Let’s start with the basics: How to wash your hair properly?
Agree, for many of us washing our hair is an automatic process. Every day we perform the habitual actions from childhood without thinking at all: how, in fact, to wash our hair correctly? And whether the technique is important in fact? Let’s find out!
How often can (and should!) you wash your hair?
Unfortunately, there is no universal formula for “hair length x skin and hair condition = optimal frequency of washing”.
Your head should be washed as needed, depending on the intensity of the sebaceous glands, because each person’s glands function in an individual mode
Natural hormonal changes in the body, diet, ecology, and even improperly selected combs and hair accessories also affect the degree and speed of hair contamination!
If your hair gets dirty quickly, we can’t exclude the fact that it might be the wrong hair care products or improper use of them.
Even if your head is still alive with childhood memories of how great it was to wash your hair only once a week, you should not “train” yourself to do it in adulthood by going over dry shampoos and sleek hairstyles. This can lead to itching, irritation, or even dandruff. Moreover, professional stylists and trichologists, recommend that those who constantly use styling products or actively participate in sports wash their hair more often and thoroughly. You can read more about whether or not you can wash your hair on a daily basis here.
But in those cases where wet shampooing is delayed for some reason, dry shampoo really comes in handy. Use it in the morning if you notice that your hair lacks freshness and volume at the roots. Experts do not recommend layering these products: the next day, be sure to wash your hair with regular shampoo.
In our opinion, the best dry shampoos are Morning After Dust from L’Oréal Professionnel (guarantees 96 hours of freshness and volume) and High Amplify from Matrix (finely dispersed, gives noticeable root volume for a long time).
How to wash your hair correctly: basic rules
It may seem an absurd idea to learn any washing techniques as an adult, but it is the right and regular ritual of such care that will help you achieve the desired result – healthy, manageable, and shiny hair. Learn how to wash your hair correctly!
Useful tips: wash your hair properly
- What kind of water is better to wash my hair? Water temperature is very important. Water should be warm (just above body temperature) and comfortable. It is not necessary to wash your hair and hair with too hot water – it increases the sebaceous glands. But in the end you can rinse your hair with cool water (about room temperature) to help the scales on the cuticles to close, protecting the hair and giving it shine.
- It is better to shampoo your hair twice.
A double application of shampoo is a must! The first time we shampoo for hygiene purposes – to clean the skin and hair of various impurities (skin grease, sweat, dust, styling, etc.). The second application allows us to saturate the scalp with beneficial ingredients contained in detergents.
3. In the process of washing your hair it is important to massage your skin. This way we stimulate blood circulation, and when the blood flow is increased, more useful microelements, vitamins, and fatty acids penetrate into the hair follicle, and the skin is cleansed as much as possible. In addition, it just feels good!
4. After washing your hair, you don’t need to rub your hair with a towel. Wet hair is more vulnerable than dry hair, and it’s easy to damage it! It’s better to blot your hair or gently wrap it in a dry towel.
5. For the same reason, don’t brush or blow-dry your hair right away. Wait until they are wet before you put a hairdryer or other styling tools in your hands. Be sure to choose a comb that won’t traumatize wet hair!
How to wash oily hair?
Owners of greasy hair know that the hardest part is finding the right wash schedule. If oily hair is washed infrequently, it can make your head look unkempt and untidy; if it’s washed too often, it can feel like it’s getting dirty even faster! So what should you do?
The first thing to do is to realize that it’s not really your hair that’s oily, it’s your scalp. That’s where you need to take care of it!
It is enough to follow only three basic rules of washing oily hair:
1. It’s not how often you wash your hair, it’s how regularly you wash it! Regularly observing this rule will help to clean the scalp regularly and keep the sebaceous glands working evenly, without over-activity.
2. Only products designed for oily hair should be used. Any other products (especially nourishing and moisturizing) can “clog” sebaceous glands, contributing to even more irritation and oily scalp.
3. don’t get carried away with complicated styling and drying. It is better not to touch oily hair without a special need! Intense drying can provoke the active work of the sebaceous glands, and the use of styling products will cause the need to wash your hair, not on the schedule. However, if you got used to a daily wash and feel great in such a mode, do not be afraid of styling. Only one taboo – sulfate-free shampoos, they cleanse the scalp worse from the rest of the styling. You can alternate with the classic sulfate shampoos, then the cleansing will be sufficient.
How to wash long hair properly?
In this place will inevitably sigh all the owners of luxurious braids, “crazy, what a long and thick hair!” and other varieties of hair, which invariably arouse the admiration and envy of others.
Of course, to impress due to the magnificent, well-groomed and healthy long hair is very nice, but to keep them in such condition – it is a lot of work.
Here are some tips for washing long hair:
1. Before you wash long hair, always comb your hair! And for the root zone, it is better to use a massage brush, and the bulk of the hair is easier to comb with a comb with wide teeth.
Use a “two-phase” washing technique with different detergents. Use a separate shampoo for oily or normal hair (depending on your scalp type), which should be applied to the top and bottom of your hair. It’s best to use a shampoo for dry, damaged hair on the ends.
The best shampoos for long hair are Pro Longer from L’Oréal Professionnel, Extreme Length with biotin from Redken, So Long Damage from Matrix.
3. Do not braid or style undried hair in elaborate hairstyles. In this case, there is a risk that the strands will not dry completely and there will be a harmful “greenhouse effect” in the curve zone.
How to choose the right hair wash?
The basic rule is very simple to remember: shampoo according to the type of scalp and conditioner, balm or mask – according to the problem of hair (hydration, nutrition, colored hair, etc.).
