“Open the cuticles with heat water earlier than you apply conditioner. It’ll assist it higher penetrate your hair and make it stronger.”
If I had a penny for each time I’ve heard this recommendation, I’d be wealthy… Downside is, it doesn’t work! Let me clarify…
You Don’t Need To Open Hair Cuticles!
Like all junk science ideas, this too appears to make loads of sense at first. Besides that cuticles don’t actually open. You can solely increase them – and that’s one thing you wish to keep away from.
Right here’s why: the cuticle is the outermost a part of the hair shaft, the layer that protects it from harm. Consider it just like the shingles on a roof: they’re meant to lie flat and defend what’s beneath. When the cuticles are broken, hair turns into dry and brittle.
Each time you wash your hair, the water makes the shaft swell. This raises the cuticle, damaging it. The identical occurs while you comb your hair too harshly, rub it too vigorously or have some enjoyable or bleaching remedies executed.
And as soon as these cuticles are raised, your hair’s principally defenseless. Moisture is gone in a flash. Frizz is uncontrolled. And should you throw warmth styling into the combination? Say whats up to much more harm. Curly and coily hair (which naturally has a extra lifted cuticle) tends to be drier and breaks extra simply – there’s simply nothing preserving the moisture locked in.
So should you’re considering heat water is doing all of your hair a stable by “opening” the cuticles, nope. It’s truly simply making them simpler to mess up.
Cease losing your money and time on stuff that doesn’t work. Click on on the picture under to obtain “Skincare That Works” and eventually get your finest pores and skin day – day-after-day.
Raised Cuticles Don’t Make For Higher Conditioning
So as to add insult to damage, a raised cuticle doesn’t permit useful elements to penetrate contained in the hair shaft. That’d be too simple.
Whether or not an ingredient can get contained in the shaft or not relies on its dimension and form. If it’s too massive, for instance, it stays on the floor of your hair. Some elements, like hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids, are sufficiently small to slide in. However a lot of the good things in conditioners (suppose silicones, oils, and fatty alcohols) work by coating the hair shaft, sealing in moisture, and smoothing down the cuticle. They by no means penetrate your hair.
A raised cuticle is simply an indication of injury. That’s why, after washing your hair, that you must use conditioner to assist the cuticles get again of their place.
What Truly Helps Conditioner Work Higher?
A conditioner incorporates elements that may easy down the cuticles once more. They gained’t restore the harm down (hair is lifeless and, as soon as it’s broken, it’s broken for good), however, with its smoothing motion, it will possibly assist defend hair, make it really feel mushy and look wholesome and glossy.
For those who actually need your conditioner to work higher, right here’s what truly makes a distinction:
✅ Squeeze out extra water earlier than making use of conditioner, so it gained’t get diluted (sure, this occurs).
✅ Go away it on for a couple of minutes, so the energetic elements have time to coat your strands and easy every little thing down.
✅ Select the fitting conditioner to your hair sort. In case your hair is okay, go together with a light-weight system with proteins and amino acids to assist strengthen it. If it’s thick and dry, you’ll need one thing richer with nourishing oils and butters.
✅ Don’t skip a leave-in conditioner or serum. These create an additional layer of safety to maintain moisture in and frizz out.
The Backside Line
So, there you go. Subsequent time somebody tells you to “open” your hair cuticles, inform them no, thanks. Cuticles don’t open. They carry when broken, and that doesn’t do your hair any good. Interval.
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your finest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you work out what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create the very best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.