Hair washing is pretty basic right? You use good quality shampoo, hot water, and you surely can’t go far wrong? The truth is, many of us are actually making several hair washing mistakes and have been for many years, causing damage to the hair and hindering hair health. This is particularly true in the case of people that have extensions - great hair health can actually improve the appearance and blend of your own hair with your extensions making them look more natural.
Read on to discover the hair washing mistakes that you might be making, and how to improve your hair washing routine, with hair washing tips for healthier and thicker hair…
Common Hair Washing Mistakes
Over Washing
Many of us are washing our hair more than we need to, which strips the scalp and hair of natural nourishing oils. This can cause dry and brittle hair and even scalp irritation. Once you get into a cycle of washing your hair too often, the irritation becomes worse, and this drives the desire to wash your hair again.
The solution: Ideally you should be washing your hair around every 4-5 days. Use a high-quality shampoo that focuses on nourishing and replacing vital moisture. Our Deep Moisture Shampoo is a great option as it can be used on both your own hair and your hair extensions.
Using Hot Water
You might be surprised to know that you actually shouldn’t use hot water to wash your hair. This is because it dries out the hair cuticle and your scalp. When you use hot water to wash your hair, you’ll find that it ends up frizzy.
The solution: Using cool water to wash your hair doesn’t have the same drying effect. It can be lukewarm if using cold water is too uncomfortable.
Incorrect Product Application
Using too much shampoo on your hair can be drying and applying conditioner to the roots can cause your hair to be greasy, which means you’ll need to wash it more frequently.
The solution: Just a 10 pence piece squeeze of shampoo is plenty. If you find you need more lather, add a little extra water to your roots and work the shampoo in. While it can be tempting to condition all over, just condition the lengths of your hair and make sure you rinse it thoroughly to avoid any greasy residue. You should rinse your hair for around 2-minutes after your shampoo and your conditioner.
How to Correct Hair Washing Mistakes
Establishing a Proper Washing Routine
Your hair washing routine is personal to you and very much depends on your hair type, lifestyle and how you style your hair. Here are some more details of how your hair washing routine might look, based on your unique circumstances…
Fine/flat hair: If your hair is on the fine side, you might find that you need to wash it a little more frequently than someone with thick hair. Shampoo will be your best friend, as it will revive your hair which can be easily weighed down by dirt and oil. Invest in a good quality shampoo and aim to wash your hair around every 3 days. Finish your routine with a conditioner such as the Deep Moisture Conditioner, but make sure you only apply it to the lengths of your hair and rinse well.
Thick/dry hair: If you have thick hair with a tendency to be on the dry/frizzy side, it’s better to try to space out your hair washes as much as possible. Aim to wash your hair around every 5 days. Shampoo well, use a nourishing conditioner, and once a week treat your hair to a mask too, such as the Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. When using the mask, brush through with our detangling brush to make sure you distribute the mask across every strand.
Heat styled hair: If you curl or straighten your hair, it’s important to take extra measures to protect it. Heat styled hair can become brittle and dry, but this can be minimised through a great hair care routine. Alongside using a regular treatment mask, use our Heat Protection Spray for strong and healthy hair. Apply before heat styling for protection against damage as well as added shine.
Hair extensions: If you wear clip-in hair extensions, it’s important to wash them regularly to keep them looking fresh and make them last longer. Our haircare products are perfect for your hair extensions. This reel here shows you exactly how to wash your extensions…
Choosing the Right Products
The products that you use are key to your hair washing routine. One of the mistakes many of us make is not using the right products for our hair and not investing in quality products. The most important thing to look for are products that provide gentle cleansing whilst also being nourishing. Our hair care trio is ideal as it’s gentle to the hair and scalp, providing that essential moisture without stripping the hair completely, leaving it healthy and glossy instead of dry and brittle.
Proper Application Techniques
Now that you understand the best routine for your hair and the type of products you should be using, the final step is to optimise your application techniques for healthy hair. Hair product application might seem straight forward, but little tweaks can make all the difference.
The first thing to do is to adjust how you are using your shampoo. Instead of applying it directly to your scalp, try diluting it with water first. Diluting your shampoo improves its ability to cleanse your scalp and hair of oil and dirt. Use three parts shampoo and one part water for best results.
When it comes to applying your conditioner, make sure you are squeezing as much water out of your hair before applying, as it’s important to avoid watering down your conditioner for optimum nourishment. For treatment masks, don’t skip your conditioner, instead apply your mask after you have rinsed out your conditioner. Squeeze the water out of your hair and apply liberally to the lengths, then leave for five minutes before you rinse well.
As you can see, with just a few tweaks to the way that you wash your hair and the products that you use, you can greatly improve your hair washing routine for healthier, happier hair - perfect for those that use hair extensions, and those that don’t too!
