Before we even get started, I am not a certified cosmetologist or hair scientist, just a girl in cosmetology school. I started back in mid January and we recently learned how to shampoo the hair and the science behind it which is what I am going to share with you. This is how shampooing and conditioning should be done.
First, the steps!
1.) Dampen the hair with warm water
2.) Take a small amount of shampoo and apply it near the hairline and work it throughout the rest of your hair. Focus on really massaging it into your scalp to remove the sebum(oil) buildup for a good cleaning.
3.) Rinse out the shampoo.
4.) Repeat steps 2-3.
5.) Apply a small amount of conditioner to the ends of your hair and run whatever may be left through the rest of your hair.
6.) Rinse out the conditioner in cool water.
7.) And you're done!
Next, the science!
1.) You want the hair to be wet so that you can use less product and to help it glide through the hair with ease and to help open up the cuticle. Use warm water to open the hair cuticle so that the shampoo can penetrate the hair to remove dirt, oils, and product buildup.
2.) When you apply shampoo to the hair, it penetrates into the hair and makes dirt, oils, and product build up to cling together in little balls.
3.) Rinsing out the shampoo rinses out the dirt and oil that balled up from the shampooing process.
4.) You want to repeat steps 2-3 to ensure you have removed all of the gunk in your hair since most of the time the first shampoo doesn't get it all. The second shampoo should cause a big lather, meaning the shampoo bubbles up a lot. Then you rinse the shampoo, and any remaining dirt or oil, out of your hair.
5.) As you hopefully remember, when we first started the cuticle layer of the hair was raised in order for the shampoo to penetrate into the hair and remove dirt and oil. Now we need to smooth done the cuticle, closing the hair shaft. To do so we use conditioner. This is, to me, the most important part of cleaning your hair. If you don't use conditioner, your cuticle remains up causing frizzy, dry hair. It not only smooth down the hair but it also adds shine. Plus, if your cuticle is down your hair will also feel much softer. However, if you apply it scalp to ends it can make your clean hair look oily and dirty after you've just washed it. That's why conditioner should be focused on the ends and lightly applied the closer you get to the scalp.
6.) Rinsing in cool water will help seal down the cuticle, helping the hair to be even smoother and softer.
7.) All Done!
Like I said earlier, different things work for different people. However, this is how hair washing should be done. I will have another post with my opinion on some of these other ways I've been seeing recently but if you want your hair to get cleaned well and be soft and silky, I suggest trying this method. There are many different hair types and so many different shampoos and conditioners so depending on yours I also suggest trying out some different ones since each one will do something different to your hair. If you have any questions or requests let me know and I'll do my best!
xoxo,
Wren
Like I said earlier, different things work for different people. However, this is how hair washing should be done. I will have another post with my opinion on some of these other ways I've been seeing recently but if you want your hair to get cleaned well and be soft and silky, I suggest trying this method. There are many different hair types and so many different shampoos and conditioners so depending on yours I also suggest trying out some different ones since each one will do something different to your hair. If you have any questions or requests let me know and I'll do my best!
xoxo,
Wren
