To wash your hair correctly, you must apply shampoo to wet hair, to remove dirt from the scalp and strands, rinse and apply conditioner, and it is important to comb your hair afterwards and, preferably, let it dry naturally.
Washing your hair correctly helps keep your scalp and strands healthier, and can even help prevent uncomfortable problems, such as dandruff, brittle strands and even hair loss, for example.
For your hair to be clean correctly, it is also important to choose the shampoo and conditioner best suited to your hair type, in addition to avoiding washing in very hot water, preferring warmer or colder water to avoid causing damage to the hair.
Step by step to wash your hair correctly
To wash your hair correctly, you must follow the following steps:
1. Wet your hair
Wetting your hair in warm or cold water is the first step in washing your hair, as it helps to remove dirt and products that were in your hair, such as leave-in styling creams or oils.
Additionally, water is important to create foam when applying shampoo.
2. Apply shampoo
Applying the appropriate shampoo for your hair type is very important to eliminate excess dirt that accumulates in your hair and scalp over the days.
To do this, you must put the shampoo in your hand, in an amount that is not too little and not enough to clean the hair and not too much to avoid drying out the strands and scalp.
In general, it is recommended to apply the equivalent of a 10 cent coin for short hair or 1 real for medium to long hair.
3. Massage the scalp
With the shampoo in hand, apply it to the hair roots and scalp, massaging gently with your fingertips, for about 3 minutes.
When massaging, you should not apply too much force or use your nails, as these can hurt the scalp, cause irritation and increase the risk of fungal or bacterial infections on the scalp.
It is not necessary to apply shampoo to the length of the hair, as when rinsing, dirt is removed from the hair.
4. Rinse your hair
After using the shampoo, rinse well with water so that all the product is removed.
In the case of people who don’t wash their hair every day or who sweat a lot, it is recommended that the shampoo be applied twice, as this will help remove all dirt and impurities better.
Between one application of the shampoo and another, you must rinse your hair.
5. Apply conditioner only to the ends
Before applying conditioner, which will make your hair softer and smoother, it is important to remove excess water by squeezing your hair with your hand.
Then, apply the conditioner to the ends and never to the roots and massage the hair to promote the closure of the cuticles.
It is recommended to let the product act for a few minutes and only then rinse your hair to remove all the conditioner.
6. Remove excess water
After rinsing to remove the conditioner, you must remove excess water from your hair with a clean, dry and soft towel, without rubbing, but just gently pressing the towel onto the strands.
This is because when you rub your hair or use a very rough towel, your hair can become damaged.
7. Comb your hair
After completely removing excess water, comb your hair gently with a wide-bristle brush or comb to untangle.
You should not make sudden movements, as wet hair is more delicate and can suffer breakage or damage very easily.
It is recommended to use a hairbrush with soft or flexible bristles, or a wide-toothed comb, passing along the strands from bottom to top, that is, from the ends towards the roots.
8. Dry your hair
To dry your hair, whenever possible, you should choose to let it dry naturally, without using a hairdryer.
However, if you decide to use a hairdryer, the temperature should not exceed 80ºC and the dryer should also be placed at a distance of at least 20 cm from the hair.
Care when washing your hair
Some care is necessary when washing to keep your hair clean and healthy, such as:
- Prefer to use salt-free shampoos, as they prevent excess oil on the scalp;
- Avoid tying wet hair, as this encourages dandruff and hair breakage;
- Use conditioner at the end of washing, to seal the hair;
- Avoid using very greasy gels and creams, which quickly increase oiliness and dandruff;
- Always use cold or warm water to wash your hair;
- Never wash your hair with soap, bath soap, washing powder or washing up liquid because they dry out your hair a lot.
Curly hair should preferably be washed in the morning, so that the strands can dry naturally during the day and maintain their shape. However, another option may be to dry your hair by applying a diffuser to the hair dryer, remembering to always apply a thermal protector before drying.
How many times a week should you wash your hair
Fine, oily hair should preferably be washed every other day to keep the scalp clean and free of dandruff.
However, very dry, curly or frizzy hair can only be washed once or twice a week. For people who sweat a lot, it is recommended to wash their hair more frequently.
In general, you should avoid washing your hair every day to avoid years on your hair. However, for people who sweat a lot, have a very oily scalp or play sports daily, it may be recommended to wash every day.
Furthermore, it is important to have a deep massage every two weeks, using moisturizing creams that restore the hair and maintain its natural shine and movement. Find out how to moisturize your hair at home.
Is it bad to wash your hair at night?
It is important to remember that you should avoid washing your hair at night to avoid sleeping with a wet scalp, as this increases dandruff and leaves hair brittle.
Therefore, if it is really necessary to wash your hair before going to sleep, you should dry it with a hairdryer, using a cold temperature.
How to choose the best shampoo and conditioner
The choice of shampoo and conditioner are also important when washing your hair, and four aspects must be taken into account, such as:
- pH: the shampoo must have a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, as hair strands have an alkaline content, so the acidic shampoo will neutralize the hair;
- Aroma: the shampoo should be non-perfumed, as a shampoo with a strong aroma contains alcohol, which can dry out your hair;
- Cor: transparent shampoo is better than translucent or milky shampoo, because transparent shampoo removes all impurities, while milky shampoo only treats the hair strands;
- Texture: the shampoo should be mild and not very thick, as very thick shampoo contains salt that leaves the hair dehydrated and dry.
Furthermore, when choosing a conditioner, it must have a pH between 3.5 and 4 and be rich in protein and keratin to hydrate the hair, this information is generally on the product label and for more specific information you should ask your hairdresser. before use, especially if you have dyed hair.
Watch the video to learn how to prepare a vitamin that will make your hair stronger:
