Wetting your hair, squirting some shampoo into your hands and then working it through your locks sounds easy enough, right? Usually shampooing your hair is easy, but sometimes this simple act can leave your locks limp, oily looking or full of frizz. The reasons for these results are usually caused by common shampoo mistakes which can easily be fixed with a little hair know-how. To find out more, read on…
Using the Wrong Shampoo
The wrong shampoo is usually the cause of most shampoo related hair issues. For example, if you’ve got oily locks and aren’t using a shampoo designed to cater to the excess oil in your hair, chances are your locks are going to be far from clean and healthy looking. The shampoo you buy and use every week should be designed to work with your hair type and any specific issues, such as dandruff, color treated hair, dry hair etc. If you’re not sure about what you should buy, speak to a hairstylist who can look at your hair in person, identify any hair issues and make recommendations.
Shampooing Too Much or Not Enough
Shampooing too much or not enough is also an easy mistake to make. Shampooing every day can strip your hair of natural oils, which in turn can actually make your hair oilier. On the other hand, not washing your hair often enough also causes issues. The key is to find the right balance for you. Some people can get away with washing every day, while others may only need to wash twice a week to get the best results. You’ll know you have the right shampoo routine when your hair looks and feels healthy after washing and in between washes.
Hair tip: if you find it hard to cut down on daily washing, use dry shampoo to keep oily roots and strands at bay, or wash your bangs or front sections of your hair daily but pull the rest of your hair away in a top knot, ponytail or bun.
Incorrectly Shampooing
While working shampoo through your hair seems like a straight forward concept, shampooing incorrectly does happen and could be the reason why your hair isn’t clean or turns into a frizz ball once your hair starts to dry.
A few common mistakes to correct are…
Using too much shampoo at once. This can lead to over drying and frizz in certain hair types. Go by the length of your hair and use the smallest amount possible. If you find that you need more, try more next time until you know exactly how much to use and what is the right amount for you.
Not focusing on the right areas. Some people find that no matter the amount of shampoo used, their hair is always too dry or remains oily after washing. If that’s you, try shampooing specific areas of your hair only. If dryness is a problem then only wash your scalp and let the rest of your hair get a light clean when you rinse out your shampoo. If you suffer from stubborn oily strands in various sections or specific areas of your hair, work extra shampoo through those areas and make sure you coat every strand. It may take a few washes to get right, but once you do, you’ll love the results.
Not rinsing and repeating. Sometimes the first shampoo is only good for loosening the dirt and oil and it may take another round of shampooing to actually get your hair clean. For others, using one type of shampoo (such as a detox or clarifying shampoo) for the first wash and then switching to a specific shampoo (such as one for dandruff or oily locks) for the repeat wash is what gets and keeps their hair clean. Experiment until you work out what’s right for you and then stick to the shampoo routine that works.
