Whenever I talk to hairdressers, a recurring topic is the amount of mistakes we make in our hair care routine or when washing our hair. These range from the malpractice of using moisturizing shampoos every day (it is preferable to alternate) to forgetting about washing areas such as behind the ears and the nape of the neck.
In this pilgrimage towards achieving the perfect hair care routine, I just discovered that using a hot towel while performing my pre-wash regimen, like applying a cleansing treatment before shampooing, is a golden rule to deep clean and add shine to my hair.
Stylists at the Jorge Rubín salon use hot towels for all types of professional protocols, specifically when they apply a clarifying treatment or a deep cleansing treatment to remove residues from the hair and scalp. But the good news is you can also get the same results at home.
Stylist Cristina Vidal tells me that when applying a deep-cleansing product at home, (something that we should do once a week), we should wet a towel in hot water and roll our hair with it after applying the product to the scalp, roots, mid-lengths, and ends.
“The heat from the previously heated towel will cause the cuticle of the hair fiber to open slightly, and the hair will be better cleansed,” she says. “In the same way, it will also facilitate the penetration of the active ingredients.”
She adds: “When the towel cools down, normally after 5 or 10 minutes, the product should be rinsed out, because the cuticle begins to close and the deep-cleansing process would not be possible.”
She recommends carrying out this step with any detox pre-shampoo treatment or with a clarifying shampoo when a deeper cleansing is desired. Vidal stresses that when using any purifying product on the hair, it is important to massage the hair fiber well to eliminate residue, as well as the scalp.
Another alternative, according to Vidal, is to use a plastic bag or plastic wrap to roll your hair during the application of the product and then do a touch of blow-drying to get the benefits of the heat.
The hot towel technique to create a sauna effect during your skin care routine, such as when applying a moisturizing mask, is an old trick, but few people know this can also apply to your hair. However, it makes perfect sense.