So, you know how to wash your own hair right? After all, it’s pretty straightforward isn’t it?
It might surprise you that over 50% of salon clientele are not shampooing their hair correctly. Which leads me to ask, is your in-shower technique helping you reach your hair's full potential, or is it actually hindering you?
1, Double Shampoo Personally, I'm a big believer in the double shampoo, most people don't actually get their hair truly clean when they wash it, so it ends up covered in a sort of film which leads to dullness and lack of shine over time. By shampooing twice you have a first wash, to remove excess dirt and grime, and then a second wash to really get in there and remove excess oil. The main mistake made is using too much shampoo in the first place, adding more and more when we find we don't build up a sufficient lather. Did you know- Most salon quality shampoo’s will not build up to a foamy consistency like a supermarket shampoo. The reason being dish washing liquid and similar detergents are one of the top ingredients in a supermarket shampoo, you will never find such products in a good quality shampoo. Washing twice does not actually mean using more product - if anything you'll find you use even less.
2, When it comes to conditioner use your hair as a guide. Those with very fine hair might not like to use any conditioner at all, though if that's the case, always have a good leave in on hand, whilst others will prefer to apply all over in the case of particularly dry or coarse hair-Massive NO, NO! (check out number 3) Really wringing out the hair before you apply conditioner really helps too, because excess water will only dilute the product.
3, The three most common conditioner mistakes CONDITIONER MISTAKE #1: You don’t understand what conditioner does “What does conditioner do?” We are almost certain this question has popped into your head once or twice. The purpose of conditioner is to restore hydration to your strands particularly your ends, which tend to get the driest as well as smooth your mane. Whether you have colour-treated hair, frizzy hair, or find yourself heat styling your locks often, using a conditioner is a must for everyone. Seriously!
CONDITIONER MISTAKE #2: YOU USE WAY TOO MUCH OF IT Before you go squirting half a bottle of conditioner into your hands to slather on post-shampooing, hear me out: When it comes to conditioner, less is definitely more—especially if you have FINE HAIR. When you use too much, this can potentially make your hair look weighed down. A good rule of thumb is to use one or two quarter-sized dollops of conditioner, depending on the thickness and length of your hair.
CONDITIONER MISTAKE #3: YOU PUT IT ON YOUR ROOTS Hold it right there! Do not put conditioner on your roots at all, do not even think about doing it. There is just no need. Apply conditioner only where it is needed the most i.e. your mid-lengths to your ends since this part of your hair tends to be drier. Also, for most hair types, applying conditioner at the roots can weigh down your hair and even cause your roots to appear greasy right after you’ve washed them (I think a lot of you will be having a little light bulb moment after reading this). To avoid both dilemmas, it’s best to only apply conditioner on your lengths and ends. Which leads me now to one of my favourite sayings-
4, Shampoo the scalp not the hair, condition the hair not the scalp. Product Placement my honeys, this will make or break you! The first shampoo won't create much lather as its just cleansing away all of that grime and build-up. Simply just squirt the product into your hands, rub them together and run through the roots and scalp giving it a good scrubbing as you go. I call it external cleansing. Then the second shampoo is your opportunity to really get it right into the roots and create a proper lather. We know that your time is precious. But if you apply your conditioner only to rinse it off immediately, you may not be reaping all its benefits. Typically, you would want to leave conditioner on for the amount of time listed in the directions on the packaging, which is usually between one and three minutes, just enough time to wash your face.
5, Stop leaving residue behind When using hair conditioner, make certain that you rinse it out completely before you turn the shower faucet off. Leaving conditioner residue behind is all too common, and it can weigh your strands down and make them appear greasy and dirty. Since conditioning is often the last in-shower hair care step, take an extra few seconds to make sure you’ve rinsed all of it out completely.
6, DO NOT BUY YOUR HAIRCARE WHERE YOU BUY YOUR GROCERIES. It's all about using the right products. Work with your stylist and find something that suits your hair type. A lot of people have some kind of hair dysmorphia and think their hair is a lot drier than it actually is, so they overcompensate with products too rich for them and that just causes build-up, whereas if you use a lighter shampoo and conditioner, you'll get better results. Just as your skin can benefit from introducing new products into your regular routine, so can your hair. If you have been devoted to the same conditioner formula since middle school, it’s time to give something else a try.
