Wonderful Power of the Elements - Water & Hair Care

Wonderful Power of the Elements - Water & Hair Care

Normally, we don’t think about the beauty benefits of water. What about you? Do you know the way water affects hair? Check what you owe to the tiny molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrating hair wisely is an easy way of enhancing its beauty.

A drastic decrease in water level means an end of beautiful appearance. The water which surrounds us has a huge impact on our good looks. How so? Knowing how water influences hair is essential for avoiding one of the most common beauty problems – extremely dry, damaged, brittle hair. Do you know the importance of water in hair care? Discover different sides of water and learn how to use it wisely!

HOW WATER AFFECTS HAIR?

Around 10% of hair is made up of water – keeping this level pays off. The percentage seems small but it is enough to keep hair in shape. It is responsible for the properties of the intercellular bonds which are like cement for the entire construction of hair. Mostly ceramides, which resemble liquid crystals, make up these bonds. They are able to absorb large quantities of water. As a result, hair is resilient and bouncy whereas the cuticle layer fulfills its function correctly.

Five Key Facts about Hair & Water:

  1. Rinsing hair with cold water lets you close cuticle scales and smooth strands.
  2. Water is a natural primer which makes hair styling routine easier.
  3. It is a natural substance which enhances the absorption of nutrients.
  4. Pure water is free of hair-harming ingredients.
  5. Water stimulates nerve endings and increases the lifetime of hair follicles.

How salty water affects hair?

Sadly, sea water is not our allay so summer baths in the sea tend to have a bad impact on the condition of hair. Sea salt, included in water, leaves strands very dry and drastically accelerates the loss of water. Avoiding the contact with sea water is the best solution but you can also reduce the harmfulness by rinsing hair with clean water after a bath, applying protective cosmetics or doing hair oil treatments.

How hard water affects hair?

Water hardness is its property resulting from the presence of ions of calcium and magnesium. They create the scale which settles e.g. in a kettle. Too bad, hard water has a bad impact on hairdos, too – it has a higher tension on the surface so removing dirt doesn’t come easy whereas the elements that occur while washing require the use of stronger detergents. It entails dehydration and irritations, consequently – dandruff or hair loss. If you use a mild shampoo and hard water, you may face up to oily hair because it will be weighed down and covered in product build-up.

HAIR DEHYDRATION

Water deficit in hair may bring irreversible and permanent consequences – breakage, coarseness, splitting, poorer elasticity, a dull shade. The scalp suffers, too – it is irritated and exposed to dry dandruff. We must make sure there’s always a pool of water at the appropriate level. Check what dry hair care routine should look like.

Excessive evaporation of water mostly results from the disturbed function of sebaceous glands – secreting too little sebum which is the natural protection from the loss of moisture. However, there are lots of causes of hair dehydration:

  • hard weather conditions (sun, wind),
  • washing hair too often,
  • using too strong shampoos,
  • having hair bleached or colored,
  • a wrong blow-dry technique.
Water & Hair Care

HOW TO MOISTURIZE HAIR?

Do you know that you can’t moisturize your hair with water only?

Delivering water to hair, e.g. while washing, without hair products, gives nothing. The water is going to evaporate as fast as it was absorbed. The effect? Even drier hair! You need humectants and emollients – water-binding ingredients which make a non-porous, occlusive layer on the hair surface. It’s worth remembering in daily hair care routine. That’s why use e.g. a mixture of water with extra ingredients:

  • water with lemon makes hair lighter and reduces hair loss,
  • water with honey upgrades hydration, nourishes and repairs,
  • water with vinegar for color-treated hair, closes cuticles and makes the color longer-lasting,
  • water with baking soda deeply cleanses and reduces oiliness.

