One of the most common hair care rituals that you will perform several times per week is washing and conditioning your hair. Despite it being something that we do all the time, not everyone knows the best way to do it.
Follow these steps to create the perfect foundation for healthy, strong and beautiful hair.
Step 1 – Detangle before washing
Before stepping into the shower, brush through your hair whilst it is still dry. This step will reduce the chances of your hair knotting together whilst shampooing and make it easier to comb through after.
We recommend using a Tangle Teezer, which will detangle your hair with minimal stress to the hair.
Step 2 – Water temperature
We know how tempting it can be to use steamy hot water when having a shower, especially in the winter. But when soaking your hair it is important to turn the temperature down slightly.
We’re not saying that you should use cold water, warm is fine. Hot water will open up your hair cuticles (the surface of the hair) and when mixed with shampoo, it can; encourage tangling, lead to colour fading and cause dryness of hair and scalp.
Step 3 – Shampoo Application
When using a quality shampoo, you will usually only need 10 pence piece worth per application (depending on the length and thickness of your hair).
Distribute the shampoo evenly to the roots of your hair by spreading it through your hands first, then apply to your hair. Do not pour shampoo straight onto your head or apply the shampoo to one spot and then try spread it out.
If you find that the your shampoo is not lathering up, apply more water rather than more shampoo. If your hair doesn’t feel squeaky clean, you can always rinse the hair and repeat.
Step 4 – The Technique
Create a lather by gently massaging the roots of your hair and scalp with the flat pads of your fingers. Remember to message the whole of your scalp including the sides and around the nape. You can increase the pressure (according to your preference) as the shampoo starts to foam up.
The main goal of your shampoo is to remove excess sebum, product build up and dead skin cells from the scalp – So be firm but try not to scrub or scratch your scalp too hard.
You should never rub the strands of your hair together when shampooing as this will cause them to tangle. The lengths and ends of your hair do not need shampoo rubbed into them in order for them to be cleaned. You can simply spread the lather through the ends in a downwards motion and rinse to avoid tangling.
Step 5 – Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse all the shampoo from the hair with warm water. It is imperative that no shampoo residue remains in your hair and scalp because if there is, your hair and scalp act like a magnet and attract dirt and oil all over again.
Rinse for about 30 seconds to one minute or until you hear your hair squeak when you rub your finger to it.
Step 6 – Conditioning
Like with shampoo, you do not need a lot of product in order to properly condition your hair. Distribute your conditioner evenly throughout the hair by spreading the product through your hands first and then applying to the ends of your hair.
Depending on your hair type (and the conditioner you use), you may or may not want to work the conditioner through the hair until your reach your roots and scalp.
If you tend to get greasy hair we recommend that you either use a light conditioner or do not apply product near the roots.
If your scalp is dry needs conditioning, then massage the remnants of the conditioner on your palms to massage the scalp. A slow, firm massage will get the blood circulation in your head and stimulate hair follicles for better hair growth.
Step 6 – Towel Drying
Once you have finished rinsing the conditioner from your hair it is important to be gentle with your hair.
When removing the excess water from your hair, do not twist the hair to squeeze the water out; use your palms instead.
When towel drying, do not rub the hair together as this will cause tangling. Place the towel over your hair and press against the hair, allowing the towel to soak up the water without moving the hair too much
Step 6 – Detangling
Your hair is weakest when it’s wet so a soft bristled brush or a Tangle Teezer should be used to detangle as they wont rip or split your hair. Try to avoid using plastic or carbon combs (and if you do then make sure they have very wide teeth).
Most people start at the roots and work there way down but this can make tangles and knots worse. We recommend that you start detangling the ends of the hair first and working your way up to the root to minimise damage.
If your hair is particularly brittle, use a product like Moroccan Oil to soften it up when detangling.
You are now ready to style your hair
The post Washing your hair, are you doing it wrong? appeared first on The View Hair Advice Centre - Aveda Hairdressers Chislehurst.