Cold Water Rinse w/out The Brrrrrrr?
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Long Hair Happenings
Forum Name: Long Hair Support
Forum Description: Growing it long takes commitment and support.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=601
Printed Date: July 29 2025 at 1:04am
Topic: Cold Water Rinse w/out The Brrrrrrr?
Posted By: Karen Shelton
Subject: Cold Water Rinse w/out The Brrrrrrr?
Date Posted: May 15 2003 at 12:23am
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Hi all, It is great to do a final shampoo rinse w/ cool to cold water to help long hair look shinier and to seal in the oils. Only one problem.....the brrrrrrrrrSSSSSS. Do you do a cold water final rinse and if you do, how do you do it without getting the rest of your body frozen? Best wishes, Karen ------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |
Replies:
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: May 15 2003 at 2:26am
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I save the cold water rinse for the very last when I shower. I tilt my head forward and rinse. After I turn of the (cold) water I grab a towel and wrap it around my head and let the towel absorb the cold water. I use another towel to dry the rest of my body. Simple really. But I must admit sometimes, when I'm still a bit sleepy, I forget the towel wrapping thing, and just stand up straight, the cold water running over my back.....brrrrrrrrrrr. Well, at least that wakes me up (and usually causes me to use some bad languange... oh well).  ------------- |
Posted By: Firefly Gal
Date Posted: May 15 2003 at 10:05am
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Hi Karen & Isla Q. I struggle with this issue since in the winter it seems too cold and in the summer if the A/C is on, it still feels too cold so I will admit that I often skip this step because I don't even want to risk the Brrrrrr phenomena. :-) Isla I might try your suggestion though. And I can certainly think of bad words if I get the ice water in the wrong place. ------------- |
Posted By: Elissa
Date Posted: May 15 2003 at 10:22am
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I do a cool, not cold, final rinse. It doesn't give me the brrrr's, and I think cool is sufficient for the purpose. -------------  [/url]
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Posted By: SuperGrover
Date Posted: May 15 2003 at 11:05pm
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Oh that's easy! I have a massaging shower head with a hose attachment. I just take the showerhead in my hand and rinse just my hair without touching my scalp or body at all. You can turn the water off before you hang the showerhead back up where it's sure to get the rest of your body wet. Brrrr! Then towel the hair before it touches your body. But I don't see or feel any benefit to my hair. So I don't do it often. ------------- "Hair is a part of you. It is not a part of me, because I am a frog." - Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street1b/N/ii ~ ??"/27"/32" |
Posted By: Brandi
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 12:34am
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Usually, when I have a cool water rinse, I do it in the bathroom sink. I found this is the best way to avoid the brrrr. But if you have very long hair, you must be very carefull and do it in such a way to avoid tangles. * Keep you hair to the back, do not flip it foreward. *Wet the ends first, and work you way up to the scalp. *Wrap in a towel. My hair is waist length, and this method always works for me. Hope I could help. :) ------------- |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 2:39am
I do that too, but I forget to mention it earlier. If you flip it forward it gets all tangled. I tilt my head sidewards and bend my back slightly. It works especially if I rinse thoroughly. ------------- |
Brandi wrote:Posted By: Bratty
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 8:31am
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I agree with SuperGrover. I don't see much benefit to my hair and it is a pain to do since I don't have one of the shower heads that would help and I have to try and figure a way to get the cool/cold water w/out freezing to death. So I tend to skip it most of the time. ------------- |
Posted By: Isla Q.
