Washing Your Hair Tips & Tricks

Dec 24, 2010

Yasmin K.

I'm shocked by the amount of women (and even men) who don't know how to wash their hair properly. As I've stated before, hair is made up of dead cells. Proper nutrition will help your hair grow out healthy and shiny. Proper washing will help keep the hair from splitting and in some cases even get rid of dandruff.

Every single skin cell dies and sheds. Some dandruff cases is the result of poor washing. Some cases - the more extreme - does require special medicated shampoo but most often than not it's just a matter of washing your scalp and hair properly that will clear up the matter.

Here are my tips and tricks on washing your hair properly.

Start with wetting your hair with lukewarm water. You should never wash your hair (or body) in very hot water. The warmth of the water should be relaxing but not scalding. This not only dries out your hair by causing the cuticles to open but your pores will also open and if you don't moisturize after a shower/bath you could end up with dry skin.

Once your hair is wet take a small amount of shampoo - of your choice - and lather it your hands. Apply the shampoo to your scalp and with your fingertip pads massage the shampoo into your scalp. Use both hands and all fingers to massage the shampoo over your scalp. This will help remove dead skin cells on your scalp plus it gives you a nice little massage. Rinse and repeat but this time you want to wash the hair itself.

As you wash your hair you don't want to twist your hair which can lead to knots in your hair. Keep a large tooth comb (typically called a "rake comb" and comb it through your hair GENTLY. Do not tug or pull it since you don't want to stretch the hair which results in breakage and even frizz. Once you've washed your hair you need to rinse your hair thoroughly and remove all the shampoo. Leaving shampoo in your hair and on your scalp can also lead to dull looking hair, dandruff and hair that is too weighed down with product.

Once you rinse your hair of shampoo it's time for the conditioner. There are various conditioners out there but the method is basically the same as washing your hair. Don't apply conditioner to your scalp, there's no need, but do apply it to your hair and use the rake comb to distribute it. Either rinse off immediately OR leave-in according to directions. Make sure you rinse it out completely because if the product is not meant to be left in then you make see your hair weighed down, dull looking or even feel oily.

Just a few reminders:
* Don't wash your hair (or body) in excessive hot water. You don't want to dry out your hair or skin.

* Don't twist your hair when washing, conditioning or even drying your hair.

* Don't use a brush or narrow toothed come through wet hair. Rake combs are the only type of comb that should be used when your hair is wet. You can use a narrow tooth comb on damp hair as you style it though.

* Rinse your hair completely of product.

* Don't leave product in your hair unless it's a leave-in treatment. Follow directions on the packaging to achieve best results.

* Add up to a 1/2 tsp of baking soda to your shampoo (in your hand) before you lather up. Baking soda will help wash the shampoo out a bit more.

* Pour 1 cup of apple cider vinegar into your hair before you condition it to help remove shampoo residue.

Dec 24, 2010

Andrea F.

Thank you for the tips! How many times a week would you suggest somebody should wash their hair? 

Dec 24, 2010

Alexandra G.

Awesome tips :) thank u! I'm wondering the same question andrea asked and what tips u might have for my hair type? :) (Wavy/curly)

Dec 24, 2010

Yasmin K.

I was taught in cosmetology that the "rule" for washing is that it should be "as often as necessary, depending on how quickly the scalp and hair become soiled". Shampoos that are strongly alkaline should not be used because it can make the hair dry and brittle.

My own hair is wavy/curly (when it wants it goes into ringlets). What I do for my own hair is what I listed above. I wash my hair at most every other day because I love my hair smelling fresh and well yummy. I love it when my husband comes over and gives me a hug or kiss or we're talking and he tells me how nice I smell. I don't wear perfume and the smell comes from how clean my hair and scalp is.

Until I entered cosmetology school (in high school) I had dandruff. Big flakes of it too. It was gross. Once I learned to wash my hair properly the dandruff cleared up and I've never had to use a dandruff shampoo since. My dandruff was the result of improperly washing my scalp.

Personally, I rarely use a hair dryer since I towel dry my hair (gently squeezing the water out) and then comb it out while it's still damp with a rake comb. The results are my hair will go into ringlets. If I do have to go out immediately after showering I do use a dryer with a defuser and on low heat but unfortunately my hair will not go into ringlets when I do but will become wavy.

The shampoo line I typically use is Suave's "professional" line for the most part since my daughters like to swipe my shampoo and conditioner. I do use Matrix as well, when I remember to get some from my mom, and on occasion Garnier Fructis. 

