Washing hair with hot water causes baldness

[snopes]

Comment: While getting a haircut yesterday, the stylist used cold water
while shampooing. I half-jokingly complained that it was too cold and she,
in a thick Spanish accent, told me that I needed to use cold water on my
hair because shampooing with hot water would make me go bald.

I've tried to research online to find out if this comment holds any
validity but cannot find any reputable sources to adequately verify or
disprove her suggestion.

There did not seem to be any information here either so I'm writing to ask
if you know of any links to increased hair loss through the use of hot
showers and if indeed it would be better to shower with colder water as to
curb the spread of thinning hair.

[Buckle Up]

Well, since your head has to work so hard and expel so much energy to warm up the water to body temperature, I would think that washing with cold water would be worse!

My guess: Salon owner makes up load of cr*p, instructs staff to share it with customers, to save money on heating bill!

[carter108]

Well if you ask my husband I am why he is going bald.

[LilacFields]

I have a thick head of hair. Even pulling out my gray hair (ok so I get one every two or three years) doesn't diminish the thickness. And I've taken hot showers all my life. I'd say it's not true.

[DemonWolf]

I've taken hot showers every day of my life and I am balding. I vote true.

[Buckle Up]

More likely it's the dihydrogen monoxide.

[CannonFodder]

It's not the hot water that causes baldness, it's the razor I run over my head every morning that's caused my baldness. And I've taken WAAYYYY too many cold showers in my life.

[Blatherskite]

I've heard that washing your hair with cold water leaves it greasy. Maybe it's psychological influence, but I've always felt that this was the case when I've had to try it.

[remarkgullabull]

Originally Posted by DemonWolf

I've taken hot showers every day of my life and I am balding. I vote true.

And here I thought male pattern baldness was the cause all this time. Silly me.

remark "usually taking cold showers but not for this reason!" gullabull

[A Turtle Named Mack]

I guess it depends on just how hot that water is

[Wild Redhead]

Where to start. Yes, running a razor over your head every morning will cause a distinct lack of hair on your head, atleast until 5 o'clock shadow arrives. Cold showers stop somethings from growing but not hair. And hot water does not cause baldness.


Wild ~my work here is done~ Redhead

ETA At least when I went to Cosmetology school hot water wasn't on the list of things that cause baldness.

[E. Q. Taft]

On a slightly related note, I have heard it said that using cold water to rinse the conditioner out of your hair will make it shinier. I have also heard that this is bunk. Any data/opinions?

[llewtrah]

I can't see hot water being any worse than cold water unless you scald your scalp and kill off some follicles.

[Tarquin Farquart]

I've not tried washing my hair with cold water but would the same principle as soap apply: i.e. it is much more difficult and takes longer to wash off?

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by E. Q. Taft

On a slightly related note, I have heard it said that using cold water to rinse the conditioner out of your hair will make it shinier. I have also heard that this is bunk. Any data/opinions?

I guess cold water removes less of the condition from your hair and it remains coated with a film of conditioner? Hot water leaves less behind.

[Wild Redhead]

Now to prevent anyone from asking for a site ( I just dont have time to find one right now) I will say right up front that from my own experience as a cosmetologist I will tell you about shampoos and conditioners.
Professional shampoos will rinse clean with cold water only. Some store conditioners won't as they leave a residue whether you use hot or cold water. Conditioners always leave something behind. Professional products are developed to be structured to penetrate the hair shaft and condition the hair that way. Store products coat the hair, they don't penetrate the hair shaft. The main ingredient in most store products is paraffin (wax).

The hair follicles are fed by blood flow. Warm water will increase the blood flow and cold water will restrict it. I would hazard a guess that it wouldn't restrict it long enough to cause any type of problem. The follicle has to be deprived of nutrients long enough too starve it to death. The most common causes of baldness is genetics and stress. If you want to keep your full head of hair just massage your scalp.

[JessBoo]

Originally Posted by E. Q. Taft

On a slightly related note, I have heard it said that using cold water to rinse the conditioner out of your hair will make it shinier. I have also heard that this is bunk. Any data/opinions?

Cold water closes the...what's the word?...The 'scales' on the hair shaft, making it look shinier.

[Xia]

Originally Posted by JessBoo

Cold water closes the...what's the word?...The 'scales' on the hair shaft, making it look shinier.

Yes I have also heard that rinsing with cold water closes the cuticles in the hairs, and makes hair look shinier.

[ButterscotchCat]

My mother said that you should rinse your hair w/ cool water to reduce the amount of sweat/grease that your scalp produces. My, mother is full of plaudits.

[zman977]

I'm voting not true on this one. I've taken hot showers for most of my life and I still have a full head of hair.