Are Hot Showers Damaging Your Hair?

We all enjoy hot showers, they reduce stress, relax the body, and have many other benefits. But if you talk about hair damage then it might be controversial because many people do not experience any massive effect on their hair. On the other hand, some people make their scalp dry, remove essential oil, and cause hair loss. Regular hot showers are beneficial for the body but not for hair. Hair damage through a hot shower depends on many factors such as hair prosperity, hair type, health of the scalp, and the phrase of hair. 

What is Hair Structure?

The hair structure is made up of (protein) amino acids and some chemical bonds. Hair has 2 parts

• Hair bulb
• Hair shaft

The hair bulb is present at the base of the hair follicle and it holds the hair-growing cells. These are continuously growing and push upwards on hair bulbs. Sometimes these cells make 6 layers in which 3 inner layers ( cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla) and 3 outer layers. Some cells in the hair bulbs are known as melanocytes, which are responsible for the color of your hair. The shape and size of hair follicles decide the type of hair you will get wavy, curly, straight, and fine. 

The hair shaft is the outer part of your hair which is seen above on your hair follicles. It is made up of a protein called keratin. It is the same protein by which nails and hooves are made. The hair shaft consists of three inner layers of hair bulbs.

Cuticle: it is the outermost layer of your hair, it protects your hair from any outer damage. The cuticle is smooth and flat. It also helps to maintain the moisture of the cortex. 

Cortex: it is the middle part of the hair. Covered from the cuticle layer. The cortex is made up of a large filament of keratin which is held by disulphide and hydrogen bonds. The color of your hair depends on the cortex.

Medulla: Normally medulla is present on thicker hair. It is made up of a thin core of transparent cells and air spaces. It is the innermost layer of your hair. 

Hot Showers Affect Hair

The effect of a hot shower on hair depends on various factors such as hair health, hair type, the condition of your scalp, and others. There are some positive effects of hot showers on hair and some negative effects on hair. 

Help in deep cleaning: A hot shower opens the closed pore of the scalp which helps to remove the dirt and residuals from the scalp. 

Improve the temporary blood flow: Hot showers help widen the blood vessels and increase the blood flow between the cells and tissue. 

Remove the excessive natural oil from hair and scalp: warm water indeed removes the essential oil from the scalp by enlarging the pores of the scalp. But no one removes their all-natural oil from one wash. It might be a problem if you wash your scalp with hot water regularly. 

Make hair brittle and dry: frequently washing your hair with hot water makes your hair dry and brittle. To make your hair moisturised and flexible, it requires the essential oil of the scalp. But because of the hot shower essential oil is removed from the scalp. So yes, frequently hot showers make your hair dry and brittle.

Hair loss due to hot shower: once in a while a hot shower is good for you. A hot shower suddenly does not cause hair loss. People who face hair loss during a shower is common, because at this time your hair is most vulnerable and everyone faces some hair loss. It is also because 5-10% of your hair is the last stage of the hair cycle after that new hair is formed at the same hair follicle. But if you are taking hot showers regularly then you are facing hair loss. 

Sign That a Hot Shower Damaging Your Hair

Before hair loss, you will notice some signs that will tell you about your upcoming hair loss. These signs don’t need to be caused by hot showers. But there might be other reasons such as the use of chemical products, the use of hair dryers, and nutritional deficiency. 

Dryness: when the essential natural hair is removed from the scalp. It causes many problems like itchiness, dermatitis, and frizziness of hair 

Frizziness: It is caused by hair dryness. If your hair loses its moisture from the cuticle. It makes you lifeless.

Split ends: it is caused by the damaging of the layer of hair structure called the cuticle. Normally reasons for damaging cuticles by loss of moisture in hair structure due to over-hot styling, and hot showering.

How Can You Minimize the Damage and Regain Natural Hair?

You can repair your hair from hot shower damage or any type of damage. By following a simple and healthy hair care routine and some habitual changes. Such as diet, supplementation, proper sleep, and avoiding chemical products. 

The simple hair care routine to repair hair from any damage

• Use hair oiling and massage
• Deep cleaning of hair
• Avoid excessive rubbing your hair during shower
• Use a hair mask once a week
• Avoid regular hot shower

Conclusion

A hot shower might be very beneficial for your body and scalp but a regular hot shower will damage your scalp. It will remove oil from the scalp and remove moisture from the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. Hot showers have some positive and negative effects on the body like deep cleaning of the scalp and removing essential oil from the scalp, improving blood flow, and making hair dry and frizzy. Some signs that tell you about your hair condition like dryness, split ends, frizziness, and hair color fading. There are some ways to repair your damaged hair. Like frequent oiling and massage. Hair masks, and hair conditioning, and some hair treatments like keratin,