7, USE HAIR MASKS Swapping out your regular conditioner for a hair mask once or twice a week is the best damn decision you will ever make, especially if your hair is dry or damaged, or just feels like it needs a little extra love. PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION- I asked the girls what they’re loving at the moment and here are their fav’s Manager and Senior Stylist- Lauren Pender Lakme Teknia- Deep Care and Organic Balance Senior Stylist- Lauren Wheatley Lakme Teknia- Deep Care or Evo Hair- Protein Emerging Stylist- Liz Hensby Lakme Teknia- Deep Care and Frizz Control Apprentice Stylist- Sarah Woodger Lakme Teknia- Organic Balance
8, Don’t wash your hair every day. Washing your hair too often is drying and damaging. Daily washing is particularly bad for longer hair, for shorter hair, however overall, washing your hair too often will strip the hair of its natural oils and can dull hair colour. As a general rule most stylist’s will recommend to wash your hair every 2-3 days. Brunette and more Asian hair types tend to get greasy quite quickly and need to be washed more often whereas coloured, over processed or textured hair tends to be a lot drier and can last longer in between washes for example- Once a week. If you've fallen into the cycle of daily washing it may take some time to adjust to a lengthier in-between periods, as your hair oil glands are likely to be overstimulated, creating 'oily hair' (meaning you weren’t dealt oily hair, you created it) But if you can manage to stick it out, your hair will reset and you'll find you can go longer between washes without the greasy feeling
9, Don’t be reliant on dry shampoo You must always remember our scalp is an extension of our face and, if left unwashed for too long, bacteria can build up. Dry shampoo is ok to use consecutively on your non-wash days for 3-4 days If the dry shampoo is lightweight enough. After a few days, product will start to build up and need be washed. Too much product build-up can start to irritate the scalp. It is for this reason that Stylist’s warn against using too much during application. Only use it where it is needed- at the roots, around the crown and through the fringe area.
HOT TIP- Make sure you hold the can at least 30cm away from your hair and start off with a few light mists and work in. I think a lot of people have the tendency to use more than needed, and it can have the opposite effect of making hair look greasy and feel heavy
10, And finally, comforting words on the biggest hair-washing worry of all. If you find a fair bit of hair in your plug-hole after washing, don't worry too much, Unless it really is very excessive in volume, or if you're finding patches on your scalp where you've lost a lot of hair. It's perfectly normal to shed some hair when you wash it. In fact on average you lose 100 hairs a day.
I am going to leave you with a step by step guide on how to wash your hair for optimum results and please take a moment to read prior blogs like ‘Recommendations from a Hairstylist’ and ‘Lakme Teknia’ For more product info. All products are available for purchase in salon or online.
With Love Morgan Drew
Step-by-Step Instructions on how to best wash your hair for optimal results-
Preparation: Comb residual styling products out of your hair.
Shampoo: See whether you are using the proper shampoo for your hair type. Is your hair fine, dry, oily or did you see some dandruff flakes lately?
Water – Part 1: Dampen your hair with lukewarm water.
The Amount: A 2cm dollop of shampoo. Adjust this amount accordingly if you wear your hair long. Distribute the shampoo through your hair.
Shampooing: Foam up the dollop of shampoo with a little water before massaging the foaming shampoo over the scalp with circulating movements. Be sure not to scratch your scalp with your fingernails.
Water – Part 2: Completely rinse the shampoo out of your hair using clear water. It is important to thoroughly rinse out all shampoo. Squeeze the hair with your hands during the rinse. The rinse is completely when your hair feels "squeaky" clean. REPEAT
Water – Part 3: Rinse your hair and scalp with cool water, which feels exhilarating and stimulates the blood circulation. Condition: Condition your hair with a 50c coin size dollop, adjust according to length/thickness and provide your hair with lustre and improved manageability. Hair treatments repair porous hair shafts and should be used once a week after shampooing for damaged or dry hair. The hair treatment replaces the conditioning.
Water – Part 4: Rinse out the extra care products using lukewarm water until the hair is squeaky clean.
Hair Drying: Wet hair is very sensitive, and you should therefore abstain from towelling or rubbing it dry. Instead, simply press a towel on your hair. The towel will absorb excess water without moving it back and forth and damaging your hair in the process.
Combing: Comb and detangle your still wet or damp hair tenderly without using any force. You may otherwise damage the freshly washed and still sensitive hair.
