4 disastrous things that happen when you wash your hair with hot water

Washing your hair with hot water can be very damaging, leaving you to deal with problems like hair fall, dandruff, and an irritated scalp.
hair thinning
Horrible things can happen to your hair if you wash it with hot water! Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Shreya Gupta Published: 29 Dec 2020, 11:00 am IST
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Winter is here and just like every other year, you’ve probably started using hot water to wash your hair. Now, hot water might feel very comforting during this chilly season but it can do horrible things to your hair. We know that many people prefer using hot water for washing their tresses. Not only is it believed to be relaxing but can also efficiently cleanse the scalp, removing oil and dirt build-up.

Most experts, however, recommend that you avoid using hot water on your hair. You see, it can leave you with brittle, frizzy and dry hair. Instead, opt for lukewarm water as an alternative.

Here are four ways in which hot water can damage your tresses:

1. It can leave your hair dry

Along with removing dirt and greasy build-up, hot water can also strip off natural oil from your hair and scalp, leaving it dry and lifeless. This will make your hair look dull and frizzy.

2. Shampooing with hot water can increase hair fall

Using hot water on your hair regularly can make it brittle and porous, leading to increased breakage and hair loss. Moreover, hot water opens up skin pores that can make your hair roots weaker, further aggravating hair fall.

hair loss quiz
Hair loss is the biggest concern of them all. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
3. It can cause scalp inflammation

The high temperature of the water can cause burning, redness and damage your scalp tissue, causing irritation and inflammation. This irritation can hinder the way your hair and scalp absorb nutrients and oxygen, leading to hair fall.

4. Hot water can give you dandruff

Dry scalp is one of the prime reasons behind dandruff and itchiness. Given that hot water can leave your scalp extremely dry, it can also lead to increased itchiness and dandruff issues.

So, what should you do?

Hot water is a big no but cold water isn’t recommended either because it is simply not efficient enough to cleanse your scalp. What’s more, it makes the hair look very flat. So, lukewarm water is ideal for washing hair. It won’t damage your hair, will feel soothing and manage to clean your hair.

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About the Author

Finding nirvana in good food, Shreya also loves reading books and is a die-hard Potterhead. Confident and motivated she's fun to be with. Plus food. Always. ...Read More

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