How water affects hair

My friend, if you thought water was one of your hair's besties, today we bring you some fresh bad news: water is one of the things that can damage your hair the most! 😱 Shocking, right? So, if you need to know why this love story between your hair and H2O is impossible, keep reading, because it’s about to get very interesting.

What effect does water have on my hair?

Let’s start at the beginning: hair is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb water (and while that sounds amazing, sometimes it’s not so much). When your hair absorbs water—whether from the shower, the sea, or the pool—the cuticle lifts, and the hair fiber swells like crazy, increasing its diameter and making it more prone to damage.

And, my friend, the more damaged the cuticle, the more water penetrates it, causing even more harm. This love story ends up being more disastrous than Bridget Jones and Mr. Darcy.

Frizz

With this in mind, you’ve probably guessed that certain things are totally off-limits if you want healthy, shiny hair (yes, damaging the cuticle makes your hair look dull and lifeless, and we definitely don’t want that). For example, going to bed with wet hair or braiding it Rapunzel-style while it’s still damp is a no-go.

Is it okay to go to bed with wet hair?

Absolutely not—it’s one of the worst things you can do! 🙅🏼‍♀️

Sleeping with wet hair causes a lot of friction with the pillow and sheets, tangling and damaging the cuticle and hair fiber even more.

It can also lead to scalp inflammation, making it itch like crazy, not to mention that the humid environment invites the growth of Malassezia, the fungus responsible for dandruff. A true tragedy. 🤯

Washing hair with hot water or cold water?

Yes, darling, water temperature matters (a lot). 💥

It’s true that hot water cleans better, but it also mercilessly strips your hair of its lipids. Additionally, it increases hair porosity, lifting the cuticle and causing your hair to absorb more moisture, leading to that frizz we all “love” (obviously, sarcasm).

On the other hand, cold water doesn’t clean away excess oil and dirt from the scalp very well. So, the ideal solution is to use lukewarm water.

Does salt and chlorine affect hair?

If you’re wondering how salt and chlorine in water affect your hair, most of the damage is due to water's pH (though chlorine and salt are guilty too). Both have an alkaline pH, and like hot water, they destroy your hair’s lipids, making it brittle and extremely dry.

And watch out! The hardness of your shower water 🧖🏽‍♀️ can also damage your hair fiber due to the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These can harm the cuticle, dry out your hair, and even oxidize dyed or highlighted hair, giving it that unwanted yellow or orange hue.

How to care for your hair

Last but not least, here are some tips to improve your hair’s relationship with water. For example, use a serum rich in oils on the mid-lengths and ends before washing your hair. The oils fill in the gaps in the cuticle, preventing the fiber from swelling too much. In this case, Cotton Lust, with coconut and avocado oil, is fantastic—and it smells amazing! What more could we ask for?

Serum

For frequent use
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{{€33.95}} I want it!

Another great option is using shower filters to remove excess lime and mineral salts, protecting your hair from hard water damage.

Don’t worry, friend—all this information about water and your hair is here to help you!