Washing Your Hair: The Basics

It is important to know how to properly care for your hair when cleaning without roughing your cuticle. Shampooing the scalp and conditioning the ends is the best way to do this. Washing hair is more than plopping product into your hands and smearing it across your head like you are scrubbing dishes. Below we will highlight shampoo techniques which will reduce the roughness of your hair and also promote a smoother finish. 

Shampooing

This is the cleansing portion of washing your hair. Shampooing is where scrubbing in a haphazard manner leads to roughness in the cuticule. This impacts how it will dry and lay thereafter. Once you have found a shampoo that works for you and your hair type, next comes how to apply it. If you haven’t found your favorite product, here is a shameless plug for J Beverly Hills’ Everyday Shampoo. Squeeze a quarter size amount into your hands and rub them together generating bubbles. While your head is out of the running water, go in at the temples and back of your neck using your fingers somewhat like a comb. Massage the product in, this encourages circulation in the scalp as well as distributes the product throughout. Before adding more product, try adding a little water. This will help suds up and stretch the impact of your initial dollop of shampoo. If you do need more, apply a pea to dime size amount as needed. There are many techniques hairstylists use in salons to promote circulation and to reduce tension in the scalp. Take this time in the shower as a moment for yourself, enjoy a little head massage and relax. When rinsing the shampoo out, use your fingers and hands in a similar manner as applying the shampoo. Going in from the temples and back of neck and working towards the center of your head. This will decrease the likelihood of tangles and also ensure the product is fully washed out.

Conditioning

Post shampoo, using conditioner or applying a hair mask seals the cuticle down, decreasing roughness. Whether using a conditioner or mask, it is recommended to let the product sit and soak in for a few minutes before rinsing. Looking for a conditioner? J Beverly Hills Everyday Conditioner or the Nourishing Masque are both great options. Before applying your conditioning product, squeeze out the excess water. Water fills in your cuticle and removing excess beforehand allows the product to penetrate the cuticle and do its magic. We recommend three to five minutes for conditioner and if using a mask wait for no less than five minutes to fully receive the benefits. When it comes to conditioning, less does more. The hair strand can only take in so much product, using excessive amounts does not increase the benefits you will receive. When applying, try to stay away from the scalp as much as possible. Use a comb to distribute and coat the pieces you might have missed using only your fingers. After letting the product rest, rinse using cooler water, this will help close the cuticle locking in moisture and the product. 

Now that you know how to cleanse and condition, curious about other great products? Visit our online store today and explore the many options from J Beverly Hills and others!