Shampoos are meant to cleanse your hair and scalp, removing dirt and grime without stripping away too much of the natural sebum. They have cleansing agents, perfume, preservatives and conditioning agents that can coat the hair shaft to make your hair appear thicker. The conditioning agents smooth the cuticle scales so your hair doesn’t tangle, and help eliminate static electricity from your hair when it dries.
Here are some quick tips on washing your hair.
- Use the right shampoo (and not too much) for your hair type. If in doubt, use the mildest shampoo you can buy.
- Don’t wash your hair in washing-up liquid, soap or other detergents. They’re highly alkaline and will strip out the natural oils, upsetting your hair’s natural pH balance.
- Read the instructions first. Some shampoos need to be left on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing.
- Buy small sachets of shampoo to test which brand is most suitable for your hair.
- Never wash your hair using water in the bath. Dirty bath water isn’t conducive to clean hair and it’s difficult to rinse properly without the help of a shower attachment or separate jug.
- Always wash your brush and comb when you shampoo your hair.
- Change your shampoo every now and then. Your hair seems to develop a resistance to certain ingredients after a period of time.
- Never throw away a shampoo that doesn’t lather. The amount of suds is determined by the active level of detergent. Some shampoos have fewer suds than others, but this has no effect on their cleansing ability. In fact, quite often, the more effective the product, the fewer the bubbles.
Shampoo success
Always use a product formulated for your hair type — normal, dry, greasy or chemically treated. And before shampooing, brush your hair to loosen dirt and dead skin cells, and free any tangles. Use lukewarm water, because hot water can be uncomfortable.
Wet your hair, then apply a little amount of shampoo and gently massage into the roots using the pads of your fingertips — not your nails. Pay special attention to the hairline area, where makeup and dirt become trapped. Allow the lather to work its way to the ends of your hair. Don’t rub vigorously or you‘ll stretch your hair.
When you’ve finished shampooing, rinse thoroughly until the water runs clean and clear. Repeat the process if you think your hair needs it, again using only a small amount of shampoo. Finally, before applying conditioner, blot your hair with a towel to remove excess water.
Massaging the scalp
Massage helps in maintaining a healthy scalp. It brings extra blood to the tissues, which enhances the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the follicle of your hair. It also reduces scalp tension (which can contribute to hair loss), helps reduce sebum overproduction (which makes hair greasy) and loosens dead skin cells.
At home, you can give yourself a scalp massage. If your scalp is dry or tight, use warm olive oil. If you have an oily scalp, try equal parts of witch hazel and mineral water. But if you have a normal scalp, use equal parts rose and mineral waters.
Get to know more hair care tips from the hair experts in Australia today.