Are You Washing Your Hair Correctly?

Cleaning your hair and scalp sounds easy enough, right? As a Hairstylist and Trichologist, I've done extensive research on this topic. I am compiling a cheat sheet here on the good ole' blog so that you can reference back next time you lather up!

Brush Your Hair Before Washing

Brushing your dry hair all the way through and removing tangles before-hand helps the shampoo and conditioner apply much easier. Hair is prone to breakage when it is wet, so removing tangles is important.

Is Your Hair Wet Enough?

Wet your hair thoroughly, rinsing it for a few minutes before even applying shampoo. If you start applying shampoo and it feels like it's disappearing, add more water to your hair compared to more shampoo. When it's been a while since your hair has been exposed to moisture, it takes some additional work to bring the moisture back in.

Shampoo TWICE

The first time you shampoo your hair, it is cleansing the scalp and opening the cuticle. Rinse the hair and apply shampoo again in order for the shampoo to do what it claims (volumizing, moisturizing, etc.) That second shampoo will be a lot foamier, and you'll find that your hair and scalp overall will feel much cleaner using this method!

Get In There!

This may sound like a no-brainer, but you've got to massage that scalp all over! If your hair is super thick, you can even gently section the hair in half so that the middle section of your scalp gets cleansed thoroughly. Shampooing twice will also make this process a lot easier.

How to Apply Conditioner

If your conditioner is specifically formulated for hair AND scalp, it will say that on the bottle. I love using these types of conditioners for clients with scalp problems. Other conditioners will say "apply to ends." This means to avoid the scalp. When applying to ends, I like to make sure it's ALL of the ends, including shorter breakage pieces and short hairs around the face. I apply conditioner to my ends in the shower, and then I tip my head over and squish the conditioner up into all of my ends. This helps to make sure my ends are covered while avoiding the scalp.

Rinse With Cool Water

Stay with me, I know it sucks. The final rinse off of conditioner should be with cooler water to help close/seal the cuticle on the hair. Cool water also will make your hair so much shinier! It's worth it, trust me.

Struggle with Back Acne? (Bacne)

This one may shock you. If you're prone to bacne, it may be your conditioner! Hair conditioner can clog your pores, so be sure to wash your back with your body wash to remove conditioner residue.

The Science Behind Needing to Use a Leave-In Conditioner

Again, stick with me on this. When you get out of the shower, the last thing to touch your hair is water. Water has a pH of 7. The pH of our hair, skin, and nails is 4.5-5.5. To bring the pH of our hair back down, the leave-in conditioner is essential. When our pH is set correctly, our hair is in the best condition. Using a leave-in conditioner also helps with detangling which is of course, a perk!

Did you learn something new that you want to try? Comment below! As always, let me know what you'd like to read about next. Hope this was helpful! If you're looking for more help, schedule an appointment with me at Magnolia Beauty Studio or Springfield Trichology Clinic. Follow on Instagram or Facebook and shoot me a message!

-Sam, Cosmetologist/Trichologist