Do you think you are doing the right thing by rinsing off your shampoo and hair masks in cold water to get glossier locks? Bad news: this method also has some drawbacks…

It is not a good idea… If you want to rinse out treatments thoroughly

Cold water is not very effective for eliminating oils contained in products. This means that, when rinsing out your hair in cold water, you are not effectively rinsing out any hydrating hair products applied. This can make your hair look rather dull and lifeless. To rid your locks of any residue left behind from treatments applied, you cannot beat a hot water rinse. However, whatever you do, don’t use overly hot water. This might burn your scalp, stimulate the sebaceous glands too much, leave limescale deposits behind and most importantly, weaken your locks! Heat tends to damage the hair fibre, which may make the hair brittle and even porous. For an effective rinse, the ideal solution is to use lukewarm water.

It’s a good idea… If you are only using cold water to finish off the rinse

Cold water does, however, have several benefits which should be taken advantage of. It closes the fibre’s scales, smoothing down the cuticles and making your hair look glossier as a result. Conveniently, rinsing in cold water also locks in moisture at the heart of the hair fibre! As it preserves the level of sebum and it prevents hydrating agents contained in treatments from washing out, it can also help reduce frizz. Even better, it activates microcirculation in the scalp, which helps promote hair growth and reduce seasonal hair loss. It also closes up the scalp’s pores to help protect it against impurities. Moreover, it can prevent excessive volume and it relaxes curls. So, why deprive yourself of the cold water rinse? To enjoy all of its benefits, rinse out your hair products in lukewarm water before finishing with a blast of cold water.