When it comes to daily hair care routine, there is nothing more basic than washing your hair with shampoo. In fact, it is the most reliable form of hair care.
Some women still cannot resist the urge to shampoo daily despite the widespread knowledge that daily shampooing is not healthy for your locks. Most of this is because a lot of women don’t know the ins and outs of proper shampooing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help clear the air and leave you feeling confident in washing your hair correctly.
To get you started, we’ve compiled ten of the things that you need to know in order to improve your shampooing habit. These could be the key to saying goodbye to bad hair days. But first, let’s talk about how to shampoo hair in general.
How to Shampoo Hair: Step-by-Step Guide
Shampooing might seem straightforward, but the right techniques can significantly enhance your hair’s health and appearance. It all starts with choosing the right shampoo.
Choosing the Right Shampoo
Select a shampoo that matches your hair type and specific needs, such as colour protection, moisture, volume, or damage repair.
For instance, if you have colour-treated hair, opt for sulfate-free shampoos to avoid fading. If you’re struggling with hair thinning, consider a biotin-boosted shampoo.
Remember that My Haircare & Beauty has the products you need no matter what your goals are. Browse our catalogue or get in touch with our experts for a recommendation.
Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Your Hair
Detangle your hair gently using a wide-tooth detangling hair brush before applying shampoo. This prevents breakage and ensures even application of the shampoo. You may even consider a detangling spray.
Ensure the water temperature is warm but not too hot, as hot water can strip essential oils from your scalp. Then, it’s time to get to work:
- Thoroughly wet your hair with warm water to open up the hair cuticles and allow the shampoo to penetrate deeply.
- Pour a coin-sized amount of shampoo into your palm (adjust the amount according to your hair length and thickness). Rub your hands together to evenly distribute the shampoo.
- Apply it to your scalp and hair roots, starting at the forehead and moving towards the nape of your neck.
- Use your fingertips to gently massage the shampoo into your scalp in a circular motion. This helps to loosen dirt and product buildup while stimulating blood flow. Avoid using your nails as this can irritate your scalp.
- Once your scalp is covered, extend the lather down the lengths of your hair. If your hair is very long, you may need to add a little more shampoo.
- Rinse your hair with warm water until the water runs clear. Make sure to remove all traces of shampoo, as residue can lead to buildup and dull-looking hair.
- For extremely dirty or oily hair, a second shampoo might be beneficial. The first wash removes excess oils and dirt, while the second wash treats the hair, making the lather richer and more effective.
Aftercare
While you came here specifically hoping to learn how to shampoo hair, the next steps are equally important for your hair’s health and appearance.
Follow up with a conditioner suited to your hair type, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. You might even consider using a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask once a week.
Then, gently squeeze out excess water with your hands or a towel. Avoid rubbing your hair with the towel as this can cause frizz and damage. If using a hair dryer, keep it on a low heat setting and hold it at least six inches away from your hair.You can learn more about how to wash curly hair specifically or the difference between conditioner vs shampoo in our blog. But now that you know how to shampoo hair in general, we want to offer 10 more tips below for specific situations.
How Often to Shampoo Hair
Deciding how often to shampoo your hair is a balancing act that depends largely on your hair type, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
For most people, washing hair too frequently can strip it of its natural oils, leading to dryness and potential damage. Conversely, washing too infrequently can allow oil and product buildup, which can make your hair look and feel dirty and might even irritate the scalp. Here’s a general guideline based on hair type:
- Oily Hair: If your hair gets oily quickly, you might need to shampoo every day or every other day. This will help control excess oil and keep your scalp healthy.
- Dry or Coarse Hair: Those with dry, coarse, or curly hair can often go a few days between shampoos. Once or twice a week might be sufficient as this hair type needs to retain its natural oils to remain soft and manageable.
- Normal Hair: If you have normal hair that isn’t particularly oily or dry, you might find that washing your hair two to three times a week works well.
You’ll want to consider your activity level as well. If you exercise daily and sweat a lot, you might need to shampoo more frequently to remove sweat and prevent scalp issues.
Even then, though, you might opt for a gentle shampoo or alternate with just rinsing with water or using dry shampoo to maintain freshness without over-washing.
10 Quick Tips on Shampooing Hair You May Not Have Known About
Before we wrap up our guide on how to shampoo, here are 10 of the top tips for shampooing hair in certain circumstances:
- Sulfates can wash away hair colour. Hence, it is important that you avoid them at all cost, especially if you paid a hefty amount to get your hair coloured. You do not want to see your investment wash down the drain. Go for specially formulated shampoos.
- Hard water can cause hair to become dry and straw-like in texture. If your water source makes your hair exposed to hard water, make sure to use chelating shampoo at least once a week. You can also install filters in the shower to prevent causing dryness.
- Bleached hair should get regular clarifying treatment. When you bleach your hair, the follicles become highly porous. This will make it easily absorb hair products, sweat, and environmental particles that produce that yellowish tone. A clarifying shampoo will help get rid of these products that alter the colour of your bleached hair. The same applies for blonde haired women.
- Too much shampoo is as ineffective as not getting enough shampoo. Refrain from using too much shampoo as excessive foam can cause it to become dry and brittle over time. Make sure to adjust the amount of shampoo you use according to hair thickness and length, and ideally, use a shampoo for brittle hair.
- To get the most out of dry shampoo, apply it the night before. Are you planning to skip shampoo the next day? You can maximise result by applying it before you go to bed so you can get rid of the power blotches and allow the product to work into the hair.
- Leave anti-dandruff shampoo for a few minutes. Are you using an anti-dandruff shampoo designed to get rid of those flakes, and wondering why the dandruff problem remains persistent? It might be because you’re not giving it enough time to work on the scalp. Leave the shampoo on for about 3-5 minutes. And don’t forget to rinse thoroughly!
- The lather, rinse, and repeat method might actually benefit… some types of hair. If you have troubled scalp, this method works for you. Start with a clarifying shampoo first. This will help to get rid of product buildup. Then, apply a medicated shampoo and because it has been clarified from residues, it will be thoroughly absorbed by scalp and hair.
- No shampoo can permanently change hair texture. It is all a matter of habit and keeping up with that hair care routine. If you stop using a particular shampoo that has done wonders for your hair, rest assured it will go back to the state where it used to be.
- Shampoo is not enough when maintaining colour-treated hair. Make sure to invest in a colour care conditioner as well.
- Shampoo is not the most important part. No matter what shampoo you choose, you will not enjoy its full benefits if you do not know how to use it correctly. Make sure to lather the shampoo into the hair and massage it, along with the scalp while washing. Thorough rinsing is also important to get rid of residues and prevent product buildup. Not even the most expensive shampoo will work on your hair when you do not give it time to work on each strand (as well as the scalp).
Final Thoughts on How to Shampoo Hair
We hope this guide on how to shampoo hair helps you feel confident in your washing regimen going forward. While it sounds so simple, the specific technique and process can make all the difference in helping you reach your hair goals.
However, using the right type of shampoo is also highly important. So, whether you’re looking for the best shampoo and conditioner for blonde hair or the best shampoo and conditioner for hair loss, remember that My Haircare & Beauty has you covered. Here are some of our most popular collections:
We only carry the most trusted brands and products across the entire industry, so you can rest assured you’re getting a safe, effective solution to unlock your hair’s full potential. If you aren’t sure which is right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out for a personalised recommendation. Shop now or get in touch today – your dream hair is well within reach!
See similar:
Questions About Shampoo Answered
How to Remedy Hard Water Hair
How To Care For Bleached Hair
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