cool rinse gal. Perfect everytime.

I agree with the above for bathing and make sure my kids follow thus rules. MYself though, I take a hot bath with Skin So Soft at least once a week, otherwise I shower with luke warm water. I DEFINITELY moisturize before 3 minutes. I towel off (on in the summer wait like 3 minutes) then moisturize.

I pat my face dry after washing and moisturize right away with Avon's extra hydration then topping it with Demalogica's Barrier repair. This is awesome in the Winter and summer. I learned about this form my Esthetician and it definitely has helped my kids with winter burn.