Hair Matters

What is a Conditioning Heat Cap?
A conditioning Heat Cap is a device that is placed on the head to deliver heat to your hair and scalp. Heat Caps are designed to enhance the effects of conditioning masks and hair treatments. Every type of hair can benefit from and use a conditioning heat cap. From Thin or Fine Hair to Dry and Damaged Hair, Curly Hair or straight hair, a conditioning heat cap can double or triple the effectiveness of a conditioning treatment or conditioning mask.

Conditioning heat caps come in two forms: electric (you plug it in) and microwavable (these look like a towel with gel-inserts that retain heat). We like the Matex Thermal Spa Professional Conditioning Heat Cap. This heat cap is quiet and the automatic thermo-controlled unit heats deeply, without overheating. It's made of soft, flexible vinyl for comfort and easy to maintain. 

Should I Use an Electric Heat Cap or a Microwaveable Heat Cap?
Both forms are effective, but we prefer the electric kind for a couple reasons.

• Heat is more consistent and constant with an electric heat cap. You can fully control the electric heat cap; there is no guesswork. 

• The electric heat cap delivers consistent heat to all areas of the head; you don't have to worry about one section cooling faster than the other.

• How often do you clean your microwave? Ours is pretty funky. We don't want our microwave-funk in our hair.

• If you use a plastic cap with your electric conditioning heat cap, you won't ever have to wash it.

How does a Heat Cap Work?
Most professional conditioning heat caps use dual thermostats to provide even heat distribution. They are made to be used with therapeutic hair treatments, like deep conditioning treatments and Conditioning Masques. The addition of heat to the hair during a hair treatment helps open up the hair cuticle, the outer layer of the hair. This allows the hair treatment to easily enter the hair shaft, and it allows more of the treatment to enter the hair shaft. Because more of the product enters the hair shaft, and with such ease, it is able to penetrate deeper to the core of the hair shaft. This allows all of the healing and nourishing nutrients from the hair treatment to bond to every part of the hair, repairing and moisturizing hair from the inside out. After you turn off the heat cap, the hair cools, trapping the molecules from the the treatment inside the hair. This helps with moisture retention and hair repair. Vital ingredients that your hair was lacking are now locked inside your hair. A heat cap is a vital tool in hair repair.

How do I use a Heat Cap?
This procedure has proven itself for best results and easiest clean up. The plastic processing caps even go in the washing machine for ease of cleaning before re-use. They however, do not survive the dryer.

1. Apply your chosen Hair Treatments evenly to your hair

2. Completely cover all of your hair with a plastic processing cap.

3. Cover the processing cap with the washable cap liner (if your heat cap came with one).

4. Place the heat cap over the liner/processing cap.

5. Turn the heat cap on for the recommended time for the hair treatment you are using.

6. When the time is up, turn the heat cap off and remove it and the washable liner.

7. Leave the processing cap on your head until your hair has completely cooled.

8. Rinse or wash out the hair treatment depending on the hair treatment's instructions.

Which Heat Cap Should I Use?
We recommend the Matex Thermal Spa Professional Conditioning Heat Cap. This heat cap is quiet and the automatic thermo-controlled unit heats deeply, without overheating. It's made of soft, flexible vinyl for comfort and easy to maintain.  This cap comes with three different temperature setting and a one year warranty! It's one size fits all, so it makes a great gift for anyone.