5 Shampooing Mistakes To Avoid, And What To Do Instead
When I was a kid, I remember insisting my mother let me wash my own hair, contrary to her doing it for me. Now, after almost 20 years of washing my own hair, I came across all the things I’m doing wrong with it! Yup, there are some pretty common shampooing mistakes that people tend to make, and I am one of them. But are you? Let’s find out! Below listed are common mistakes that one makes while shampooing their hair. How many of these errors do you make while shampooing your hair? Find out:
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1. Not diluting the shampoo
My mother used to tell me that I need to dilute my shampoo before using it. As a 10-year-old, I genuinely thought that it was a sly attempt to save on our shampoo budget. And as a sign of young rebellion, I would never do that. Later, as a grown woman, I came to know that every shampoo is meant to be diluted with water before use. Now that I wish no more rebellion turned into bad hair health for anyone else, this is a PSA to start! Diluting! Your! Shampoo! Before! Use! This reduces the high concentration of chemicals in our shampoo formula and is gentler on the scalp and strands.
Do this instead: Take a small quantity of shampoo in your palm and add half parts water to it. Mix well with your fingers and lather it between your palms. Star cleansing your scalp first and then using leftover lather to cleanse your hair.
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2. Not rinsing thoroughly
If you’re someone who rushes their shampooing process, you might want to rethink shaving minutes off of your shower routine. If you’re not rinsing your hair thoroughly after shampooing, you’re risking high chances of product build-up that not only restricts your hair follicle to breathe freely but subjects your scalp, follicles, and strands to an elongated period of chemicals and preservatives present in your shampoo. It can dry your scalp and weaken your hair’s roots as well.
Do this instead: While cleansing shampoo lather from your hair, lightly massage your scalp with your fingers. Before running the shower down, make sure that the water draining from your hair is not soapy or bubbly anymore. That’s how you know that your hair is now squeaky clean.
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3. You’re only checking your hair type
Yes, you need to keep your hair type in mind while selecting the best haircare products for you. But what about your hair texture? Hair texture plays an important role in the way your hair looks, styles, grows, and even reacts to different hair care techniques. Keep a close check on your hair texture, and see if it’s fine, coarse, thick, etc. Shampoos for fine, oily hair will be different than what’s suitable for coarse, oily hair. For example, fine hair will always need light cleansing while coarse requires heavy moisturization.
Do this instead: Select a shampoo that’s suitable for your hair type and hair texture. And while you can also pay attention to major hair concerns like dandruff, other problems like hair fall and breakage are something treated only by targeted treatments. So don’t fall for ‘hair growth shampoos’ or ‘anti-hair fall shampoos’, and stick to simple formulas.
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4. Easy there, tiger! No roughhousing
If you find yourself going at it while washing your hair, you need to be stopped! Roughly scrubbing your hair and scalp might result in excessive hair fall and damage. Wet hair is more susceptible to breakage as hair proteins form weaker bonds in comparison to dry hair. This is why damp or wet hair is easy to stretch and can be easily damaged.
Do this instead: If your scalp needs an extra scrub-a-dub, invest in a shampoo brush or scalp scrubs. This will ensure a thorough cleanse without being intensely abrasive.
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5. Regular hot water shampoos
You might have heard this one way too often, but again, it IS that important. Using hot water for shampooing your hair regularly can result in brittle hair, and make your strands more porous, leading to even more hair fall and breakage. Hot water also tends to open the hair cuticles and follicles up, making your strands weaker.
Do this instead: Stick to either cold, room temperature, or lukewarm water when shampooing your hair. While once in a while hot water is fine, regular use can do irreversible damage to the quality and quantity of your luscious locks. Using lukewarm or cold water also helps in controlling hair frizz and improves manageability.
Now that you have the best shampooing practices on your hand, don’t go torturing your dear hair anymore! Stick to gentle and slow care for long-lasting results. Invest in hair care that’s suitable for you, and avoid giving in to the latest trend of the moment. Small haircare habits today will make a big difference tomorrow. Start now!
