Before placing the cap on your head, it is recommended to fully saturate the scalp with cool water. Depending on your hair type and how it reacts to water, you should consider the following before wetting your scalp.
- When you wet your hair does it lay flat?
If so, then wetting the scalp before placing the cap is recommended.
- When you wet your hair does it get fluffier and/or expand to where it could prevent the cap from having direct contact with your scalp?
If so, wetting the hair and scalp may not be the best option.
It is recommended to remove any extensions, braids, locs, etc. as these styles can put additional stress on the hair follicles and prevent close contact between the scalp and the cap.
An article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology1 provides information on scalp cooling with different types of black hair.
Suggestions for Black Patients with Tightly Curled Hair Undergoing Scalp Cooling
- Considerations for all patients
- Remove all hair extensions, avoiding the use of synthetic hair including braids, twists, cornrows, weaves, lacefront wigs, etc.
- Remove all hair extensions, avoiding the use of synthetic hair including braids, twists, cornrows, weaves, lacefront wigs, etc.
- Considerations for patients with natural hair with no chemical straightener or relaxer
- Thermally straighten hair before treatment and apply hair grease only to the ends before lightly wetting the scalp. Small twists or braids (without extensions) are permissible.
- Thermally straighten hair before treatment and apply hair grease only to the ends before lightly wetting the scalp. Small twists or braids (without extensions) are permissible.
- Considerations for patients with chemically straightened hair
- Proceed as normal with wetting the scalp. Small twists or braids (without extensions) are permissible.
1. Araoye, E, et al. “Considerations for the Use of Scalp Cooling Devices in Black Patients.” Journal of Clinical Oncology 38, no. 30 (October 20, 2020) 3575-3576.