Starting or ending your day with cold water therapy can be a simple way to support your overall well-being. Regular exposure to cold water offers many benefits, including improvements in hair and skin health. With a cold plunge or contrast therapy tub from Wind River Spas in Denver, you can bring these benefits into your own home and make your routine a little simpler.
How Cold Water Affects Skin Physiology
Vasoconstriction and Improved Circulation
One of the benefits of cold therapy is vasoconstriction. When you expose your skin to cold temperatures, the blood vessels temporarily constrict. This reaction, called vasoconstriction, helps direct blood flow inward to protect your core temperature. As you return to warmer conditions, circulation improves, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
Reduced Inflammation and Redness
Cold water can be used to calm visible inflammation and redness on the skin. It slows down blood flow to irritated areas which helps ease swelling and make skin tone appear more even. Regular cold exposure can be helpful for individuals who are managing skin that is reactive or easily irritated, and it can help to calm down other types of inflammation at the same time such as muscle pain or injuries.
Strengthened Skin Barrier Function
The skin’s barrier is the outermost layer that protects against moisture loss, irritants, and harmful microorganisms. It is made up of tightly packed skin cells and lipids that work together to keep the skin hydrated and resilient. Brief cold exposure can also support a stronger skin barrier. It can tighten the outer layer of the skin and help it hold on to moisture. If you soak often, you can enjoy a complexion that holds up better against dryness and environmental stress.
The Science Behind Cold Water and Hair Health
Improved Blood Flow to the Scalp
Improved blood flow can be beneficial for the sensitive skin of your scalp just as it is for the skin on the rest of your body. The same process of vasoconstriction and vasodilation can improve the health of your scalp. A healthy scalp means healthier hair growth. One of the benefits of cold water immersion is that it can support other efforts to improve scalp and hair health.
Locking in Moisture
The outer layer of each strand of hair is called the cuticle. It is made up of overlapping cells that all work together to protect the inside of the hair. When hair is exposed to cold water, the lower temperature causes these cells to contract a little, which makes them lie flatter and closer together. This helps lock in moisture from your skincare routine, helps your hair to look softer and shinier, and prevents frizziness.
Stress Reduction Through Cold Therapy and Its Benefits on the Skin and Hair
Our bodies are made to handle stress in the short-term, but subjecting your body to stress every day for a long-period of time takes its toll on your health. Chronic stress affects every part of your body from your heart to your skin and hair. Cortisol, which is the body’s primary stress hormone, can disrupt the skin’s natural repair processes and weaken its protective barrier if the levels are elevated enough.
High cortisol also has a direct impact on the hair growth cycle. These elevated levels can push follicles into their resting phase faster, a condition known as telogen effluvium. While it isn’t always possible to eliminate all sources of stress in your life, there are ways that you can help support your body and help it respond better to stressful situations.
Cold water therapy can help lower cortisol levels by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. One study observed that stress levels of participants dropped about 12 hours after a plunge in cold water. Cold water can also improve sleep quality which can have a positive impact on stress levels.
Practical Tips for Using Your Cold Therapy Tub for Hair and Skin Health
- Start With Shorter Sessions: It can take some time to get used to the sensation of a cold plunge. When you first get your tub, don’t feel like you have to start with a full five or ten minute session. Start with a quick 30-second or one minute plunge. As you adjust to the cold plunge, you can gradually start to increase the time you spend in cold immersion.
- Alternate Between Warm and Cold: Contrast therapy is the practice of moving between warm and cold water several times to boost blood circulation. Going between the two can make you feel more comfortable when you are new to cold water therapy, and it can also help drive more nutrients to your skin and scalp. Our Contrast8 tub is a two-in-one option that allows you to quickly switch between the two.
- Immerse Your Whole Body: If you want to get the most benefits, try immersing your whole body, including your scalp, into the cold water. Just make sure you check with your doctor before starting cold therapy or submerging your head, especially if you have heart, respiratory, or other health conditions.
Bringing the Benefits of Cold Water Therapy to You at Wind River Spas
Cold water therapy is great for supporting healthier skin and hair by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and strengthening the skin’s natural barrier. While it’s still important to take care of your skin and hair in other ways, incorporating a cold plunge just several times per week can bring the benefits of reduced stress and better health.
At Wind River Spas in Denver, CO, our cold therapy tubs, Contrast8 and PLUNGE+ can make it easier to get these benefits. These tubs provide soaking temperatures of 104°F down to a chilling 39°F. Made in Colorado for Colorado conditions, our chemical-free tubs give you a simple way to add cold therapy to your routine. Give us a call at (303) 789-2656 to learn more or explore our website to find the right tub for you.