If You’re Missing Out These Key Steps, You May Be Washing Your Hair All Wrong

So once that’s all done, we’re generally ready to go. Yet when looking at the bigger picture, the health of our hair could be suffering due to the routines we employ. Indeed, the 24/7 lifestyle can claim victims in more than just one regard. With that in mind, six simple tips have emerged that could leave you with a great, manageable head of hair.

Whether we care to admit it or not, our physical appearance plays a crucial role in our life. After all, it indicates who we are as individuals, from our faces to our overall body shape. However, it could be argued that our hair is our most noticeable feature overall.

Of course, certain hairstyles can have a huge impact on our physical appearance, changing the way we look in many cases. So given that, many of us try our absolute best to maintain the health of our hair through different routines. But we might be missing out on a few crucial steps.

For instance, in the last few years some important advice has emerged on how to look after your hair correctly. These tips might come as something of a surprise to those who believe they’ve been following the correct steps before. Yet according to experts, more could certainly be done to get us out of any bad habits.

For the ladies particularly, it’s suggested that a thorough blow-dry at home can help maintain your hair for a few days. In addition, celebrity hairstylist Dan Sharp says you could then change your look over the week without turning to a “hot tool.” But the positives don’t end there, as we’re about to discover.

Speaking to the Stylist website in April 2018, Sharp added, “Styling doesn’t always have to involve a hot tool. If you give yourself a fierce blowout on Monday, rock it out on Tuesday and on Wednesday do a fab high ponytail. Making your style last a few days will really help prevent damage.”

For those of us who want to keep our hair as healthy as possible, that latter point is particularly useful. Unfortunately, though, the thought of attempting a proper blow-dry outside of the hairdressers might put some people off. So, an expert in the field shared some in depth pointers on what to do.

“Start by flipping your head upside down, and shake your hair around while you blow-dry,” Harry Josh told Stylist. “The more you move, the more volume you’ll get. Once it’s about 80 percent dry, flip back up and blow-dry [your] hair in sections to smooth, focusing on polished ends.”

As Josh continued to explain, “The last three inches are key. Move your brush and dryer right down to the very end of the strands and take your time. It will make all the difference. Most people come at their heads from the side, which makes hair frizzy and staticky by pushing it all over the place.”

Meanwhile, Stylist also had another tip to online users. But compared to the previous step, this one was fairly straight forward. Yes, the website simply advised people to brush their hair more carefully in future. Sounds easy enough right? Well, in addition to that, it shared a few techniques that could help.

Indeed, the website made it clear that forceful brushing does damage your hair, even if you’re trying to remove pesky knots. By doing that, in fact, your follicles can develop split ends. As for when you should be running a comb through, expert Laura Superbi gave her views on the matter.

Yes, Superbi told Stylist, “For perfectly shiny, healthy and untangled hair, you should be brushing your hair twice a day. Once in the morning and once before going to bed, for about a minute each time.” However, if your mane is still damp after giving it a wash in the bathroom, another hairstylist made an interesting point.

That’s right, perhaps London’s most famous stylist, Nicky Clarke, revealed, “When your hair is soaking wet, it is weaker, fragile and more susceptible to breakage.” With that in mind, Stylist recommended that people should use a “wide-tooth comb” in those instances, as opposed to a brush. The latter tool is best equipped when your locks are dry.

Regarding wet hair, the Teen Vogue website had some tips of its own in an article from December 2017. In that particular piece, users were given information on how to care for their scalps when washing their locks. But while the following advice might seem a little obvious, it’s sometimes easy to forget.

As hair expert Oscar Blandi told the website, “Don’t use your nails or massage the scalp too harshly [while washing your hair]. You want to apply minimal pressure. Your scalp might naturally feel it, but it’s not as dirty as you think.” Alongside that, Blandi suggested that a double helping of shampoo would definitely cleanse the scalp.

While those general tips are no doubt a starting point, six more have come to light in the last few years. And crucially, these measures could help regenerate your hair, especially if you haven’t done them before. In fact, you might be left kicking yourself over why you hadn’t tried them sooner.

Furthermore, the first one might leave you surprised, even if several champions of the hair care industry have discussed the same thing. As it turns out, you shouldn’t be washing your hair everyday because that can harm it in the long-term. To back that up, Steve Rowbottom from the Westrow salon in England revealed more.

That’s correct, talking to Stylist, Rowbottom said, “Over-washing can be damaging for your hair. Especially if it is bleached, colored, has been chemically treated or is naturally very dry or porous. When you wash your hair everyday it strips away the natural oils and proteins that you need to keep your hair and scalp healthy.”

