by Bridget Hildreth

Created on: January 22, 2011

Shampooing, rinsing and conditioning hair each have specific purposes in a successful hair care regime. Knowing the benefits of each process and matching the best product for your hair's texture will assist you in keeping your crowning glory healthy and shiny. Partnering with the hair care products, believe it or not, is the temperature of the water we use during the shampoo and conditioning of our hair.

Each individual hair strand is composed of three layers: the cuticle (outermost protective layer), the cortex (spongy inner layer that houses pigment and essential moisture), and the medulla (tube-like, innermost buoyant area of the hair strand).These layers respond to change in their pH (potential hydrogen) levels by either swelling the hair shaft or constricting the cuticle layer. Heat expands;cold constricts. Highly alkaline products swell the hair, acidic products tighten and close the cuticle.

The normal, healthy pH of human hair is between 4.5 to 5.5. Water has a neutral pH of 7, so it helps to restore a normal level to hair after an alkaline cleansing, and further assisting the acidic conditioner in achieving pH balance.

When hair is cleansed to remove debris, natural oils, and styling product build-up, an alkaline shampoo with very warm water is ideal to allow the surfactants (cleansing agents) in the product to penetrate deeply and cleanse beneath the surface of the hair. Visualize a pine cone with all of its spines wide open; the cuticle layer behaves in the same fashion. Once cleansed, a conditioner may be applied to damp hair as it is still in a vulnerable, alkaline state. Following manufacturer's directions concerning the amount of product to apply and the length of time the product needs to process, finished up by rinsing the hair thouroughly with cool water. The colder temperature helps to seal the protective cuticle layer and encapsulate the moisturizing properties of the conditioner within the cortex layer of the hair. Visualize a pine cone with its spines sealed down snugly; the cuticle layer will now behave in a similar fashion. The cool water rinse also helps to increase the shine of the hair by creating a smooth surface upon which light can reflect.

Always remember to follow manufacturer's guidelines when using hair products, but keep in mind that water temperature matters to gain the most benefit from your hair care products. Know when is time to keep it cool.

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