The correct way to wash your hair

Spend a little time detangling your hair with a wide tooth comb before you wash it, especially if your usual hairstyle includes backcombing. Hair is extremely delicate when it is wet, and combing your hair while you have shampoo on can lead to further breakage.

Piling up your hair on top of your head as your lather your shampoo may make you feel like you’re in a hair care commercial, but really you’re only creating knots. Let your hair hang down naturally as you concentrate on lathering the shampoo at your roots.

Starting or ending your day with a hot shower sure feels shiok, but it’s also drying out your hair. Dry hair is more prone to frizz and looks dull and lifeless. Switch to warm water when shampooing and cool when rinsing out the conditioner. Warm water opens the hair cuticle to lift dirt and product build up while cool water to closes cuticles.

While you need to ensure your hair is soaking wet before you apply and lather your shampoo, it’s the reverse when it comes to applying conditioner. Gently squeeze out excess water—without wringing your hair—before you work the conditioner into the lengths. This will ensure the product is not diluted and your hair soaks in all the benefits from the conditioner.

Regardless of your hair length, one pump of shampoo is sufficient to wash your whole head of hair. The reason is explained in the next point.

Sebum accumulates on your scalp, not hair strands. Hence, it’s important to wash your scalp thoroughly because an unhealthy scalp is the root of all hair problems. This is also why you only need one pump of shampoo. Try the Love, Beauty and Planet Tea Tree Oil and Vetiver shampoo, $12.90, that soothes and refreshes the scalp.

If your scalp feels oily and the shampoo is not lathering up well, don’t add more shampoo. Instead, continue shampooing, rinse and repeat the process. The shampoo should lather up into a nice foam. If it doesn’t, it might be due to leftover sebum and buildup on your scalp. The Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Matcha + Apple Replenishing Superfood Shampoo, $43 will cleanse without stripping your scalp or hair of their natural oils.

Conditioner is made for your tresses, not your scalp. Hence, it should only be applied on areas where your hair is dry (usually the ends). If you have dry, flaky scalp, use a mild (or medicated) shampoo and avoid applying other products that might aggravate your condition. If the itch persists, consult a doctor, as it could point to a skin condition.

In Singapore’s sweltering weather, washing your hair once a week should not even be an option. It’s all right to shampoo your hair every day if you’re using a mild shampoo like the Kristen Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo, $21 that is ideal for daily shampooing.

You wouldn’t scrub your face every day, would you? In the same vein, a deep cleansing shampoo might do a mighty job in washing away the grime, and leaving your scalp clean and refreshed, but it shouldn’t be used every day as it might strip the natural oils and dry out your scalp. As the name suggests, keep the Abyssian Sunday Detox Exfoliating Shampoo, $56 for your weekly deep cleanse and your scalp and hair will be happy and healthy.

When choosing a shampoo, take into account the condition of your scalp and not just your strands. You may have dry ends, but if your scalp is oily, using a shampoo for dry hair might lead to a congested scalp. If you have oily scalp, use a shampoo that can help your condition and moisturise your ends using a hair mask like the the Sephora Collection Coconut Instant Hair Mask.

This story was first published in Cleo.

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