“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 plenty 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 injury. 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 once you comb your hair too harshly, rub it too vigorously or have some enjoyable or bleaching remedies performed.
And as soon as these cuticles are raised, your hair’s principally defenseless. Moisture is gone in a flash. Frizz is uncontrolled. And in the event you throw warmth styling into the combo? Say good day to much more injury. Curly and coily hair (which naturally has a extra lifted cuticle) tends to be drier and breaks extra simply – there’s simply nothing conserving the moisture locked in.
So in the event you’re considering heat water is doing all your hair a strong by “opening” the cuticles, nope. It’s really simply making them simpler to mess up.
Cease losing your money and time on stuff that doesn’t work. Click on on the picture beneath to obtain “Skincare That Works” and eventually get your greatest pores and skin day – daily.
Raised Cuticles Don’t Make For Higher Conditioning
So as to add insult to harm, a raised cuticle doesn’t enable helpful 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 will depend on its measurement and form. If it’s too huge, 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 many of the great 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, you want to use conditioner to assist the cuticles get again of their place.
What Really Helps Conditioner Work Higher?
A conditioner accommodates elements that may easy down the cuticles once more. They gained’t restore the injury down (hair is useless and, as soon as it’s broken, it’s broken for good), however, with its smoothing motion, it could actually assist defend hair, make it really feel tender and look wholesome and glossy.
If you happen to actually need your conditioner to work higher, right here’s what really 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 all the things down.
✅ Select the correct conditioner to your hair kind. In case your hair is ok, go along with a light-weight method 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 elevate 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 greatest pores and skin day ever – daily. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you work out what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that will help you create one of the best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.
