Washing hair seems to be a beauty routine that we know everything about. But do we really? If you notice that your hair is too dry or in a bad condition, it may be the case that you are washing your hair incorrectly, or are using the wrong type of shampoo. Not to worry – we’ll explain the best ways to look after your hair to make sure it’s squeaky clean, shiny and healthy.

Types of Shampoo

Analyse the condition of your hair: Do the ends look dry? Do you notice your hair oily at the roots or that there are signs of dandruff? If your hair is colour treated, is the colour still vibrant?

Choosing the right shampoo for:

Fine Hair

Go for a volumising shampoo and conditioner. It will help to add body and volume to your tresses.

Dry Hair

Nourishing and moisturising shampoos are right for you.  Look out for those that are rich in natural oils such as coconut oil or argan oil.

Curly Hair

Look out for shampoos specifically for curly hair or damaged hair. These will help tame flyaways and keep frizz at bay.

Oily or Dandruff Prone Scalp

There are a lot of anti-dandruff solutions out there, so opt for shampoo that is specifically formulated to combat oily hair or a dandruff prone scalp. Look out for ingredients such as ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide, all of which help tackle dandruff without drying out the hair.

Colour-treated Hair

This hair type requires extra nourishment and protection as well as a formula that helps to preserve colour. Look out for ranges that are specially designed to look after your coloured locks.

Steps to Washing Hair

Step 1: Optional – Pre-Wash Treatments and Conditioning

If you have really long tresses, it’s often a good idea to apply a nourishing treatment beforehand. You can either use your conditioner or opt for hair masques or oils. While you can use your conditioner everytime you wash your hair, go for masques and oils less frequently, depending on the condition of your hair.

Step 2: Set the Water Temperature

If you are washing your hair in water that is too hot, it is likely to contribute to your hair drying out, which may lead to a dry scalp and unhealthy looking hair. Wash your hair in warm water as this helps to open up the cuticles and for your shampoo to work its magic.

Step 3: Rinse Your hair

With gentle motions, make sure your hair rinsed and wet throughout before adding shampoo.

Step 4: Add Shampoo

Don’t be tempted to add too much shampoo – a coin sized amount is enough. Focus on washing your hair at the scalp. Lather from the roots making your way to the ends.

Step 5: Conditioner

Remember to condition your lengths and ends only. This will help to keep your hair healthy, shiny and minimise the appearance of frizz and flyaways.

Step 6: Cold Water Rinse

A simple and quick cold water rinse will close up the cuticles, making the hair look healthy and shiny.

Step 7: Towel Drying

Make sure you are gentle when towel drying your hair. Don’t pull or move the towel up and down. Instead blot and carefully squeeze the excess water out. This will make your hair less frizzy and more manageable when dry.

Step 8: Drying and Styling

The healthiest way to let your hair dry is air drying it. This means simply waiting for your hair to dry naturally. However, a lot of us dry our hair with a hair dryer to save time. When blow drying your hair, remember to always use heat protecting spray beforehand to prevent your hair from heat damage.

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