Here’s How to Properly Wash Your Hair—Yes, There’s an Actual Way
Washing your hair sounds simple, right?
But there's a good chance you actually might be doing things incorrectly or missing a few steps. Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type is obviously a good start, but there are specific techniques and tricks to getting the most out of your wash sessions.
Below, we're breaking down how to properly wash your hair so it looks and feels its best.
1. Brush Your Hair Before You Get in the Shower
To get the most out of your wash, it's important to start with the best canvas, and that includes tangle-free strands. We suggest using a paddle brush or wide tooth comb to get rid of any knots. This also helps prevent breakage and stimulates the scalp, which promotes healthy hair growth.
Completely Wet Your Hair Before Adding Product
Soaking your strands for at least a minute prior to adding shampoo is key. Lukewarm water can help open the pores of your scalp and allow it to be more receptive to any products you apply. This is a super easy step that's commonly overlooked, but really helps with scalp and hair health.
Add Water to Shampoo to Lather
You don't need a ton of shampoo to properly wash your scalp. In fact, about a nickel to quarter size amount will do the trick. You slowly need to add in water to build up a lather to massage into the scalp. Also, make sure to leave out your ends when shampooing instead of shampooing your entire head.
Massage in Circular Motions
If you think about washing your hair as a bit of a massage instead, you might enjoy the process more. Massaging the scalp in circular motions—always with the pads of your fingers and never your sharp fingernails—is great for relaxation and also helps stimulate hair growth.
Slow Down Conditioning
Whether you prefer to use conditioner or a hair mask, make sure you're leaving on your product for enough time. It's tempting to slap on your conditioner and rinse out quickly, but in order for your strands to really absorb the product, try and leave on for at least five minutes before rinsing.
Cold Rinse
It's tempting to turn up the heat in the shower, especially during the cooler months, but warm water opens the follicles, which makes the hair more susceptible to breakage and damage. To prevent that from happening and close the cuticles, rinse out your conditioner with cool water. You'll notice healthier, shinier hair, too.
Use a Microfiber Hair Towel
Did you know that a typical terry cloth towel could be the reason for your dry and broken-off ends? A microfiber hair towel is much more gentle and doesn't tug on your fine face-framing strands. It also absorbs water better, allowing the hair to dry faster—double win!
Don't Apply Leave-In Products to Soaking Wet Hair
If you use leave-in conditioner or hair oil, both should be applied to halfway dried hair for better absorption. The hair won't absorb the product when applied super wet, so for the best results wait until your hair is at least 40% of the way dry.
And while we're talking about hair, click HERE to find out if you're using the right brush for your hair type!