How difficult can it be to wash your hair? It may sound like a simple and straightforward process, but there are many things you may not know that could impact your hair health and its overall condition. What if how you are washing your hair is impacting the way it looks, grows, and feels? The good news is you do not have to spend a lot of money when washing your hair or a lot of time in the shower.
When Should You Wash Your Hair?
A good starting point is when and how often to wash your hair. You can wash your hair at any time during the day, but you may not need to do so every day. If you have an oily scalp and fine hair, that is the most likely time that you’ll need daily hair washing to remove the excess buildup. For others with dry scalp, washing your hair every other day or every third day may be sufficient.
What Type of Shampoo Should You Use?
There are so many options that it may be hard to know which product is right for you. Keep in mind you get what you pay for here. The least expensive products strip color out of your hair. They may not fully cleanse it either. Look for a product with high quality ingredients.
Choose shampoos and conditioners based on the conditions of your hair, such as damaged, oily, or brittle. These products can work well in improving these conditions. And, of course, if you are unsure, be sure to ask a hair professional or your stylist for some insight into what’s best for your hair and skin.
How to Wash Your Hair Properly
For most people, there are a few things to remember.
Brush Out the Tangles: Start with brushing out the tangles in your hair, long before you get your hair wet. This helps to prevent matting, which makes proper washing of the hair difficult.
Shampoo: Next apply shampoo. Most often, you need about a quarter size amount in the palm of your hand. Using too much isn’t going to do a better job, but it may make it harder for you to remove the shampoo fully from your hair.
Massage: Use your fingertips to massage the shampoo deep into the scalp. You should be touching the scalp as you wash. Make sure you massage the shampoo not just on the topd of the head but on the sides and back as well.
Pull Downward: As you are shampooing, pull the hair downward. Try to refrain from piling the hair at the top of your head while you are washing it. This helps to prevent tangling.
Rinse Well: Use warm water to rinse your hair. Initially, allow the shampoo to just wash off. Then, again, apply the same strategy of massaging into your scalp to help remove all of the shampoo from your hair. Avoid using hot water, which can dry out your hair and leave it brittle.
Condition: Depending on the needs of your hair, you may need to use conditioner. If so, apply a small amount to your hair. Use more if needed if you have long hair. Conditioner is not shampoo. Conditioner is not for cleansing the scalp, it is for moisturizing your hair. Refrain from applying conditioner on the scalp. If your hair is dry, brittle or color treated, you may leave the conditioner on your hair for up to 5 minutes as a treatment. Rinse well.
Once done, towel dry your hair. Use simple scrunches of the hair in the towel to pull off as much water as possible. You don’t want to rub vigorously because this can damage the hair strands and increases of hair breakage.
To learn more about what hair care products are best for your scalp type, contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts for a complimentary hair and scalp analysis.