In order to wash your hair correctly, shampoo should be applied only to the scalp and the root zone (the length of the hair is washed with foam flowing down the hair),
Conditioner and mask should be distributed along the length of the hair, in any case, do not apply it to the scalp (unless the mask itself is not designed for this purpose).
Let’s consolidate the material and give a minimum of products that should stand on a shelf in every bathroom:
- A shampoo that suits your scalp type;
- conditioner that solves the main problem of your hair;
- Mask, which is optimal to use once or twice a week – also solving one or another problem of your hair.
If there are problems with the scalp, the wrong shampoo can make them worse. In some cases, it can even wash the pigment out of colored hair, giving the effect of unwashed or weighted hair.
Co-washing and sulfates
You often hear about Co-washing and sulfates from fashion bloggers or in beauty salons. We talked to stylists and learned all about these cleansing methods.
Co-washing, or washing your hair with a cleansing conditioner without using shampoo, is one of the fashion trends in today’s daily hair care routines.
Hair co-washing
Co-washing, or washing your hair with a cleansing conditioner without shampooing, is one of the fashion trends in today’s daily hair care routines.
As a permanent alternative to shampoo, Co-washing is only suitable for the owners of very dry and damaged hair. But healthy hair will very quickly look stale…
Sulfates for hair washington
Sulfates are sulfates, and despite the “scary” chemical word, you definitely shouldn’t be afraid of them!
Professional grooming shampoos usually contain “delicate” sulfates, which gently cleanse the scalp and hair. Sulfate-free shampoos are recommended for hair after keratin straightening or for newly colored hair, so the washing does not cause the scales to open and the pigment and keratin to wash out of the cuticle.
In other words, don’t choose products just because of bio-cosmetics fashions or advice from trendsetters. We repeat: it is better if you are guided by your hair type and the problem you want to solve with a certain type of care!
But in some cases sulfate-free shampoos are necessary – after coloring, to extend the effect of keratin straightening or for gentle care after perms. And also do not do without gentle cleansing owners of sensitive scalps.
The best sulfate-free shampoos according to SalonSecret: Keep Me Vivid by Matrix, R.A.W. Uplift by Biolage, Soft Cleanser by L’Oréal Professionnel.
Biolage R.A.W. Shampoo. Uplift shampoo for volume, 325 ml
Expert Vitamino Color Soft Cleanser Shampoo, 300 ml
So here are the 12 basic rules for washing your hair
Don’t let your hair get dirty.
You should wash your hair as your skin gets dirty. As studies conducted by trichologists and dermatologists in different countries confirm, the scalp and hair are much more affected by dirt that accumulates at the base of the hair and is not removed from the head in time. Sebaceous secretions, dust, dirt create a breeding ground for bacterial growth, prevent the skin from breathing, hair roots lack nutrients, – all this disrupts the normal functioning of the scalp and slows hair growth.
Don’t be afraid of shampoos.
Shampoos labeled as approved for use every day are as neutral, gentle, hypoallergenic and non-aggressive as possible. Accordingly, they can really be used every day. Consider sulfate-free shampoos as well.
Watch how often you wash your hair
The frequency of washing should be selected individually, taking into account the type of hair and water quality. If you have an oily hair type, a break of 3-4 days will accumulate abundant sebum, which can lead to fine inflammation.
Apply the shampoo correctly.
The amount of shampoo depends fundamentally on the length of the hair. It is not recommended to pour the product directly on the head. Firstly, it would be difficult to control its quantity, and secondly, in a limited area will get the too concentrated product. Therefore, you should first lather the shampoo in your hands or dilute it in a small amount of water, and then distribute it on the hair.
The correct algorithm for shampooing
Before you start washing your hair, you need to comb your hair to wash it thoroughly. It is necessary to wash your head from ear to ear, along the so-called conditional lines, and then move to the back of the head. The movements should be massaging and made with the pads of the fingers, but not with the nails, so as not to scratch the skin. It is recommended to massage the hair for a few minutes during washing the head, it is good for the hair roots.
How much shampoo to apply
Here it all depends on the frequency of washing and the product used. If you have to wash your hair every day, then there is no need for double soaping. But for those who wash their hair twice a week, it is better to apply shampoo twice. The second time the amount of shampoo is recommended to halve.
Water Temperature
Many people make the grave mistake of washing their hair with too hot water, which leaches the hair and activates the sebaceous glands. The optimal water temperature for washing hair is 40-50 degrees. It is this temperature mode promotes a good dissolution of sebum, easy removal of dirt, and improves blood circulation.
Finish washing your head with cold water.
It is advisable to finish the washing procedure with a cool or cold shower, which stimulates the blood supply to the scalp and makes the hair shiny.
Mask after washing your head
The frequency of application of masks depends on both the condition of the hair and the desired effect, as well as the composition of the nourishing product. If your hair is badly damaged and needs intensive care, apply the mask every other day. After 8-10 sessions the result will already be well noticeable, and you can use this cosmetic product much less often.
If you plan to apply the mask to the hair for preventive purposes, do it no more than 1-2 times a week. This frequency is considered optimal.
Don’t forget the balm.
The balm is applied to the hair after shampooing. Not only does the balm stabilize the pH level of the hair, but it also gives it a shine and makes it silkier, as it contains easily reflexible elements. The balm also smoothes the outer layer, or cuticle of the hair, which opens up when alkali gets on it – that is, both hard water and shampoo, and the dye or permanent solution. The balm can be applied to the entire length of the hair (some believe that it is only necessary for the ends), including the roots, but do not rub it into the scalp. Leave it on for 5-7 minutes, then rinse it off thoroughly. If applied to the scalp, there is a chance that the balm will weigh hair down and deprive it of root volume
