At Home Care: Washing and Conditioning Tips

If you speak to any number of people, they’ll give you a variety of recommendations for hair care. Some only wash their hair once a week, while others insist that daily washings are a must. Some alternate between wet and dry shampoos, while others focus on ingredients such as sulfate-free shampoo.

Conditioner is another story, and recommendations vary from ingredients to application length to temperature of the water used during rinsing. It is a mix-up of recommendations that can leave one confused when looking at their options for hair care in the shower.

One thing is true when it comes to hair care, and that is a variety of options along with a variety of hair types makes one answer impossible.

1. Frequency of Washing

How often one washes their hair is dependent on oil, and oily scalps may need to be washed once a day. Chemically treated or damaged hair may be very dry, so it can be washed less. Age is a factor in oil production, and a person may need to wash their hair less as they age.

How do you know when to wash? Oil is an obvious obstacle to creating the perfect hairstyle, but the bigger indicator that you aren’t washing enough is flakes. Dandruff is unattractive and can be a sign of poor hygiene, but not washing your hair enough can lead to other scalp diseases that are more serious.

2. Wash the scalp; condition the tips.

Focus your application of shampoo on the scalp because that’s really what needs to be washed. The little soap that makes its way to the ends of your hair will be enough, and it will have less damaging effects.

Conditioner should be used after every shampooing, but it can make the hair appear oily if it is applied directly to the scalp. Instead, focus on the tips of the hair where dryness really shows up to make a mess of a good hair day.

3. Match your product with your hair.

Products meant for color-treated hair are not sales gimmicks to get a consumer to spend money. They are specially-formulated products meant to reduce damage and secure color. Likewise, products to relax or curl hair contain ingredients meant to get a person to their desired hair texture. Ask your stylist about the right product for your hair type. There are thousands of options out there, and they will be able to direct you to the latest and greatest.