Most people wash their hair several times a week and probably don't think much of it,
but it turns out, they may be doing it the wrong way.
If you've been suffering from consecutive bad hair days, your shampooing habits may
be the reason — but don't fret.
Here are some things to watch out for when you're taking care of those shiny locks.
Bottoms up
It's not easy to wash a head full of tangled hair, so most people brush it out before washing.
But according to Fernando Salas, brushing from top to bottom — the way most people
are taught — is actually not the right way to go about it.
He suggests adopting the "bottoms up" method, which is combing your hair in smaller pieces,
starting at the bottom and working your way up toward your scalp.
He explained,
"When you comb hair from the bottom up, you are working with less surface area to untangle
at one time.
Working in smaller sections like this is key.
When you try to comb from the top down, think of how much hair you are attempting to pull
a comb through at one time."
Hot water
According to hair expert Sophia Porter, when it comes to washing your hair, most women
need to cool it — literally.
She explained,
"Women should try their best to avoid using hot water while washing because this strips
the hair of its natural oils and fades color tremendously."
Stephanie Johnson of Fusion Studio in Dallas revealed that avoiding hot water is especially
important for women with color treated hair, saying,
"The more hot the water, the more nutrients and color will be compromised.
The cuticle is your protection, so protect it.
Hot water on fine, damaged, or compromised follicles will be more damaging to [the cuticle]
and hair.
Rinse conditioners in cooler temperatures."
However, you don't need to use cold water all the time.
Washing in warm water is best for getting the gunk out of your hair… but then cool
it down to rinse, sealing in moisture and adding shine.
Hair type
Different hair types can have different cleansing needs.
For oily hair, applying shampoo before wetting the hair can actually get rid of build up
more effectively.
Johnson said that paying attention to the condition of your scalp is also important
and it comes up with her clients all of the time.
She added,
"I just recently shared a tip with a lady who asked why her sensitive, dry, and flaky
scalp wasn't clearing up.
She was using clarifying shampoos that were adding to the problem and her scalp was out
of balance.
Professional products for your needs make a difference."
It's not just the condition of your hair and scalp, but also the length that should determine
how you wash your hair, according to celebrity hair stylist Brandon Martinez, who revealed,
"A big mistake most women make, especially when it comes to having long hair, is that
they are not using a leave-in detangler after they wash."
Color can be another factor.
Blondes especially need to pay attention to what shampoos they use and integrate a purple
shampoo into their routine to cut the brass and keep that ashy blonde color.
Wet hair
All wet hair is delicate, and treating it harshly can cause breakage as well as a multitude
of other problems.
Even if you don't have color-treated hair, Martinez is still a big proponent of the Wet
brush and explained that women with long hair especially need to take extra care when their
hair is wet.
He advised,
"Women [with long hair] must use a leave-in conditioner and then a Wet brush, to prevent
tangling.
[If they don't, it can] lead to excess hair being pulled out."
He also added that teenage girls especially need to use detangler because,
"...[They] are bad at brushing their hair out anyway.
Their hair is changing from child hair to adult hair, and I always find this hair easily
tangles."
Martinez also noted that putting your hair into a ponytail while it's wet is a major
no-no, since wet hair is extra heavy, causing unnecessary breakage and pulling.
Color care
Color-treated hair needs to be treated differently than regular hair.
It can also require different products and tools.
Martinez explained,
"Color-treated hair is extra sensitive to pulling which leads to breakage.
Using a really good leave in conditioner and a Wet [detangling] brush, which every woman
should have, will prevent breakage and unwanted tangling."
Johnson says that women with colored hair in particular need to make sure they are buying
the right products.
She has noticed that many women take the wrong approach, spending significant amounts of
money on getting their color done, then spending as little as possible on the products they
use.
It's just as important to invest in quality aftercare products.
Rinsing improperly
Rinsing might be the last step, but it's not the least important one.
Doug Martucci, creative director of PRORITUALS explained,
"A common hair myth is that you should rinse out all of the conditioner.
Never do this.
Rinsing all of the conditioner until your hair is squeaky clean is defeating the purpose
of the conditioner.
Conditioner provides slip and protection to the hair.
If you're worried about being greasy rinse the scalp well, and leave that slippery feeling
on the ends."
But when it comes to shampooing, the opposite is true.
You should always rinse it off completely.
Thanks for watching!
Click the List icon to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Plus, check out this other cool stuff we know you'll love too!