How to Properly Wash Your Hair to Not Damage It

How to Properly Wash Your Hair to Not Damage It

You may look forward to the feel of freshly washed hair. It can be a therapeutic experience. But did you know there are proper ways to wash your hair to prevent damaging it? Let’s explore the proper steps that the experts recommend.

Before you shampoo your hair, give it and your scalp a good rinse with warm water. This will remove any surface dust and stimulate the hair follicles and cuticles so the shampoo can clean deeply. It also ensures that the shampoo will lather properly. Shampoo needs plenty of water to be effective.

Don’t hold the bottle of shampoo over your head and just pour it onto your scalp. You want to mix a little shampoo with water in the palms of your hands first. It helps the shampoo to spread more evenly over your hair and scalp. Doing this will also mean you will need less shampoo to get the job done.

Your scalp is where much of the oil and dead skin cells come from. You want to gently massage the shampoo into the scalp to get at the roots of the hair. Then, work your way down the hair with your hands. However, don’t be overly aggressive. Assertively scrubbing your scalp can open the pores too much or scratch the skin, leaving areas that may invite infection.

Remove all of the shampoos while rinsing under warm water. There is no need to shampoo again; once is enough. You do want to make sure all of the shampoos are rinsed out before applying the conditioner.

When applying the conditioner, place it in your hands and rub them together to better spread the conditioner. Using your palms and fingers, apply the conditioner to the mid and end portions of the hair. This is where the most damage occurs. You don’t need to condition the scalp as this will encourage clogging the pores and promote oil. Allow the conditioner to stay on the hair for at least a full minute or longer.

Finally, rinse the hair and scalp well to remove the excess conditioner. This is best done under cool or even cold water. Cool water encourages the cuticles to tighten and seal well to retain moisture.

When you turn off the water, pat or squeeze the hair gently with a clean towel. Don’t be tempted to rub the scalp and hair with a towel, as this might damage it further. Brush the hair with a tool called a wet brush or use a wide-tooth comb. If possible, allow your hair to dry naturally. If you need to use a hairdryer, make sure it is in a cool setting.

With a little TLC, it is possible to prevent further damage to your hair and scalp. All you need is water, shampoo, conditioner, and some mindful attention to the process. This can be very relaxing.