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 8:56am
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Hm. I can definitely see a change in my hair since I've started rinsing with cold water. Maybe you and SG have such shiny hair to begin with, it has no effect? Lucky you! ------------- |
Posted By: AmandaPanda
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 2:00pm
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I have a hose attachment in my shower too. I agree, don't flip hair forward....too many tangles!  -------------  http://amandapandahair.spaces.live.com/ - My Long Hair Odyssey
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Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 2:29pm
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I have a small bucket that I fill with cool water to which I add Orris root water and a few drops of Sandalwood eo. After washing, I submerge my hair and scalp, front-forward, into the bucket. Swish the hair around for about 30 seconds and I'm done. It's a real pleasure to do this, especially If I have just had a hot shower (body). The fragrance is delicately exotic. The hair is soft and glowing as a result of the added ingredients. ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: princessmonica
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 3:31pm
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i agree with supergrover too. i've done the cold/cool water thing and never saw a difference. in fact i was going to start a thread about. but since we are already talking about it here is my question. like i said i see no difference using cool water. in fact it seems to make my hair a little frizzy. i've tried it many times over the years. is cool water something your hair has to get use to? ------------- http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders - http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 3:57pm
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The theory behind cold/cool water rinses is that cold causes the scales on the outer surface of the hair strands to shrink and close. This closure means the scales of the cuticle lie flat and hence tangling (through friction) is reduced. The hair is shinier then if rinsed in hot water as the closed, flattened scales will reflect light better than open or ruffled scales. In response to your question, Isla, I don't believe the hair has to get used cool rinses. The response is physically instantaneous as are the benefits. The frizzing you experience maybe because of your hair-type and a sign of strength, not weakness. The other thing to point out is that washing hair in hot water has been shown to cause the internal moisture in the hair cortex to heat and bubble up. This swells the hair shaft and distorts the shape of the strand permanently. If the rinse water is very hot, the hair strand actually explodes and the result is a split in the length of a hair strand (as opposed to just at the end). The same bubbling effect is caused by heat styling and blow-drying. Here is a pic of the bubble-effect: http:// - http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_73.htm - http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_73.htm (Jennifer Eve and Karen Marie posted this elsewhere – thanks ladies) So in addition to cool rinsing, warm/cool water washing is deemed the most hair-friendly practice. Hope that helps. Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 4:55pm
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Hi Uzma, Yaozzzzaaa that exploding thing always sounds horrible..and yes thanks to Jennifer Eve and Karen Marie I have seen it before. I actually wanted to thank you for the mention of Orris root to the rinse water. I heard that a long time ago but completely forgot about it until you just mentioned it. I am going to try that next time I shampoo and rinse. Thanks to all for the wonderful info you have all shared. I am going to attack the cool rinse with renewed vigor (OK well maybe a little pun there). :-) Karen ------------- That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger or drives you totally insane. :-) |
Posted By: princessmonica
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 6:16pm
i think that was my question but thank you for the information.------------- http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders - http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders |
Posted By: uzma
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 6:47pm
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Sorry Monica I have the laptop on my left-side and canvas/palette to my right. Totally sleep-deprived these past few days. Struggling to get things right. Failing. Sorry. Love Uzma ------------- Uzi |
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 7:16pm
I do exactly the same thing. Though the "cold" water here in Florida isn't terribly cold. It definitely makes a difference with my hair, makes it smoother and softer after it's dried. And I never use super hot water during the wash cycle (except for the laundry). Comfortably warm is warm enough. Don't want to boil away all the natural oils. By the way, I love your icon Firefly Gal! So appropriate for a hair board. ------------- |
Posted By: princessmonica
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 7:34pm
well ok uzma i'll forgive you this once  honestly uzma there is nothing to be sorry about. thank you for the information i appreciate it.------------- http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders - http://www.msnusers.com/monicasanders |
Posted By: SuperGrover
Date Posted: May 16 2003 at 10:30pm
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Yikes! I knew hot water wasn't good for hair, but I didn't know it could do THAT! I've been trying to use lukewarm water now. I really like the water to be steaming hot. But I've mostly cured myself of that habit. I have a few stray hairs that are wiry and tightly wavy. I wonder if hot water caused that. ------------- "Hair is a part of you. It is not a part of me, because I am a frog." - Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street1b/N/ii ~ ??"/27"/32" |
Posted By: Starburst
Date Posted: May 17 2003 at 1:22am
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OK. I hear all of you and I know in my heart that I should definitely not use hot water but I will confess that it makes me relax and feel really wonderful. And yes, I know what it can do so I really have to talk to myself like a Dutch Aunt to remind myself. However, with all the great suggestions I am sure I will be able to do better in the future. ------------- |
Posted By: Firefly Gal
Date Posted: May 17 2003 at 11:16am
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Ok Ok I am going to get more serious about trying some cool water rinses. :-) Thanks Dave. A friend helped me find the icon. I think there are a lot of very cool ones on all the boards and I love your beer icon. FG ------------- |
Posted By: wittils
Date Posted: May 20 2003 at 1:55am
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Now you have got me thinking... I'm wondering also about hot water damage. I love hot water, and can't stand to be chilled. So I have tried to use warm water on my hair and once in awhile I will use cooler water to rinse. But there was a time for a decade or more that my temp in the bath was either hot or cold, the faucet didn't work right. I was wondering then if a person could "scorch" their scalp and hair enough to damage it, maybe even retard the growth or cause hair loss. My hair became drier on top and wavier. But there are so many factors that could have contributed to that condition. Yet the only real thing that I HAVE changed the last two years is the water temperature. I only use warm water and it seems that my hair is in better condition. ------------- Precious is the day... it happens only once in a lifetime. |