As Rowbottom continued to explain, “So try to limit hair washing to three times a week if you can.” However, the Westrow co-founder also realized that some people might not feel comfortable about that. So from there, he focused his attention on those who wouldn’t be happy sporting unwashed hair while out and about.

“If you’re prone to greasy hair, then use a little dry shampoo in between washes to soak up excess oil,” Rowbottom told the website. “But try and avoid becoming too reliant on dry shampoo. As it can cause build-up on the scalp and clog hair follicles, which can impede hair growth.”

Rowbottom then concluded, “If you really struggle to avoid frequent washing, then remember that certain styles work better – and look better – on hair that isn’t freshly washed. Braids, bedhead buns and twisted topknots are all great looks for those in-between wash days.” Regarding oils, that brings us on to the second tip.

Indeed, the online publication Bustle revealed that people can protect their hair before they get round to washing it again. To do that, the website advises you to add a form of nourishing oil to the ends of your locks. Once that’s done, you then apply the shampoo to your scalp, avoiding the oil.

By the time you’re ready to wash the shampoo off, it should just run down the ends with no effect. For you see, the oil that was previously applied will stop your mane from drying out. It’s a simple step, and one worth taking if you happen to suffer from dry ends after using certain products.

As for the third tip, Bustle offered up another intriguing piece of advice. After washing your hair, you’ll probably reach for whatever towel you can in an attempt to dry it. According to the aforementioned website, though, that’s not the best idea, especially if you want to protect your follicles.

Instead, Bustle suggests that you use a microfiber towel, which is far more absorbent than its cotton counterpart. Furthermore, that particular item can stop your hair from becoming frizzy once its dry as well. Off the back of that, Blandi then shared a bit of wisdom on what to do next.

Yes, Blandi told Teen Vogue, “After you towel dry, it’s always good to put some sort of heat protectant in, especially if you plan on using a hot tool. Remember, if you do plan on using a hot tool, you should never use it on hair that is even slightly damp. Hair needs to be fully dry before applying such heat.”

Meanwhile, the fourth tip is somewhat unorthodox compared to those that came before it. Now, hair mask treatments can be hugely beneficial for your locks, but there is an alternative to it. Indeed, if you don’t want to spend the money, you could create a mask yourself using, of all things, eggs.

As the author of the Bustle article explained, “Mix two egg yolks with two tablespoons of olive or coconut oil, put it on dry hair for 30 minutes and rinse off. It really works. It replenishes your hair with protein, and adds a shine and luminance that you just can’t get out of a bottle.”

While that tip might seem a little strange, the fifth step could well send a slight shiver down your spine. More often than not, people like to wash their hair in the shower, embracing the warm water during the winter months. But as it turns out, too much heat can cause problems for your follicles.

For you see, warm water can dry your hair out, much like certain shampoos do. To add to that, the heat can also impact dyed hair, causing the colors to lose their vibrancy. So on that note, it’s been advised that you should brave some cooler temperatures in the shower.

Indeed, the effects of cold water are quite positive, despite how unpleasant it might feel at first. When your head is exposed to warmer water, the hair cuticles (the outer cell layers of a hair) loosen up. However, lower temperatures close them. By doing that, your mane will maintain its “moisture” and avoid becoming frizzy later on.

Next up, a few experts shared their thoughts and opinions on the final step. For those who like to keep their hair looking good, they might apply some conditioner as they’re washing it. But as we’re about to find out, that might not be enough, especially if you rinse the product off too quickly.

Speaking to the Stylist website, hair expert Ted Gibson said, “For curly, highly textured hair, always deep condition. No two minute conditioners here. Deep conditioning involves using a conditioner that will add moisture and strength (protein) back to your hair.” And Gibson’s advice didn’t end there, as he explained what you should do next.

Gibson continued, “You should use heat by either applying conditioner to hair while taking a shower and let it sit while showering. Or by covering the hair with a plastic cap and applying heat from an outside [source] like a hair dryer. I believe it’s important to use leave-in conditioners and also not to shampoo so often.”

Elsewhere, Anthony Cole gave his opinion on the matter to Teen Vogue. Yes, the hairdresser from Sebastian Professional Haircare said, “You should start applying conditioner, mid-shaft downward towards the end. You can leave the conditioner in and wrap your hair in a towel for five to seven minutes. Any longer than that will leave residue in your hair.”

Then, another hair stylist, Andy LeCompte, revealed how conditioner can have a hugely positive impact on your hair. For instance, if you head to the gym, you could prevent your locks from looking bedraggled after a workout. And all you need to do is apply some product ahead of the time.

“While you exercise, you perspire, which means that your hair gets damp with sweat that can actually make it dry,” LeCompte told Stylist. “Before you hit the gym, wet your hair and add in some conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends. Rinse out the conditioner post-workout and you’ll be left with shiny, hydrated hair.”