How To Shampoo and Condition Your Hair The Right Way
You might be wondering why we’ve dedicated an entire article to shampooing and conditioning: two simple actions that the entire world partake in (or, at least, we hope they do). And while we do agree that the actions are simple, we’ve also discovered that the majority aren’t doing it the right way.
But do not fret! We’ve broken down all your confusions around how much, how often, how to, into 6 simple, easily replicable steps. And what you'll find is that this method is even simpler than what you’ve been doing before. Even better, swapping your old routine for this one will give you stronger, healthier, and more voluminous hair. We promise!
How frequently should you wash your hair?
Answer: Less Is More! The first and most important step covers the most damaging mistake that people have been making: overwashing their hair.
Maybe you’re someone with an oily scalp, under the assumption that washing it every day is your only solution. Or maybe you think you’re doing your hair justice by washing it 4 or 5 days a
week, rather than everyday, because you once heard that washing your hair everyday isn’t healthy.
Well, what you heard is right. But unfortunately, 4 days a week is also too much. Your aim should be to wash your hair 2 or 3 times a week at the most. According to Dr. Hootan Zandifar, world renowned MD and Hair Transplant Surgeon, 2-3 times a week is adequate for both men and women. However, “men are more likely to wet their hair daily, so if they can’t resist using products on their hair every day, then they can alternate between shampooing and conditioning daily.”
Washing your hair too often can strip your hair of its natural oils, leading to coarse and brittle hair. Overwashing your hair also causes an imbalance in the microbiome of your scalp, which can ultimately lead to issues such as inflammation, flakiness, and irritation. Overwashing your hair can also disrupt the pH balance of your hair, which would otherwise balance on its own if left alone.
Think of your hair fibers as strands of precious wool. It’s common sense that overwashing a wool sweater will cause damage to the shaft of the wool fibers due to the harshness of the detergents.
This is why the rule of thumb to keep in mind when washing your hair is: less is more. Less washing brings more health to your hair!
What kind of Shampoo & Conditioner should you use?
Answer: Choose a Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, pH Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner. While shampoos and conditioners are created to cleanse, condition, and nourish the hair, many of them do the exact opposite. Unfortunately, the most commonly available products contain harsh chemicals that dry and harm the hair.
According to world renowned Hair Transplant surgeon, Dr. Hootan Zandifar, parabens are harmful ingredients due to the fact that they are easily absorbed through the scalp. This leads to a wide range of issues, ranging from dryness and irritation to hair loss. He recommends using shampoos and conditioners that are rich in conditioning ingredients, gentle enough for frequent use, and have premium phytoactive ingredients which may also help support hair strength and health.
Dr. Zandifar claims, “it’s very important to use a gentle, PH balancing paraben free shampoo, especially if you are going to shampoo your hair and scalp more than 3 times a week.”
Unfortunately, many products do not take your hair pH into consideration. Maintaining the pH of your hair is crucial as it helps to seal your cuticles and prevent any damage, while also maintaining the moisture levels of your hair.
How to Shampoo?
Answer: Apply shampoo on scalp and work your way out! You may have grown accustomed to putting shampoo all over your hair, assuming that this is what you need to do to get it nice and clean.
The truth is, you should FIRST be applying shampoo to your scalp, and then gently building up a lather to cover your entire hair. This is because your roots are often the oiliest, whereas the ends of your hair are older and more dry. Since the purpose of shampooing is to clean your hair and remove any excess oil, it is recommended to place it directly on the oiliest parts (the scalp) and gently lather over the rest of your hair (the mid-section and ends). This way, you will avoid drying out your ends even more!
Begin by applying shampoo to the palm of your hand, and mixing it with a little water directly on your palm. By doing so, you’ll begin activating the product before placing it on your scalp. Place the product on your hair and add a tiny bit more water (if necessary) to begin working up a lather.
How much shampoo should you be using?
Answer: This depends on your hair texture and length. Most experts agree that the shampoo should be roughly the size of a quarter for short or medium length hair, not more. If you have longer hair than that, then you will need slightly more product, but the general consensus is that two teaspoons full of product should suffice for longer hair lengths.
So start with less, then slowly add if you need more.
And the same goes for conditioners as well. 1-2 quarter size dollops will work for most.
This is actually great news, as it helps you save up on the product, and consequently your spending!
What’s the right technique for shampooing?
Answer: Use Gentle Pressure to Massage Scalp, Then Rinse. After building up a lather with your shampoo, apply gentle pressure to massage your scalp. Scalp massages are incredible for increasing blood circulation to your hair follicles, thereby improving the strength and nourishment of your hair.
How to apply conditioner?
Answer : Apply Conditioner to Ends and work your way in.
It’s this simple but it’s totally crazy how many of us don’t know that conditioning is for our dry ends! Apply the conditioner to your ends first, then gently work up the strands of your hair, lightly skimming over the hair as you get closer to your scalp and roots.
According to Dr. Zandifar, “Conditioners are used to help combat frizziness, dryness, and to provide some form of protection against heat. Since the ends are more dry and damaged, they require most of the conditioning and strengthening benefits of the conditioner.” On the other hand, the hair on the scalp is usually the most conditioned (due to the natural oils found on our heads), so they require the least amount of conditioning.
Leave Conditioner On for 1-2 minutes, then rinse!
Leave the conditioner on for approximately two minutes as you continue to massage your hair. You can also leave it on for longer, if you have the time, although that isn’t necessary (we would definitely recommend rocking out to some tunes if you do!).
HairSmart Insider Tip: Use slightly cooler water for the last and final rinse to lock in the moisture and shine, for extra lustrous hair!
How to dry your hair?
Answer: Gently Towel Dry. If you’re in a rush, you may be tempted to attack your hair with your towel to dry it up ASAP. Rough towel drying can be extremely damaging to the hair, so we would definitely recommend gently wiping your hair with your towel.
If you need to use a blowdryer, try to set it at the lowest heat setting and move it as far away as possible from your head.
Important Steps for Healthy, Voluminous Hair
As you can probably tell, there are many misconceptions when it comes to shampooing and conditioning that can be extremely damaging to your hair. You may have been inadvertently harming your hair without even knowing it.
But here’s the best part: these simple steps, along with the right products, will help you minimize hair fall and damage, and strengthen your hair overtime. And to make matters even better, you will end up saving money by avoiding any product wastage.
The main takeaway here is this: choose the right products, follow these steps, and always remember that less is more. Your hair will definitely thank you for this.
Happy washing!