Armando Corral is the owner and principal stylist at the Armando Corral Salon in New York.

Q:Is it a myth that you should rinse out conditioner with cold water? I read that cold water makes your hair shinier. Is that true?

A: Rinsing with cold water absolutely makes your hair shinier because it closes the hair shaft. The tighter the cuticle, the more light reflects off of it. On the other hand, heat makes the shaft expand and swell. When you're blow-drying, you're contradicting the effects of the cold water by using heat, so hit your 'cool' button a couple of times after you're done with a section of hair so you get the shiniest, smoothest results possible.