Washing your hair? Sounds easy enough, but if you’re constantly battling your hair (and losing), you may need to evaluate your hair washing routine. Hair washing mistakes are easy to make but even easier to correct once you realize their consequences. Let’s go over the top five mistakes people make when washing their hair.
Wash On-Demand
There’s been constant debate whether you should or shouldn’t wash your hair every day. As oil, sweat, and dead skin cells build up on your scalp, they inhibit healthy growth and give your hair that flat, greasy look. If you feel like your hair needs washing (whether it’s been one day or five), it probably does.
Some people have higher oil production and need to remove the build-up on a daily basis. If you have been blessed with less oily hair and can get away with not washing it for days, go for it (just don’t brag about it to us).
Because there are so many different hair types, a good rule of thumb is to wash your hair when it feels like it needs it.
Some Like It Too Hot
One of the biggest hair washing mistakes is to take a hot-as-you-can-stand shower to melt away stress and soothe your muscles. It may seem tempting, but scalding temperatures take a toll on your skin and hair. That heat pulls all the moisture out of skin and hair and leaves you vulnerable to dry skin and brittle, frizzy hair.
Warm water is fine and great for cleaning. If you can stand it, try lowering the temperature of your water too cold at the end of your shower. This will close up all your pores and help your skin and hair lock in moisture.
You’re Shampooing It Wrong
Most people aren’t shampooing their hair the right way. For shampoo to do its job, your hair needs to be wet through and through. To do this, let that shower hit your hair for a good 30 seconds before you reach for the shampoo.
Another thing to consider is where you’re applying shampoo. Your focus should be on your roots and scalp, not the middle or ends of your hair. Too much shampoo strips those parts that don’t get as much natural oil.
Did you know those directions “lather, rinse, repeat as needed” should be taken seriously? Sudsing up your hair once only removes the main gunk like leave-in product. To get a deep clean all the way to your scalp, rinse all the bubbles away, and then shampoo your hair again.
The Condition of Your Conditioner Routine
Always, always, always shampoo first, then condition. If you condition first, the shampoo undoes all the benefits of the conditioner. After you’ve rinsed the shampoo from your hair, wring as much water out of your hair as you can before applying conditioner.
Conditioner only needs to be applied to the middle and ends of your hair. Working it into your scalp can lead to unnecessary build-up later.
Leave the conditioner in your hair as you continue your shower routine of washing the rest of your body. The longer the conditioner is in your hair, the better it works.
Never Dry Hard With a Vengeance
You’ve followed all these steps in the shower, but when you grab that towel, how are you drying your hair? If you’re draping your towel over your head and then scrubbing at your locks to dry them, you’re setting yourself up for a bad hair day. Rubbing your hair dry separates each strand, and while it gets the water out, you’ll be battling a frizzy mess.
Instead, wrap your towel (preferably microfiber) around your hair and gently pat it dry.
No More Hair Washing Mistakes
Now that you know what the most common hair washing mistakes are, you’re all set to make every day your best hair day.
For more tips on loving your locks, check out our Hairstyles section.
