Tuesday, March 22, 2011

How To Wash Your Hair - You thought you knew

One of my favorite things about my profession, is educating my clients about the little things they can do while washing and styling their hair to have the best hair day, every day. I love sharing small tips and tricks with my clients to make living with their hair easier than ever. I like to  start small so this week I'll focus on washing and conditioning only, and we'll get into styling next week.

When you first get your hair wet, before you grab your shampoo, gently massage the scalp with the pads of your fingers. Doing this is going to help release any build up on the scalp and get the oils from your scalp moving so your shampoo won't have to work as hard and your hair will come clean easier and faster.

Ok, now you can use your cleanser, aka shampoo. When shampooing your hair you should only be using about a dime to a nickle size amout in your palm.... promise, that's all you need. Before you put the cleanser in your hair, make sure you completely emulsify it in your hands (this basically means rub your hands together until your shampoo is a thin, white or light colored film that covers your hands from you palms to the tips of your fingers). Finally it's time to take your cleanser to your SCALP. Using the lengths of your fingers and the pads of your fingertips, massage and scrub your scalp again the same way you did when you were just using the water. You want to avoid taking your shampoo to the ends, because it is a cleanser and it will dry out the ends of your hair. If your having problems with your ends drying out and breaking off, this could be why. I always tell my clients, "Your shampoo is just the vehicle the oils in your scalp takes to get to the mid-shaft and the ends of your hair." I know this sound odd but the oils your scalp produces is very good and super hydrating for your hair and you should avoid getting rid of them completely. Make sure you rinse thuroughly, so your conditioner can get right into the cuticle of your hair for maximum hydration.

The amount of conditioner you use is going to depend on the thickness of your hair as well as the length. If you change your shampooing habits, you'll probably be able to use less than your used to. Experiment with about half of what you're used to then, add more or use less according to the state of your hair when it's styled. Before conditioning, make sure you squeeze the access water out of your hair so it can absorbe as much conditioner as possible. When applying, you'll emulsify the same way you did with you cleanser. Start at the ends of your hair and work your way up, running your fingers through to evenly displace your product. ONLY APPLY CONDITIONER TO YOUR SCALP IF YOU HAVE DRY SCALP OR EXPERIENCE ITCHING. Otherwise you should keep it off your scalp and you should be able to skip a day or two of washing your hair. Make sure you rinse thuroughly and always use a leave-in conditioner before you style.

If you are unclear about any of this information or have further questions, I'm always able answer questions via email at sheardesignbycamille@gmail.com