How to Properly Wash Your Hair: A Guide
A hair wash is more than just cleaning the hair – it helps to rejuvenate and makes you feel fresh too. It seems almost impossible to think that there are right and wrong ways of doing it. But there are recommendations on how to wash hair with shampoo and conditioner, which we will discuss in detail.
Why is regular wash necessary?
As mentioned, regular wash doesn’t mean you have to wash your hair on a daily basis. Stick to the routine of doing it 2 to 3 times a week!
Sweaty head
When you work out, you automatically begin to sweat. The first place you sweat is your scalp and hair and according to doctors, it isn’t wise to leave your hair unwashed. Sweat contains lactic acid that leads to hair loss. It contains DHT, which leads to calcification in the scalp and prevents normal flow of blood towards your follicles.
Using cosmetics
If you are a stage performer or a party lover or whatever may your reason be, and you love to add a little gel to your hair or other hair cosmetics, please make it a point to wash your hair before going to sleep. The thing with hair cosmetics and gels is that they gently seep into your scalp while sleeping and block the skin pores. Moreover, it is advisable to stay away from too many cosmetics. Try to keep things natural as your hair can look fabulous without cosmetics too.
Getting rid of scalp sebum buildup
Does your hair get too greasy throughout the day? This is due to scalp sebum, which is the natural oil secreted from the skin. It can damage the hair significantly if it stays for a long time on your scalp. High levels of sebum could also mean that the liver doesn’t have enough co-enzymes. So make sure you wash properly to get rid of it.
Removing dead skin cells
Shampooing removes dead skin cells that would otherwise clump up and fall off (also known as dandruff). It is true for some that shampooing too often can lead to a dry scalp, causing dandruff, but if your scalp is feeling itchy, washing your hair can help to remove those dead, uncomfortable cells and clear flakes.
Living in humid climates
Just like those who sweat every day at the gym, living in a humid climate can lead to an excess buildup of oil on the scalp. Washing consistently can keep your hair fungus- and dandruff-free. If you feel the need to do so, you can wash up to 4 times a week, but that isn’t recommended as it can lead to over drying of the scalp.
Here are the steps to wash your hair
- Before taking a shower, take a wide toothed comb and run it gently through your hair. This is necessary so you can get rid of tangles and messes, while helping to keep away from hair shafts when it is dry.
- Wet your hair using warm water, pour some shampoo and slowly massage your hair with it. The shampoo should be worked throughout the length of your hair, so take your time.
- Rinse hair with cold water and keep stroking the hair in the downward direction.
- You will definitely need to condition the air. As instructed by beauty experts, it should be applied only on the tips of your hair.
- Slowly apply the conditioner and let it remain for 5 minutes. This is important for strengthening the cuticles of your hair and preventing it from looking limp and lifeless.
- Wash off the conditioner and use a towel to blot your hair.
- Make sure to treat your wet hair gently – it stops the hair from getting damaged or weak.
- Don’t blow dry your hair, as the heat breaks the structure of hair follicles, so your hair becomes rough, dry, and prone to even more damage. Let your hair dry naturally. Blow drying should only be looked upon as a last resort.
Tips to remember while washing your hair
Detangle hair properly
Don’t forget to detangle your hair before or during shampooing before washing your hair. Detangling before shampooing can ease the hair knots. It is even harder to detangle your hair when it is wet. Wet hair is weak and more fragile. You can try to detangle by dividing your hair into four sections.
Oil your hair well before shampooing
Our grandmas were not wrong when they instructed us to apply oil before every hair wash. Always apply and massage hair oil to your scalp and hair 2-3 hours before you plan to wash your hair. You can use coconut, olive or mustard oil. Shampoos contain harsh ingredients which can strip essential oils from your hair strands and oiling helps to fight this problem.
Wet your hair well
Make sure that you rinse your hair thoroughly with water before shampooing. Shampoo lathers better on wet hair and spreads evenly. You will also require lesser shampoo to wash your hair if the hair is properly wetted beforehand.
Rinse with warm water first
Rinse your hair first with lukewarm water, because it helps to loosen excess oil and open up pores, so the shampoo penetrates deeper. All the dirt and oil is swiftly removed, while the cuticles are now open and can absorb the oil and moisturizing effects of the conditioner better.
Don’t apply shampoo directly to hair
It is advisable not to use shampoo directly on the scalp; mix with some water instead, so the shampoo can spread even throughout the scalp. Just drop a small amount on your palm, mix with water and start lathering. Moreover, this process ensures you don’t use more shampoo than necessary.
Refrain from abrasive washing
You should lather from the roots onto the ends of your hair, all the while gently washing your hair with your fingers and palms. Never scrub the scalp with your nails as that can cause abrasions and attract infections. Moreover, there are loads of bacteria under the human nail, so you could be infecting your scalp with those. The scraping, yanking, and tearing could also cause hair loss. If you need a good massage to feel clean, use your fingertips and not the nails. Hair is at its most vulnerable when it is wet; therefore using back and forth or circular action to wash your scalp can cause tangles, breakage or weaken the follicles.
Don’t forget about the ends
It is necessary to moisturize the scalp, but it doesn’t mean you neglect the ends of your hair where a lot of breakage happens. Start with the ends and condition your way up so your tips have more time to soak up the moisture they need.
You don’t have to shampoo twice before applying conditioner
Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to shampoo twice before conditioning. Washing twice will strip your hair of its natural oils which adversely affects the growth of your hair and trigger damage. Unless you have oiled your hair beforehand and feel like the oil isn’t washing off, there is no need to wash twice.
Never apply conditioner on the scalp
If you make the mistake of applying conditioner on the scalp, it makes your roots oilier than they naturally are. It is your hair that requires the most hydration, so it should be conditioned from the mid until the ends. Remember the ends are the driest and require extra moisturizing, so apply more conditioner at the ends and leave it on for longer.
Wash off the conditioner with water
Use cool running water to wash off the conditioner. The cold water helps close the cuticles and retain moisture. This will ensure that your hair doesn’t absorb more moisture from the environment and turn frizzy.
Make sure you rinse well
Saving water with a quick shower is fine, but it is crucial that you take enough time to rinse your hair thoroughly. If you aren’t spending a moment under the faucet, you could be leaving a lot of buildup. Over time, that residue can cause dandruff- the itchy, scaly, flaky grossness that leaves gunk under your nails when you scratch it. Take your time and make sure all the shampoo and conditioner is washed off.
Don’t overdo with shampoo and conditioner
You don’t have to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner every day. Your scalp needs to maintain a healthy balance of natural oils, so stripping those will dry out the scalp. Washing 2 to 3 times a week is sufficient.
Avoid rubbing harshly
Always prefer to towel dry your hair, when not in a hurry. But, don’t be harsh while rubbing your hair with a towel. This can cause severe damage and make your hair look very dull. In fact, try squeezing out the excess water gently or leave it to dry on its own.
Structure a wash routine using shampoo and conditioner depending on your hair type and the other aspects mentioned here, so you can maintain healthy hair.