The average person is convinced they know how to wash their hair.
They get in the shower, lather up, rinse, repeat, and think the job is done. Most people have been washing their hair the same way their entire lives. And pretty much everyone they know has been doing it the same way as well. What they don’t realize is that even though they have been washing their hair the same way for years, that technique may be at least partially responsible for their split-ends, tangled, unruly, oily, or lifeless hair, that’s difficult to keep properly styled.
The problem may be they are not washing their hair the right way.
But after speaking with professional hair stylists from some of the most respected hail salons across the country, they explained that one of the most common problems they see is damaged hair caused by people not washing their hair properly. Many hair care professionals agree that washing your hair properly can help to keep it healthy, and full of body, bounce, and shine.
They say taking the time to learn and follow the correct techniques for washing your hair can make all the difference in the world when it comes to the health of your hair.
They recommend the following steps to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy.
1. Begin with a thorough soaking
Just like the first step in doing your laundry is to get it soaked, your hair must be treated similarly. Before you begin to add shampoo, you should make sure to thoroughly soaked.
The hair care professionals suggest you use warm water to rinse your hair.
They explain the warm water opens the cuticle of the hair, loosens up the dirt and oil that is trapped on the hair and scalp, and makes removing it a lot easier.
Plus opening up the cuticle will make it easier for the hail to absorb the oil contained in your conditioner.
2. Use conditioner first if your hair is long
For people whose hair is shoulder length or longer, using conditioner first will protect the fragile ends from drying out or becoming further damaged.
It is recommended you run a little conditioner through your hair and gently rinse it out before adding shampoo. Doing so will allow moisture to fill the holes in the cuticle.
This will leave your hair smooth and shiny.
3. Lather up at the scalp
The professionals recommend you begin shampooing the hair where it meets the scalp. Pay particular attention to the nape of your neck. The hair at the root tends to be the youngest and oiliest.
The hair is older, drier, and more fragile at the end. Begin lathering at the root and gradually work your way towards the ends. Most people need only a quarter-sized dollop of shampoo.
If your hair is very long or thick, you may need to use twice that amount. It is important you do not use too much shampoo.
4. Be gentle
Be care how you work the shampoo into your hair and scalp. Too much friction can damage the cuticle of your hair permanently. This will make your hair frizzy and cause it to break.
It is important to treat your hair delicately. Massage your scalp gently as you lather up the roots. Massaging your scalp increase the flow of blood to your scalp and stimulates hair growth, Very carefully use vertical strokes while applying medium pressure. Do not use a circular motion.
This can cause your hair to become tangled. Gently smooth the lather towards the ends of your hair. Do not scrub the ends back and forth.
5. Do not rinse and repeat
As long as your first shampoo produced a good lather, you do not have to repeat the process.
Usually washing your hair once is sufficient unless it is extremely dirty. Shampooing your hair twice will strip the oil from your hair and make it more fragile and susceptible to breakage. Having you repeat the process may be good for shampoo sales, but rarely ever is it good for your hair.
The only time it may be necessary to wash your hair twice is if it has caked on mud, dirt, motor oil, or something else that is resistant to shampoo and water.
6. Only add conditioner from the middle of your hair to the tips
Once you have thoroughly rinsed the shampoo out of your hair, squeeze out some of the excess water and add the conditioner. Clip up your hair and complete your shower.
The last step of your shower should be to rinse out the conditioner. The longer you leave the conditioner on your hair, the better your hair will absorbs. Do not put any conditioner close to the roots.
Your hair’s natural oil is concentrated on your scalp. Adding condition to your scalp will cause your hair to become oily.
7. Rinse with cold water
When you began your shampoo process, you used warm water to open the cuticle and let the dirt and oil out. You should use cold water to wash out the conditioner.
This helps to make sure the cuticle is shut tight. This will seal the outer layer of the hair and keep the moisture in. As a result of doing this the hair’s shingle-like outer layer will retain the oil from the conditioner.
This will make it reflect light and look shiny and healthy. Once you are finished rinsing, you can wrap your hear with a towel and let it dry.
Additional Hair Washing Tips
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Choosing a shampoo and conditioner
All shampoos and conditioners are not the same. For best results when you wash your hair, you should choose a shampoo and conditioner specially made for the type of hair that you have.
People with dry hair should use a shampoo and conditioner that has a moisturizer in it.
If you are someone that colors their hair, ten you should make sure the shampoo and conditioner you use have color-safe formulas. If you have fine hair, your best bet is to use a volumizing shampoo.
They tend to leave your hair drier. A moisturizing shampoo and conditioner tend to leave fine hair weighed down.
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How often should you wash your hair?
How often you should wash your hair depends on a number of factors. One of the most important is the type of hair you have. People with oily or fine hair may find it looks and feels best if they shampoo their hair daily.
People with normal or dry hair may find they get best results if they wash their hair three or four times a week.
The type of work you do or if you participate in sports or fitness activities that get you hair very dirty also plays a role in how often you should wash your hair.
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Use a water filter if possible
Tap water often contains heavy metals and a number of chemicals. Those things can wreak havoc on your hair.
You should use a water filter if you can when you are washing your hair. If there are rust or excessive amounts of minerals in the water, it can make blond hair look dark and muddy.
The chemicals in unfiltered water can also make your hair color look dull. A good water filter can help to make your hair look and feel softer.
Be gentle with your hair. Keep it clean and well-conditioned. And it will have body, bounce, and brilliance that you want.