So, you've heard about heat caps but are not sure when to use one?

Lava Cap heat caps are a fantastic way to help your hair absorb moisture, especially for those with low porosity hair that struggles to allow moisture in. The caps emit a gentle heat that supports hair hydration as well as stimulating blood flow in the scalp so they're an effective way to boost hair and scalp health.

So... When Should You use a Heat Cap?

When you use a heat cap depends on what product you are using to hydrate, nourish or treat your hair. If you want to do a hot oil treatment for example, then we recommend using a Lava Cap before you shampoo your hair because this will help reduce the amount of drying out your hair experiences as some of the oil will penetrate into the core of the hair and nourish it from within.

Before Shampooing Your Hair

We tend to use treatment or repair products on the hair prior to shampooing as the active ingredients in them can work before, during and after any processes we subject our hair to. When it comes to oil treatments or hair masks you may want to wash your hair with a moisturising shampoo and then towel dry prior to applying the oil or mask because clean hair will more readily absorb these products, however we appreciate that washing your hair before washing your hair requires some serious commitment to your healthy hair journey! And in terms of how long to use the cap for, please follow the guidance of the product you've put in your hair e.g. some bond treatments recommend 10 minutes. Natural oils can be left on the hair anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight prior to washing your hair with a shampoo, followed by conditioner.

Products you can use with your heat cap prior to giving your hair a proper shampoo:

• Hair Oils
• Hair Masks
• Elasticisers
• Bond Repair Treatments
• Overnight hair treatments

During Your Hair Washing Process (After Shampooing & Before Your Final Rinse)

If you didn't do a longer hair treatment prior to washing your hair then you can use a heat cap once you've applied conditioner to your hair. The amount of time you should use a heat cap for should be guided by the product you are using, product bottles usually give an indication of how long to keep the product on the hair. If you are using a completely natural product in your hair, then 15 minutes with a heat cap would be sufficient to support the hair to absorb the product.

Products you can use with your heat cap during the hair washing process:

• Rinse-out Conditioners or Deep Conditioners

On a Daily Basis, Non-Washday

You don't need to wait for washday to use a heat cap, especially for those with dry, brittle hair that breaks easily - you want to  re-moisturise your hair as often as possible to support the return of your natural moisture levels. Lava Caps are safe to use on a daily basis when your hair needs that extra moisturisation boost. 

Products you can use with your heat cap on non-washdays:

• Water, Spritzes or Light Hydrating Sprays 
• Leave-in Conditioner & Water Mixtures 
• Oil & Water Mixtures

Remember, heat caps are a proven tool that support with moisturising hair and they are used by professional hairstylists and trichologists for this reason. However it is important that you use one that does not get so hot that it burns your skin or causes damage to your hair! This is why the safe, gentle heat from Lava Cap is so effective even used regularly. When consistently using Lava Cap at home you will see a difference in the condition of your hair.

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