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Does Steaming Your Hair With or Without a Cap Make a Difference?

Hair steaming with or without a cap one is a hot topic of debate in the curly hair care community.

I’ve been meaning to write about it for quite some time but I only just got around to it this weekend.

Hair steaming is a sacrosanct part of any healthy hair care regimen and for good reason.

Without hair steaming, we’d have snack, crackle, and pop hair. Heck, we’d be damn near bald.

Steam natural hair with or without a shower cap? Is one more effective over the other. View the comparison

4 Benefits of Hair Steaming

1. Hair Steaming Opens Hair Cuticles

Steaming provides an avenue to heat and open up your hair cuticles; enhancing moisture retention on your hair.

2. Hair Steaming Defines Curls & Hair Styles

When your hair is better equipped to receive the products through steaming, you have more defined and enhanced curls and hairstyles.

3. Hair Steaming Improves Hair Elasticity

Steaming improves hair elasticity. Hair that bounces back when stretched is healthy and strong hair.

4. Improved Manageability

Steaming also enables better manageability for your hair. Hair is easier to detangle and handle after a great steaming session.

We can all agree steaming is one of the greatest things ever for hair. All the above benefits are usually received with a good session under a steamer.

However, there have been different points of view on whether you can receive the benefits of steaming without wearing a plastic cap.

I decided to conduct some research and an experiment of my own.

Usually, I steam without a plastic cap because I’m too lazy to bother with it. My hair always came out fabulous, soft, and supple.

The pic below is my usual steaming process.

do you need a cap for steaming

Hair Steaming with or Without Plastic Cap

I decided to try it with cling film instead the last time I steamed before putting my braids in.

I didn’t use a plastic cap because anything with elastic around my edges makes me nervous.

I was under my hair steamer for 30 minutes. I use a tabletop hair steamer like this one here.

Afterward, I noticed only one difference – my hair wasn’t as moist and soft as it usually is without a plastic cap.

Would this have made a difference if I’d continued using cling film over a longer period? Possibly.

My research shows plastic cap advocates believe the cap keeps the warmth closer to your scalp.

However, the steamer already has a hood, which is doing the same thing so technically you don’t need a plastic cap.

Additionally, you want to allow the ozonized steam direct access to your scalp as this helps to alleviate any scalp issues you might be having and prevent further issues.

If you’re worried about the steam dripping down your neck and burning you, just drape a towel across your shoulders and you’ll be good.

In conclusion, while the difference isn’t a big deal, I prefer to steam without the cap as I like the results better. 

Related Content

Hair Steaming Tools (With or Without a Steamer)

You can use either a tabletop steamer or a professional steamer and when you’re on the road, opt for the Q-Redew Handheld Steamer or Hair Therapy Wrap:-

Cayenne Professional Hair Steamer

Cayenne Professional Hair Steamer

Table Top Steamer

table top steamer for curly hair

Q-Redew Handheld Steamer

Q-Redew Hand-held Hair Steamer

Hair Therapy Wrap

hair therapy wrap

Do you have any questions about steaming hair or steaming hair with or without a plastic cap? Share in the comments section. 

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