When moisturizing your hair, are you one of those who uses a thermal cap or not? An accessory that makes perfect sense in the beauty salon, it may seem a little exaggerated when used at home... Is it? Let's understand more about this subject below.

What is a thermal cap and how does it work?

The thermal cap, as the name says, is a cap placed over the head to enhance the hydration of the hair. The idea is to apply the cream of choice in the lengths, hold the hair and put the cap on top, letting it do all the work. Whether in its electric version or metallized, with Styrofoam, the goal is to "heat" the hair to increase the absorption of products and, as a consequence,make hair more beautiful and well cared for.

"We should be very cautious about using the thermal cap," explains dermatologist Michele Monteiro, "because we know that excess heat, in addition to damaging the hair shaft, can cause diseases such as seborrheic eczema, which everyone knows as dandruff."

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When used at home, the main disadvantage is the risk of burns, both of the hair and of the head itself - and even more so when it comes to electric caps.

As the purpose of these caps is to isolate the temperature of the hair, you need to be extra careful not to leave the cap on for too long, which would have the opposite effect to the desired one: drier and lifeless hair.

One idea that has become quite popular, by the way, is the use of a satin cap. Because of the fabric, it protects the hair, reduces frizz, and even helps model the hair. The material also has a substance, known as sericin, which adheres to the hair's keratin. This way, it protects the hair and helps preserve the natural oils, keeping them more hydrated.

How to use the accessory?

Given these warnings, for those who still want to experience the effects of the thermal cap, it is worth following a few recommendations:

• Avoid keeping the cap on for more than 10 minutes, especially when using the electric version.
• Use an ordinary plastic cap underneath the thermal cap, to avoid direct contact with the hair.
• Choose the right cream for your hair type - the cap itself is valid for any curl.
• When in doubt, wrap a hot towel over the hair, as the effect is similar and the chances of complications are less.

Source: Michele Monteiro, dermatologist.