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SHAMPOOING & CONDITIONING Regimen

Step-by-Step Guide for Properly Washing Your Hair

I’ve been washing my hair for 30+ years! Now you’re telling me I’ve been doing it all wrong?

Maybe. Probably.

Shampooing your hair can quickly become routine like brushing your teeth. Maybe it's time to put some thought into your hair-washing regimen. When doing it properly, you can take advantage of the many good things you can do for your hair, and avoid making some common mistakes.

Using the right products for your hair type is important, but beautiful hair starts with a healthy foundation achieved by using the right cleansing techniques. As tempting as it can be to quickly shampoo, condition, and rinse, the truth is that taking the extra time to properly cleanse your hair can be worth it in the long run. To keep your hair looking its best, and your scalp healthy to promote hair growth, consider rethinking how you wash and condition your hair with these helpful tips.

Frequency

For best results and hair care, shampoo your hair every two to three days. If you have an oily scalp, then daily washing may be needed. On the other hand, sometimes people think that because they have a dry scalp or dandruff, they wash less frequently. However, in most cases, properly shampooing and conditioning your hair more often can be helpful.

Clean your hair while give attention to your scalp

You’re not just cleaning and conditioning your hair, you are preserving the health of your scalp and hair growth. In the steps below, you’ll see why it’s important to massage and exfoliate the scalp.

Using the right products

Choose a shampoo that helps care for your hair at its core. Your hair stylist can best recommend what is right for your needs and pH balance. Do you have color-treated hair? Is your hair is oily? Dry? Damaged? Do you need to use purple shampoo to keep your blonde hair its best shade and prevent yellowing? Do you need special products to not strip the keratin after getting a keratin treatment? Do you spend a lot of time in the sun and need UV-protectant/sunscreen to keep your hair from color change and dryness, and your scalp from burning and protect against skin cancer?

You should also consider using a shampoo and conditioner that helps build the foundation for your favorite hairstyles and looks. Yes, hairstyling starts in the shower! Do you want to enhance your naturally curly hair? If so, you can actually get better curl definition and bouncier strands, all while washing your hair. Also, you need to start with the right shampoo if you’re looking for beachy waves … major volume … or sleek, straight hair.

Step-by-Step Guide to 

Properly Shampoo & Condition Your Hair 

1.  Brush your dry hair thoroughly before getting it wet. This loosens the products in your hair in preparation for cleaning; it stimulates the scalp; and you can get out any tangles or knots.
2.  Saturate your hair with warm water. Before applying shampoo, make sure your hair is properly soaked by saturating it completely under lukewarm water for at least one full minute. This can help open the pores of your scalp and allow your hair and scalp to be more receptive to any products you apply.
3.  Shampoo. Shake the shampoo bottle well. Squeeze a dime or nickel size quantity into your hand; adjust the amount depending on your hair's length and thickness. Rub the product in your hands to emulsify and create lather (you may need to add a tiny bit of water). Distribute it evenly through your hair. 
4.  Massage your scalp in a circulation motion with your fingertips, not nails. This will stimulate the flow of blood to the follicle for hair growth. It also exfoliates the scalp, helps keep it healthy, and your pores free from skin eruptions, sebaceous cysts, etc. Be sure to massage all areas of your head, including the hairline at the neck and over your ears.
5.  Rinse and repeat, using half the amount of shampoo as the first time. Always shampoo twice: the first time you are removing surface dirt and styling products; the second shampoo will deeply cleanse. Both times, it is important to thoroughly rinse out all shampoo. Squeeze the hair with your hands while rinsing. The rinsing process is complete when your hair feels "squeaky" clean.
6.  Conditioning: Always use a conditioner. (If your hair is oily, you can apply it starting half-way down and to the ends, avoiding the scalp.) First, wring as much water out as you can. Blot with a towel if possible, so the conditioning product won't be diluted and your hair can better absorb the conditioner. Comb with a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles. Shake the bottle well and squeeze the conditioner into your hand, the size of a pea to the size of a nickel, depending on the length and thickness of the hair. Distribute well through your hair, concentrating on the ends. Comb through your hair with a wide-toothed comb or rake with your fingers. Leave the conditioner on your hair a minimum of 3-5 minutes. Use that time to lather up your body and/or shave your legs. Rinse with lukewarm water first, then with cool water to close the shaft and seal in moisture, which gives sheen to the hair.
7.  Towel-dry and apply products: Wet hair is in a fragile state, so avoid rubbing your hair vigorously or even moving your hair back and forth with the towel. Instead, gently remove excess moisture by blotting and squeezing with a towel. Apply leave-in conditioner first, then other styling products as necessary for your hair type and style such as mousse, gel, volumizer, and/or thermal styling protectant, then serum last. Serum serves as an anti-humidity defrizzer, sealing in moisture, and helps protect from the heat of your hairdryer and flat iron. When hair is wet, always use a wide-toothed comb, never a brush, which can cause breakage.

There you go – now you can shampoo like a pro and get that salon-gorgeous hair at home, too.

 

Fun in the sun and swimming season is here, so in our next blog post we will be offering tips on protecting your hair during the summer from damage caused by the sun, chlorine, and saltwater/perspiration. If you get keratin treatments, you’ll want to look for this article, as there will be a special section for you! Yes! Saltwater and chlorine will strip the keratin from your hair!

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PAT ALESSI - SALON 1580
10800 Alpharetta Hwy., Suite 240
Salon Lofts, Lofts #11 and #13, Roswell Market Place
Roswell, GA 30076
678-361-4247
pat@patalessihair.com
www.patalessihair.com

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Created by:
Susan Leonard, Communications Marketing Specialist, Writer, and Graphic Designer