Instead of regular water, you can try other types or hydrosols. They are far better at purifying and moisturising because they include a set of additional conditioning ingredients. Here are the top ones:

Birch water for hair – freshens scalp and reinforces hair bulbs so it is suitable for oily or falling out hair. A regular application of birch water to hair minimizes dandruff and works for hair growth. It is owed to large quantities of vitamins, minerals, tannin, phytosterols, amino acids, flavonoids, etc. Birch water gives the best benefits when it’s collected in spring – birch trees transfer nutrients from the roots to the buds. The juice, which is used for producing birch water, is the most nutrient-rich during this season of the year. Use birch water as a scalp lotion for the best hair growth and conditioning action. Simply rub it in for a few minutes after washing.

Rice water for hair – upgrades hair care, strengthens hair bulbs, smoothes, increases shine and improves elasticity. Inositol, included in this water, repairs damaged hair, protecting it from further damage and staying in hair even after rinsing. Apart from Inositol, rice water is rich in vitamin E, group B vitamins and amino acids. It speeds up blood flow in scalp and delays aging processes, therefore it makes hair stronger, thicker and healthier. Rice water works more intensively in hair care when you let it ferment – a slightly acidic water is richer in antiaging substances. How to use it? Pour rice with boiling water and put it aside for a while so that it gives its nutrients to water. When the water cools down, it works best as a rinsing liquid. Be careful! Never rinse hair with water after cooking rice because it usually contains harmful salt.

Rose water for hair – keeps hair hydrated, prevents static, adds shine, smoothes the surface and improves elasticity. It also coats hair with a beautiful aroma. Rose water has toning and brightening properties, and keeps natural pH of the skin. How to use rose water in hair care? There are three ways. Rose water is a great hair lotion (a leave-in conditioner or perfume for hair) – spray it onto dry or damp strands immediately after washing or during the day. Another way involves rinsing hair with rose water to tame flyaways – you can mix it with apple cider vinegar.

Thermal water for hair – soothes scalp irritation, prevents dandruff, adds shine and bounce to strands. It contains lots of silicon and zinc – essential minerals for hair reinforcement and reconstruction. What’s interesting, thermal water lowers the harmfulness of hard water thus reduces irritations and dryness of the scalp. Two most common forms of the product include a spray thermal water and a shampoo infused with thermal water (restores hydration in scalp and hair).

Coconut water for hair – nourishes and restores hydration in the driest hair, as well as has a marvelous scent. What is coconut water made up of? Most of all, glucose and fructose (gently smoothing sugars), an antioxidant vitamin C and strengthening group B vitamins. There are also minerals and amino acids which help keep the scalp moisturised. Coconut water visibly improves the state of hair and it’s a popular anti-hair loss treatment. The fresh water is the best – straight from the coconut. It is impossible to overuse it: for intensified effects, you simply use it more often. Extracted from ripe fruit, coconut water contains more protein so be careful not to overprotein your hair.

MAKING HAIR LIGHTER WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

A hydrogen peroxide hair rinse is a DIY way to get blonde hair. How to bleach hair with hydrogen peroxide? There are lots of guides online but before taking a decision, let’s compare pluses and minuses.

Hydrogen peroxide is really effective hair-brightening substance – just mix it with clean water (1:1 ratio) and regularly spray on freshly-washed hair. Still, even the most beautiful shade of blonde isn’t worth the side effects. Does hydrogen peroxide cause hair damage? Yes, it does. It makes hair very dry, leads to splitting, hair breakage and a dull shade. Regularly applied, it may leave hair needing a several-month repair treatment.

RAINWATER FOR HAIR

A rainwater hair rinse is another hair care trend which can’t be skipped while talking about the meaning of water for strands. This method has been known for ages and is making a comeback. We usually avoid exposing hair to the rain because we’re left with dangerously frizzy and tangling hair after such an adventure.

Rainwater is said to have a positive impact on hair, therefore, some women collect rainwater on purpose to use it in hair care routine. For example, for washing hair, rinsing strands or spraying it on. As a result, tresses are soft, smooth and easier to style. Unfortunately, rainwater has a bad influence on hair as well – bothersome brushing routine, tangles, a characteristic scent lingering on hair. Nowadays, it’s hard to get some good-quality rainwater. It usually gathers all kinds of toxins and pollution that are transferred straight to our hair bulbs.

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