Washing your hair seems like a simple task, but if you don’t do it correctly, you could be causing damage and build up to your strands and build up on your scalp. Follow these tips to make sure you’re washing your hair the right way!
Less is More: Avoid Washing Hair Every Day (Or Even Every Other Day)
Your hair produces natural oils that keep it healthy and moisturized. Washing your hair too often can strip away these oils, leaving your hair dry and brittle. If you have oily hair, try washing every other day or every third day. For dry hair, every two to three days should suffice. Use filtered, lukewarm water. Hot water can strip away natural oils and damage your hair, however cold water may not rinse away the shampoo and conditioner properly. When washing your hair, use filtered water. This will help preserve your hair’s natural moisture and keep drying, color changing minerals from ruining your color. In places like San Diego, a shower filter is almost always a must. Can’t change your shower head? You can try a filter in a bottle with COLOR WOW DREAM FILTER FOR PICTURE-PERFECT COLOR SPRAY SUPER SIZE 16oz / 470ml
Choose a Shampoo and Conditioner That Suits Your Hair Type
There are many different types of shampoo on the market, so it’s important to choose one that is suited for your hair type and your primary hair challenges. If you have oily hair, look for a purifying shampoo that will remove excess oil without stripping away moisture. For fine, dry hair, look for a hydrating shampoo that will add moisture without weighing down your strands. If you have multi processed colored or bleached hair, use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to restore damaged lengths and help preserve your color. For hair extensions and keratin treated hair, and in general, always look for sulphate free shampoos. Our new fave for extensions, balayage, blondes, oily scalps and dry ends is MELA & KERA BALAYAGE EXCEPTIONNEL THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
Scrub Your Scalp—Not Your Hair
When shampooing, focus on scrubbing your scalp rather than your hair. This will help remove any build-up on your scalp without damaging your ends. As haircare evolves, so do products. We realize now just like our faces, our scalps need an occasional exfoliation too. We love the fresh feeling of Virtue Refresh Exfoliating Scalp Treatment VIRTUE REFRESH EXFOLIATING SCALP TREATMENT 5oz / 150ml
Rinse and Repeat Only if Necessary
If your hair still feels dirty after one wash, rinse and repeat. Be sure not to overdo it, as this can strip away natural oils and leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. If you have trouble getting a lather on your hair, (like mine), try adding a bit more water before you wash again or add more shampoo. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of shampoo. And by rinse, we mean rinse until ALL traces of shampoo are gone. Minimum 2-5 minutes depending on the length and density of your hair. The temperature of your water should be warm, not crazy hot and not cold. Too hot is damaging and cold doesn’t wash off all the shampoo and conditioner. Yes, it’s true a cold rinse adds more shine, but if you are going to do a cold rinse, do it after you rinsed clean with warm as a bonus rinse. For really thick or long hair or if you wear extensions, we recommend rinsing upside down for the last minute or two to get every part of your scalp. It will not only leave your hair feeling cleaner, but your scalp will too. Most of us speed through rinsing and that’s a major contributor to scalp itchiness, that oily next day feeling and/or build up on your strands.
Condition Your Hair
After shampooing, always follow up with a conditioner, even if your hair is baby fine. This will seal the cuticle down and add shine. For best results, leave the conditioner in as directed, typically 2-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. If your hair is tangly, we recommend keeping a detangling brush in the shower and detangling while you wait. Remember to rinse thoroughly again too. And depending on the frequency of how often you wash your hair, we recommend using a deep treatment or conditioning mask about every 7-10 days for an added boost. Not only do these detangling brushes add a pop of color to any shower, they work wonders on the toughest tangles. TANGLE TEEZER THE ULTIMATE VENTED HAIRBRUSH TICKLED PINK REGULAR SIZE
STACEY STALEY is the owner of BLUXOM since 2020, she previously owned and operated Blonde in Toronto from 2006-2021. She is a blonde and hair extension specialist.
