Correct Hair Washing: Rules and Tips to Keep in Mind

Even though it's often viewed as a simple hair cleaning task, the primary role of washing your hair is to maintain its health and vitality. Thus, it's not enough to wash your hair just when you think it's necessary; you need to follow some rules regarding both the frequency and the method of washing.

At first glance, it seems simple, yet there are many men who don't know these rules or ignore them, convinced their hair isn't long enough to require special attention.

Paraphrasing a famous refrain, we could say "it doesn't matter how long your hair is" when it comes to its care, and here's how you should proceed to keep it healthy and shiny. Or simply, to maintain it—since proper washing can also prevent hair loss.

Use lukewarm water

Hot water can easily damage your hair, while water that's too cold doesn't soften the layer of sebum accumulated on the scalp sufficiently, so it isn't completely cleaned after washing.

For this reason, it's recommended to wash your hair with lukewarm water, which also helps open the pores at the hair level, allowing for better absorption of the active ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner applied afterward.

When rinsing, you should use slightly colder water because this closes the pores, thus aiding in the absorption of the substances we've mentioned.

Shampoo twice

Even if your hair seems clean, you should apply shampoo twice during each wash, and if necessary, you can even go for a third wash. The first dose of shampoo is meant to degrease the hair and scalp, while the subsequent dose cleanses deeply.

It's also important which product you use because there are different types of shampoo, and you need to choose the one best suited for your hair.

You should also know that shampoo is applied to the scalp, at the roots, and not along the length of the hair. Additionally, during washing, you should thoroughly massage the scalp, including the nape and behind the ears, without focusing on the strands. For washing these, the lather from the shampoo that flows during rinsing is sufficient.

Use a hair conditioner

After washing the hair with shampoo, it is advisable to apply a conditioner that offers extra protection and nutrients to keep it healthy.

Unlike shampoo, hair conditioner is applied along the entire length of the hair, avoiding application at the roots or on the scalp. Then, it is left to act for a few minutes, after which the hair is rinsed again with slightly colder water, as explained before.

Don't pull tangled hair

If you have slightly longer hair, it may get tangled, especially if we're talking about curly or wavy hair. Wet hair detangles much more easily, so such a problem can be solved during washing.

If you don't succeed on the first try, don't force it by pulling the hair too hard or twisting it. Wet hair is more fragile, and doing so risks breaking it or tangling it even more.

It's better to use combs or brushes that detangle the hair much more easily than you can with just your fingers.

Avoid daily washing

Even though it might seem harmless to wash as often as possible, when it comes to washing your hair, you should also consider the old saying, "too much is too much." More precisely, washing hair isn't the same as taking daily showers; washing 1-2 times a week is preferable.

Even though it's considered unaesthetic, the sebum produced on the scalp serves to protect the roots and hair strands, so it should only be removed when it accumulates excessively.

For people with oily hair, this happens more quickly, while for those with dry hair, sebum accumulates more slowly. Normal hair shows visible signs of greasiness after 7-10 days, so a weekly wash should suffice. If your hair is very greasy, you can wash it every 3-4 days, possibly using a shampoo that reduces sebum secretion.

Apply other hair care products after complete washing

Among all hair maintenance products, shampoo is the only one recommended for washing, while others are applied to clean hair, immediately after washing or later on.

These products also help in maintaining the health and shine of your hair, but only if used according to each one's specific instructions, and never during washing.

For example, hair gel—one of the best-known hair care products— is applied to clean, perfectly dry hair, like wax and hair oils, or volume powder.

As you can see, they are simple tips, easy to remember and implement, so we recommend you keep them in mind every time your hair needs a wash.