By Mashum Mollah
You’ve washed your hair multiple times weekly since you were a baby. But has anyone ever taught you how to properly wash your hair so that it’s healthy and protected? For most people, the answer is no. So, we’re going to set the record straight.
Additionally, even with the right hair-washing technique, you can still lack shine. Know why this is in this article as you learn more about caring for your hair.
4 Right Way to Wash Your Hair
At first, you might assume that everyone washes their hair like you. But if you discuss this with a group, you’ll learn that we all have unique approaches.
While there are various techniques, we know that washing your hair plays an important role in your overall health, hygiene, and appearance.
Here are some suggestions to help you get better results:
1. Stick to an Appropriate Schedule
There’s a growing “No Poo” trend among millennials, where people only wash their hair every few days or weeks. The theory is that shampoo is harsh for the hair and does more harm than good. But before buying into this movement, consider why we wash our hair in the first place.
“Sebum, which is nature’s hair conditioner, is constantly secreted out of the scalp and onto the hair, and it will build-up without washing.
This can leave the hair looking and feeling oily, but worse still, this sebum can act as a food source for microfauna whose action can lead to dandruff and, in extreme cases, can cause hair loss,” Katie Becker writes for Allure.
“In addition, product build-up residue from conditioning and styling ingredients will also occur without washing, which collectively can dull the hair and weigh it down.”
In other words, regularly washing your hair with shampoo serves a purpose – it’s not just a marketing gimmick. The key, however, is to use the right kind of shampoo for your scalp.
For example, a DHT blocking shampoo could be useful if you’re balding. If you have super oily hair, you might need an oil-zapping shampoo. Pick the right kind for your needs and wash between two and five times weekly.
3. Ensure the Right Water Temperature
It’s important to consider the temperature of the water when washing your hair. It should be warm, but not too hot.
According to the experts, “You need a temperature high enough to deep cleans dirt and grime in your hair, but not so high that it causes irritation. The perfect temperature to wash your hair in is around 100°F – which is just above normal body temperature.”
Since most people tend to shower with water that’s hotter than 100°F, you may need to dial the temperature back a few notches when washing your hair. Then, you can put it back in a more comfortable setting for the remainder of your shower.
3. Use These Washing Techniques
Your type of hair will dictate how you wash, but here are some useful suggestions:
- Brush your hair before getting in the shower. This helps detangle stubborn knots that could prevent you from getting the best wash possible.
- Properly soak your hair for at least one minute prior to applying shampoo.
- The first application of shampoo is to scrub the scalp and remove dirt, grime, or flakes. A second application can then focus on the long strands of hair.
- Start at the back of your scalp and work forward (using your fingertips to gently massage the scalp).
- When rinsing, part your hair to allow the water to penetrate different parts of the scalp. Rotate your head and neck to ensure the water can access every part of your hair.
For the best result, leave your conditioner in for at least five minutes but no longer than seven minutes. This gives the conditioner a chance to work into the hair (without causing residual build-up).
4. Use These Drying Tips
Hair should be gently towel-dried. And if you plan to use a heat tool – like a straightener – your hair must be completely dry. Even slightly damp hair can become damaged with premature heat application.
The Right Shampoo for Your Hair
If you follow the right techniques to wash your hair, you might still lack shiny hair. You are not using the right shampoo for your hair, causing more damage.
Your hair type might differ from mine and others, so can one shampoo be right for everyone? So, you need a shampoo that suits your hair type. Let’s know what type of shampoos suits specific hair types.
Clarifying Shampoo
You need clarifying shampoo if you have a fine hair texture that you can barely feel on your fingertips. This type of shampoo cleans your hair gently without damaging it.
Since your hair is so fine and light, you need gentle shampoo to clean your hair, which clarifying shampoo provides.
Additionally, if you have bleached your hair, use clarifying shampoo to wash it. These gentle shampoos help clean your hair and decrease damage in your bleached hair.
Moisturizing Shampoo
Do you have rough and thick hair? Then, you require a moisturizing shampoo for your coarse and dry hair. Since your hair is thick, gentle shampoo won’t be able to clean it properly.
On the other hand, your moisturizing shampoo’s formulation helps them clean and add moisture to your thick hair. This helps your hair moisturize and lose the dryness.
Color-Protectant Shampoo
Did you color your hair? Then, you might want to stop using your ordinary shampoo for now.
When your hair is colored, you require color-protectant shampoo to wash your hair. These shampoos have different formulations that do not wash off your hair color.
Let Your Hair Sparkle and Shine
You’ll have to determine which approach works best for your hair.
But if nothing else, leveraging these suggestions and techniques will allow you to bring your hair to life in new and beautiful ways.
As a result, you’ll enjoy greater confidence and strength.
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