It's crazy, I know. Seriously, how does one NOT know how to wash their hair. Yet, we would be doing ourself a favor to correctly attend to our crowing glory. We all need to be educated how to properly wash our hair. Great products help out when we shampoo and condition, but their magic can only go so far without the right techniques. And who wants to let hard-earned product run down the drain due to lack of know-how when it comes to something as simple as washing your hair?
So this blog post is dedicated to hair-washing mishaps and has now become our Beauty Tip of the day. Here ya go...
1. You start off too dry.
Think of it this way…your hair needs a rinse cycle before you add any product to it. Hot water will open the cuticle, which is good for removing any dirt or product trapped in the hair. Another bonus: When your hair is rinsed in warm water, it loosens the oils through the scalp and opens the cuticle so it is able to absorb the oil in your conditioner.
2. If you have long hair, you shampoo first instead of condition first.
I'm afraid this is true, girls. When you have long hair, you should actually condition a bit before you start the process of washing. If you have hair beneath the shoulders, protect fragile ends from drying out and further damage by running a small amount of conditioner through them and lightly rinsing, before any shampooing. This will not only keep ends healthy, it will fill any holes in the cuticle with moisture, making it smoother and boost shine.
3. You spend your lather on the wrong end of your hair.
You only need to shampoo the hair at the scalp, particularly at the nape. The best way to lather up is from roots to ends. The hair closest to the scalp is the youngest and will inevitably be the oiliest, while the end of the hair is the oldest and usually driest, most fragile part of the hair.
Also, don’t use more shampoo than you need. A quarter-sized amount of shampoo is enough. If your hair is particularly long or thick, go ahead and double that.
Start your lather at the roots. Increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair growth by using vertical strokes with medium pressure. Don’t use circular motions, which can tangle your hair.
Smooth the lather over the ends in a straight stroking motion. Do not scrub the fragile ends or use a back and forth motion like you’re washing a rag on a washboard.
4. You rinse and repeat.
Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Regardless of what any set of directions tell you, you never need to wash your hair twice unless you got doused in something like olive oil or honey, or have been stranded on an island for a month with no access to a shower. Avoid stripping the hair by doing one shampoo only, which is usually sufficient. Unless the hair is extremely dirty and the first shampoo didn’t produce a lather, in which case, go ahead and lather up one more time.
5. You spend your conditioner on the wrong end of your hair.
After you’ve rinsed out your shampoo, squeeze some of the water out of the hair before you put in the conditioner. Then clip your hair up and finish showering, leaving the conditioner rinse out for the final step of your shower. Let the conditioner sit a while on the ends; that way the hair will have more time to absorb the benefits of the product. Don’t waste conditioning products on your roots. The natural oils from your scalp will condition that end of your hair by the middle of your day, anyway.
6. You take too much time doing your final rinse.
Most of us make one mistake regarding our conditioner. We rinse it out for way too long. It isn't necessary, nor recommended to rinse longer than 15-20 seconds. You’ll end up washing all the conditioner down the drain!
7. You finish your wash with the wrong temperature.
Most of us end our shower with hot water, and it’s not a good thing. As uncomfortable as it sounds, your hair will thank you later if you finish with a cool rinse. Cold water will shut the cuticle (that outer film that protects the hair) down tight, sealing those shingle-like layers, helping it to reflect the most light and give off the most shine.
BONUS INSTRUCTION: "But my hair is really oily," you say? I would like to add only one more tidbit of advise. I know it's a controversial item in the beauty hemisphere, but here's my take on those of you that have oily hair.
It's been said that one must wash their hair every day, simply for the hygienic stance of it all. I have said that, as well. But I think I may have changed my mind over years of being faced with this question from clients that battle excessive oil. By the end of the day, hair at the scalp level is soaking up all that the body is producing over the day hours. Is there a simple solution?
Try this, and see if your hair loves it or not. Shampoo only every other day. I know…ewwww. Yet every time you scrub the scalp, even though it may be with shampoo, you are stimulating the oil glands to produce even more oil. Now then…before you throw me to the dogs, let me explain this madness. The second day you simply use a quality DRY SHAMPOO. Fluff it in…don't over-do it. DON'T USE BABY POWDER (unless you want white hair). Purchase a really GOOD dry shampoo. Like KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray. Let me know if you love it…or not.
Kicking the New Year off right, with favorable opportunities.
Shine On!
Mary