You’ve been washing your hair all your life, so of course, you know what you’re doing! You pour the shampoo on your head, lather and rinse; then add a little bit of conditioner and rinse. Finish with a dry towel and get on with your life. Hair experts are aware of the typical person’s shampooing habits and that makes them grimace. Keeping hair clean seems like a no-brainer. Simply shampoo, condition, brush and go, right? Not quite. When it comes to washing your hair, using the wrong products, or not taking the time to wash and condition your hair correctly, can result in some annoying hair and scalp issues. Read on our post below to learn about Common Hair Washing Mistakes You May Be Making.
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Using Too Many Shampoos
Are you noticing that your hair is changing? Do you think that maybe your hair has gotten “used to” your current shampoo and conditioner? Hair doesn’t acclimate to the formulas in these products. It’s actually easier and better on your hair if you stick to just one.
What you may not realize is that hair texture changes based on the weather, and your hair may be shifting slightly in response. Instead of haphazardly switching your product, research the one that is best for your hair type during the current season.
Washing hair with hot water
Running a hot shower feels like a godsend on tense and sore muscles, but do avoid extreme temperatures when washing your hair. Too hot, and it opens up the hair cuticle, which dries it out and makes it more vulnerable to breakage. The lack of moisture also means that your hair is more prone to frizziness – something you don’t want in a climate as finicky as Singapore’s.
What to do instead: Use lukewarm water instead. It’s warm enough to dissolve any build-up, and it’s also just the right temperature to open up your hair cuticle to allow the goodness of your shampoo to penetrate and work its magic.
Once that’s done, switch to cool water. It’ll close your hair cuticles, which will seal in the moisture and give your hair a shinier, smoother look.
You’re not buying the right hair products
While we spend hours researching skincare products, we tend to grab any hair product from the drugstore, but this is a big mistake. Finding a shampoo and conditioner to suit your hair type means you’ll be able to give your hair what it really needs. For example, curly hair products will contain humectants and nourishing oils that could make fine, straight hair look greasy. Similarly, products for fine hair could matte curly hair… trust us, we learned the hard way!
You’re applying conditioner to the scalp
Applying conditioner to the scalp will make your roots ever more oily. It’s your hair and the ends that need the most hydration. Putting conditioner on or near your scalp can clog your hair follicles, slowing hair growth and increasing oil production.
Using a Fancy Shampoo With Silicone
Shampoos that contain silicone will make your hair feel silky and smooth instantly, but unfortunately, they end up drying your hair out over time. The problem is that in their pursuit of a smooth texture, they can block hair follicles, which can impede new hair growth or even cause your hair to fall out!
Experts agree that shampoo has just one job: to clean hair. That’s it! You can use silicone-based hair products (like conditioners and pomades), just make sure that your shampoo doesn’t contain it. What should you look out for when choosing a shampoo? Avoid any that contain the ingredient dimethicone.
Rubbing your hair dry with a towel
One of the Common Hair Washing Mistakes- There are countless scenes on the big screen where the hot, bare-bodied lead actor runs a towel through his hair. But before we jump to follow suit, we need to know that drying our hair that way is actually more damaging than we realize.
Doing so ruffles up the cuticles of your hair follicle, which overall spells out more frizz and damage. Additionally, hair is already more fragile when wet, and the rough nature of the action will simply cause it to break off.
What to do instead: If you have the time, simply let your hair air-dry. Alternatively, gently dab your towel on your hair, or squeeze the water out.
