Can You Open Up Hair Cuticles For Higher Conditioning?

“Open the cuticles with heat water earlier than you apply conditioner. It’ll assist it higher penetrate your hair and make it stronger.”

If I had a penny for each time I’ve heard this recommendation, I’d be wealthy… Downside is, it doesn’t work! Let me clarify…

You Don’t Need To Open Hair Cuticles!

Like all junk science suggestions, this too appears to make lots of sense at first. Besides that cuticles don’t actually open. You can solely elevate them – and that’s one thing you need to keep away from.

Right here’s why: the cuticle is the outermost a part of the hair shaft, the layer that protects it from injury. Consider it just like the shingles on a roof: they’re meant to lie flat and shield what’s beneath.  When the cuticles are broken, hair turns into dry and brittle.

Each time you wash your hair, the water makes the shaft swell. This raises the cuticle, damaging it. The identical occurs whenever you comb your hair too harshly, rub it too vigorously or have some enjoyable or bleaching therapies accomplished.

And as soon as these cuticles are raised, your hair’s principally defenseless. Moisture is gone in a flash. Frizz is uncontrolled. And in case you throw warmth styling into the combo? Say hiya to much more injury. Curly and coily hair (which naturally has a extra lifted cuticle) tends to be drier and breaks extra simply – there’s simply nothing protecting the moisture locked in.

So in case you’re pondering heat water is doing all your hair a stable by “opening” the cuticles, nope. It’s truly simply making them simpler to mess up.

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Raised Cuticles Don’t Make For Higher Conditioning

So as to add insult to damage, a raised cuticle doesn’t permit useful components to penetrate contained in the hair shaft. That’d be too straightforward.

Whether or not an ingredient can get contained in the shaft or not will depend on its dimension and form. If it’s too massive, for instance, it stays on the floor of your hair. Some components, like hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids, are sufficiently small to slide in. However many of the great things in conditioners (suppose silicones, oils, and fatty alcohols) work by coating the hair shaft, sealing in moisture, and smoothing down the cuticle. They by no means penetrate your hair.

A raised cuticle is simply an indication of injury. That’s why, after washing your hair, you want to use conditioner to assist the cuticles get again of their place.

What Really Helps Conditioner Work Higher?

A conditioner accommodates components that may easy down the cuticles once more. They gained’t restore the injury down (hair is useless and, as soon as it’s broken, it’s broken for good), however, with its smoothing motion, it may well assist shield hair, make it really feel mushy and look wholesome and glossy.

If you happen to actually need your conditioner to work higher, right here’s what truly makes a distinction:

✅ Squeeze out extra water earlier than making use of conditioner, so it gained’t get diluted (sure, this occurs).

✅ Depart it on for a couple of minutes, so the lively components have time to coat your strands and easy the whole lot down.

✅ Select the appropriate conditioner on your hair sort. In case your hair is okay, go together with a light-weight components with proteins and amino acids to assist strengthen it. If it’s thick and dry, you’ll need one thing richer with nourishing oils and butters.

✅ Don’t skip a leave-in conditioner or serum. These create an additional layer of safety to maintain moisture in and frizz out.

The Backside Line

So, there you go. Subsequent time somebody tells you to “open” your hair cuticles, inform them no, thanks. Cuticles don’t open. They carry when broken, and that doesn’t do your hair any good. Interval.

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – on daily basis. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you determine what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create the perfect skincare routine on your distinctive wants.