Let’s start with a short test. Answer yourself two questions: Is the amount of shampoo you use more than a teaspoon? Do you apply the shampoo directly to your hair and scalp without adding water or lathering it in your hands? If you answered yes to both questions, congratulations, you are washing your hair wrong. In this material, we will analyze the basic mistakes that most of us make (but no longer do).
Mistake #1: Applying shampoo to hair that is not wet enough
The shampoo should be applied to damp, even wet hair. Before lathering the product in your hand, make sure that the water reaches every part of the scalp and hair. To do this, some people just need to stay in the shower for a few seconds, and some (especially those with thick and long hair) for a minute. When you are completely sure that your hair is wet from root to tip, you can move on to shampoo.
Mistake #2: Using too much shampoo
Most people have no idea how much shampoo they should use when washing their hair. As a rule, everything happens intuitively, and if a person does not get the desired foam, he adds even more product. But foam is definitely not an indicator of the ideal amount. Most often, sulfate-free shampoos do not produce as thick a foam as sulfate products. You can focus on the volume of one teaspoon. As a rule, one teaspoon of shampoo is enough for medium-length hair. Accordingly, if the hair is thicker and longer, the amount can be increased.
Mistake #3: Applying shampoo directly to your hair
Therefore, before applying the shampoo to your head, you need to lather it in your palms with a small amount of water. In this case, there is a chance that the resulting mixture will be evenly distributed on the scalp. Yes, especially the scalp, because the shampoo must first wash the hair roots. They get the dirtiest. Moreover, the shampoo does not need to be applied along the entire length of the hair – there will be enough foam on the remaining strands that will flow down them when the product is washed.
Mistake No. 4. Ignoring the existence of an air conditioner
Giving up conditioner will really save you those three minutes that you could spend on something more important, but your hair won’t thank you for it. This product not only makes the strands manageable and soft, but also protects them from the aggressive effects of the external environment. Conditioner closes the cuticle scales, making the hair denser, more elastic and smoother.
To increase the effectiveness of the product, remove excess water from your hair before applying. This will allow the conditioner to absorb and do what it is supposed to do. And unlike shampoo, it cannot be applied to the scalp. Conditioner is only used on the bottom two-thirds of the hair to avoid weighing it down.
Mistake #5: Damaging your hair while it’s wet
Hair is very fragile when wet, so it should be handled with care. For example, do not rub it together with a towel, comb it, or blow dry it until it dries on its own. Use a microfiber towel or turban to remove excess water. This is a softer material that does not damage the hair.
Source: People Talk
I’m Roger Gritton, and I’ve been writing for the The Fashion Vibes for over 5 years now. My specialty is beauty news; I’m passionate about covering the latest trends, products, and innovations in the industry. In my time there, I’ve become known as an authority on all things beauty-related.
I love discovering new experts to interview, researching up-and-coming ingredients and techniques that are making their way onto our beauty shelves and highlighting people who are making a difference in the world of cosmetics. My work has appeared not only on The Fashion Vibes, but also several other publications including the New York Times Magazine, Allure Magazine and Refinery29.
