Washing and conditioning hair is a regular part of our health and beauty routine, and it might seem to be a straightforward process. However, many people make some common mistakes that can affect the overall result and may mean that their hair does not look or feel as good as it could. Here are some top tips for beautiful freshly washed hair.
Using water that is too hot
Hot water can irritate the scalp and cause it to feel dry and itchy. It can also damage the strands of your hair, leaving them brittle and prone to breakage. Instead, use lukewarm water to help preserve the moisture levels in your hair.
Using too much shampoo
Shampoo is an essential step to remove oils and dirt, despite recent TikTok trends such as No-Poo. However, using too much can strip away essential nutrients and irritate your scalp. Aim to use a quantity about the size of a 50p coin for best results. Cheaper shampoos can contain harsh ingredients that dry your hair, so it’s worth investing in a quality product.
Lather the shampoo in the palms of your hands with a little water, and then gently massage it into your scalp and roots of your hair where it is most needed for at least one minute, and then rinse thoroughly before applying conditioner.
Applying conditioner when your hair is too wet
If you layer conditioner onto very wet hair, most of it will slide off and be wasted. Therefore you should always gently squeeze your hair to remove the excess water once you have rinsed away the shampoo. This will allow the conditioner to coat the hair cuticles properly and leave them feeling soft and smooth when your hair is dry.
Applying conditioner to the roots
Unless your hair is exceptionally dry and damaged, there is no need to apply conditioner to the roots. The hair here is newer and softer, and it is also more prone to gathering oils from the scalp. If you have fine hair, putting conditioner too near the roots will leave it looking flat and dull. Just focus on the mid lengths and ends where it’s most needed.
Rinsing too soon
Conditioner needs at least two or three minutes to sink in and properly penetrate the hair cuticles, so leave a sufficient gap between applying it and rinsing it off.
Not rinsing properly
It’s important to rinse your hair thoroughly to remove all the excess product, otherwise your hair will look greasy and have no bounce or shine. Note the texture of your hair as you rinse and wait until it no longer feels slippery to the touch. Gently tease the hair with your hands as you rinse to ensure that all the layers are exposed to the water.