The thermal cap is an old acquaintance of women who like to keep their hair always beautiful and hydrated. Whether at home or in the salon, who has never applied the cream and stayed there for a few minutes waiting for it to take effect? With more potent products on the market, the technique is no longer used as much but, even so, it remains an excellent ally of beauty.
To give that strength to you who are adept at transforming your home into your private beauty salon, we talked to hairstylist Sandra Zapalá, who teaches you how to use it and gives you all the tips to enjoy the best of the product and have hair full of shine!
Thermal cap: advantages and disadvantages
Despite leaving the hair soft, some care is needed before going out wearing the cap. Find out what they are!
Benefits
- More hydration: the hairstylist says that the heat produced by the thermal cap makes the products applied to the strands penetrate and be absorbed more quickly by the hair fiber, bringing the expected result to the hair.
Disadvantages
- Risk of burns: as it is a product that produces heat, Sandra warns that it is necessary to be aware of the risk of burning the hair and even the head.
- Dryness: in addition to the risk of burning, care must be taken so that the product does not cause the opposite effect, because if used incorrectly, excess heat can cause water loss and dry the hair even more.
Be careful to enjoy only the benefits of the cap!
Types of thermal cap
You can choose the electric thermal cap or the simple model, with styrofoam balls. Discover the two alternatives and choose yours!
1. Electric thermal cap
The electric thermal cap is the solution for dry, brittle, oily hair damaged by everyday pollution. Generally, it has a coiled resistance that emanates activating ions from the blood circulation, strengthening the hair root, eliminating dandruff and seborrhea, decreasing hair loss, in addition to dilating the pores allowing the absorption of the applied product.
“It is an efficient product that you can have at home to enhance the hydration you are going to do, but I would recommend the thermal cap more for those cheap products that we find at the pharmacy.” – Carol Kyoko
2. Metallized thermal cap with styrofoam
This is the simplest and most traditional thermal cap model, but no less efficient. It is ideal for activating heat and maintaining the highest temperature. The laminated paper together with the styrofoam balls are responsible for intensifying the increase in temperature.
“This cap muffles super well and gives a super cool effect. Some are plastic with styrofoam, others are aluminum with styrofoam, but both have the same effect” – Julia Doorman Hair of a Queen
Common questions
1. Is there any difference between the styrofoam thermal cap and the aluminum one?
According to Sandra Zapalá, the two caps have the same purpose: to isolate the temperature in the hair.
2. How long can the thermal cap stay on the head?
In the case of the electric thermal cap, it should stay between 5 and 10 minutes maximum to avoid burns, in addition, it is important to use a plastic cap together to avoid direct contact with the wires.
Sandra gives the tip for those who want to leave the products on for longer: “prefer the aluminum cap with styrofoam, it holds the heat without heating the wires and you can leave it for up to 20 minutes”, advises the hairstylist.
3. Can a hot towel replace the thermal cap?
The good news is that if you don’t have a thermal cap, you can replace it with a warm towel. “Today the products are more modern and manage to enter the hair fiber without the use of a thermal cap”, says Sandra.
The hairstylist teaches a precious technique called hot wrapping, which prolongs and reinforces the benefits of hydration. It is done as follows: wash your hair normally, remove excess water from the strands and apply the chosen hydration product. Then moisten a towel with hot water, wrap it in your hair and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Did you like it?
4. Is the thermal cap suitable for all hair types?
Yes, the important thing is to choose the right mask for your hair type.
5. What types of products can be used with the cap?
According to Sandra Zapalá, when choosing the hydration mask, it is necessary to check beforehand if it needs a thermal cap to activate it.
6. What is the correct way to use the thermal cap?
Here’s a professional tip for getting the best out of your thermal cap: wash your hair normally and remove excess water before applying the mask. It is essential to put on a plastic cap to protect it from direct contact with the wire and let it act for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Never forget to take a few moments to take care of yourself and feel good. And do you want to have even more beautiful hair? Learn more about sulfate-free shampoo for beautiful and healthy hair!