Getting your hair washed at the salon has unanimously become the most popular portion of any hair service. Stylists know you love the smell of the products, the sleep like trance from the magical head massage and the squeaky clean feel of your scalp. And no matter what you do at home, perhaps your hair just doesn’t look or feel the same. The trick is knowing how to wash your hair the right way.
This is a great foundation if you want to blowout your hair like a pro, benefit from longer lasting styles, or support your overall hair wellness journey.
For that reason, I’m sharing my foolproof method to washing your hair correctly. You ready?
Here’s How To Wash Your Hair
With these eight simple steps, you’ll have it down pat in no time at all. Here’s how to wash your hair the right way. Start with step one below.
1. Fully Saturate Your Hair
Your hair needs to be completely wet. With lukewarm water, not hot.
The warmth helps the hair cuticles open slightly, while wetting your hair allows the product to distribute evenly throughout.
This saves you a good amount of money in the long run.
Why? Because you won’t be using globs and globs of shampoo to get a good lather.
Once your hair has been completely saturated, let’s move to step two.
2. Emulsify the Shampoo
This means to rub the shampoo between the palms of your hands.
This may not be common knowledge to many. But this simple step can change your entire hair ritual.
Emulsifying the product ‘activates’ it. The friction of your hands generates enough heat to warm it up and helps with its spreadability.
This trick helps you to get the shampoo all over your scalp, instead of a singular area. This will make the next step much easier!
3. Focus on Your Entire Scalp
And ONLY the scalp.
If you’re putting shampoo directly on the ends of your hair, you’re doing yourself – and your ends– a huge disservice. This is because you’re essentially roughing up the most fragile part of the hair shaft and drying the ends out even more.
For a proper clean, your shampoo only needs to be applied on the scalp. This will automatically take care of the first couple inches of new growth as well.
Make sure to tackle all regions of your scalp, like the crown (the top of your head) down to the nape- which are commonly overlooked- in addition to the hairline.
These areas generate the most heat on your head and can lead to fungal developments and other gnarly scalp infections if proper cleansing steps aren’t taken.
4. Rinse and Repeat
Now as you rinse with water, squeeze the shampoo through the ends. It will lightly pass over to gently clean the ends without the harsh drying effect.
When a majority of the shampoo has been rinsed from your hair, it’s time to move on to your second shampoo.
If you haven’t heard, the double shampoo is one of the best kept secrets when it comes to washing your hair. Thankfully, this is not something that needs to be done every time you wash (unless you’re only washing once per week or less frequently).
The initial shampoo helps with the break down of product buildup, and providing a foundation for a deeper cleanse. That’s why I start out by using a clarifying shampoo. If you’re interested in learning about more benefits of clarifiers, read here.
Follow up with your regular, day-to-day shampoo. This one should address any specific hair concerns- like curls, volume, strength, hydration/ moisture, etc.
From there, rinse and go straight into the next step.
5. Condition the Ends
So, you know that shampoo helps to raise the hair cuticle for a good clean. But now we need a conditioner to rehydrate and smooth it back down.
For this step you can even replace your regular conditioner by finding the best hair mask to use weekly or biweekly.
When conditioning, apply starting at the ends first, working your way up towards the roots.
Suffer from oily scalp or lack of volume? For that, my general rule of thumb is to only focus the conditioner from the ears down.
6. Detangle if Needed
Brushing your hair when it’s wet can lead to hella breakage. But for some, it may be next to impossible, or rather time consuming to put a brush to your head when it’s dry.
If you can relate, detangling in the shower with some conditioner in your hair is an easier and less strenuous method.
Just be sure to use a wide tooth comb specifically designed for detangling or the fan favorite wet brush and Tangle Teezer. Once you get through the tangled jungle of knots, I’ll meet you at the next step below.
7. Rinse Again
Unless you have super dry, curly, or coily hair, you’ll want to make sure you thoroughly rinse the conditioner out of your hair. Fine strands can be weighed down by any leftover residue. However, medium to coarser hair, and dry curls especially will benefit from a little bit left on the ends.
This will preserve hydration and is better supported with the use of a leave in conditioner immediately after.
8. Dry
Our little hair wellness side quest is coming to an end with this final step based on your styling preferences.
Whatever you do, don’t go to bed with a wet head (your scalp will become a fungal jungle– eek!).
You can choose to blow dry your hair or let it air dry. Whichever option, just be sure you are using the correct and most supportive hair products.
Knowing how to wash your hair correctly is essential for better/ long lasting hair styles, promoting hair growth, and great scalp/hair health overall. And now you have the knowledge to create or elevate your wash day ritual to suit your lifestyle and hair resolutions.
It’s safe to say you’ve officially conquered one of the most critical parts of the hair wellness journey.
Let me know in the comments below if this method is something you will try. See you next time!