There’s nothing quite like that feeling of having fresh, clean hair that has body and holds its blowdry well. If you find yourself often struggling to achieve this, it may be a result of how you’re washing your hair.
If your roots get greasy easily, your style lasts only a few hours or it gets knotted and tangled easily, you should consider putting more time and effort into your hair washing routine.
To help you on your journey to achieving a healthy scalp and beautiful soft shiny locks, we’ve gathered together our top hair washing tips.
Use the right brush to detangle
Using the wrong brush to detangle hair is a common mistake that often leads to hair loss and breakage. Hair should be gently detangled prior to washing, or using a ‘soft wet brush’ in the shower. Soft wet brushes can also be used to evenly distribute your conditioner.
This helps to loosen product build up on the scalp and gets the blood flowing. If you’re not sure what brush to use, take a look at one of our recent blog posts Finding the Right Hairbrush for Your Hair.
Pre-rinse before you shampoo
Before you start your wash, be sure to thoroughly rinse your hair first. This essential step helps to loosen product and dead skin. Use your fingertips – not your fingernails – to gently rub your scalp, making sure to get every inch of your head.
Shampoo your scalp, condition your ends
Another common hair washing mistake that leads to product build up and dry locks is how the shampoo and conditioner is applied.
While it may seem obvious, shampoo should be used only on your scalp, while conditioner should be applied only to the mid-lengths. As shampoos generally contain sulfates, it can be extremely drying to use it on the ends of your hair.
When using conditioner, spend a few minutes working the product through all sections of your hair (while avoiding the scalp). If your hair becomes knotty during this process, use either your fingers or a wide tooth comb to gently detangle the hair as you go.
Rinse thoroughly after washing and conditioning
Rinsing is a crucial part of the hair washing process. It really pays to spend a few extra minutes “getting in there” and making sure your hair is clean and completely free of any remaining product. Rinsing is the key to product absorption, manageability and healthy, shiny hair.
If you can, try rinsing with cold water – this closes down the outside layer of the hair and seals in all the goodness.
Dry with a cotton t-shirt or microfibre towel
Never dry your hair roughly by tousling or rubbing it! To help reduce frizz, try using a cotton t-shirt or a microfibre towel – it’s much more gentle on your locks.
Finish with your favourite styling products, taking the time to section your hair and distribute the products evenly.