Dec 25, 2010

Chloe Jacqueline V.

Thank you! These tips are SUPER helpful!

Oct 8, 2012

Samantha N.

Great advise. Thank you 

Nov 10, 2012

Lily C.

When you put in conditioner put it only ears down it makes your whole head of hair soft.

Nov 10, 2012

Michelle E.

A tip that I've just started doing to wash my kinky curly hair is diluting my shampoo and applying it directly to my scalp using a color applicator bottle... My hair is dense and it makes it SSOO much easier to get to my scalp!

Nov 10, 2012

Jenn S.

It is nice that you want to help out but really it sounds snarky and like you are shaking your finger at people. I know that might not be what you were trying for but it is something to be aware of. Also, cosmotology schools only teach you what they know and what is approved by their boards. Not everything is going to work for everyone. To be 100% honest washing hair with shampoo does more damage then good especially if you are using shampoos without looking at the ingreds. There are shampoos that have very dangerous chemicals in them. Most of the commercial brands are nasty. Basic rule of thumb is if the shampoo has more than 10 ingreds put it back. Also you should become aware of what you are putting on your body because 60% of what goes on is absorbed into the blood stream and into your organs. It is no wonder people are getting cancer like crazy because of how badly the FDA regulates bath, body and cosmetic products. If you just use apple cider vinegar and baking soda like you suggest at the end you will be in way better health.

Jan 8, 2013

Nonthicha Y.

Thankyou! This helped heaps!

Jan 8, 2013

Leanne D.

I've typically been putting the shampoo on my scalp (massaging in) and then also putting it in my hair and rinsing out at the same time. Is there a reason I should not do this? Just trying to time save :) What I'm not sure of is the benefit to doing it in two sections? (scalp then hair)

And thanks for the tips! My hair's gotten really dry and I've just started to wash every other day instead of every day and have started realizing hair is one of those areas I know very little about!

Jan 8, 2013

Jen H.

I have very fine, color-treated hair and only wash 3 or maybe 4 times a week. I work the shampoo into my roots with my fingertips but don't lather up the rest; I rinse and the lather distributes itself. Then I condition from the tips up to just below the ear level. On my off days I use either dry shampoo or a mixture of cornstarch and lavender oil. 

Jan 27, 2013

Lauren B.

I wash my hair like that but still gets knots ? Do you know what to do?

Jan 30, 2013

Surbhi J.

thxxx a lot fr d tips...

Jan 30, 2013

Kim P.

How can I stop my hair going so greasy after just a day? Is there a certain shampoo I could use or not use conditioner?? I haven't a clue what to do and I hate having to wash it every day  

Jan 30, 2013

Stephanie D.

Hm. Partially right, but partially not.

Shampoos contain some very harsh detergents in them. There is NOT ONE reason to wash your hair more than once.

I do agree with massaging your scalp and not knotting your hair. You also shouldn't pile your hair on top of your head and scrub away at the whole mass. You'll cause both breakage and knots.

There is also NO reason to wash the length of your hair with shampoo. When you rinse, the detergents move down the hair shaft and clean it without you having to apply any manual action.

Keep in mind that your hair is made up of protein. There's nothing alive about it. It will degrade over time the longer it is on your head as it is exposed to wind, weather, brushing, heat styling, products, sunlight, etc. Eventually, it will weaken and break. Facts o' life. Scrubbing you hair, rubbing it around and sudsing it up with detergents will just make that process go faster.

If you don't want to wash your hair every day, stop using shampoo altogether. It's pretty drying to your scalp. Google CO washing and try that method. 

Mar 26, 2013

Logan H.

I have nice hair I guess but after I wash it, it turns real frizzy and curly around the sides of my ears and I really dislike it! please help!

Jul 17, 2013

Kiah H.

Depends on your hair type. Shampoo is very bad for your hair and dries it out. For curly hair, condition more than you shampoo. I know some females who don't wash their hair for 2 weeks. Simple conditioning. Your hair won't stink. It grows better in natural heat.

Jul 17, 2013

Kiah H.

Twisting your hair after washing while soaking in a coconut milk (Pure) will keep hair soft and smelling great and manageable.

Aug 12, 2013

Stefhany O.

How do you get rid of curly frizzy hair?

Sep 29, 2013

Kristy B.

Wow.. Thanks for the help I really needed it!! Haha.

Nov 22, 2013

Kizzy C.

Awesome tips

Apr 25, 2014

Pavanpreet B.

Thanks