Is your hair feeling brittle? Scalp dry? Locks not as lustrous as you want them to be? It’s possible you’re damaging your hair with five hair-washing mistakes.
If you follow these guidelines, you will see significant improvement in your hair and scalp health.
Regular washing keeps your hair and scalp healthy and fresh, but you can have too much of a good thing. Washing your hair removes the natural oils that your scalp produces, which can lead to dry, frizzy, dull hair and an itchy scalp.
Over-washing can make your hair oilier over time, because your scalp will ramp up oil production to replace the protective layer that you keep stripping away. Do this for long enough, and you could develop greasy hair and dandruff, which might make you think you need to wash your hair even more frequently. It’s a vicious cycle.
Many people do well washing their hair twice a week. Exceptions are people with fine hair, who may experience greasiness more quickly, and people who exercise a lot or live in hot climates where sweat is an unavoidable part of daily life.
We get it—cold rinses aren’t exactly pleasant. Very hot water opens up the cuticles on your hair, exposing each strand to damage and dryness. You might enjoy taking a steaming hot shower, but you could be setting yourself up for hair breakage, frizziness, and loss. If you color your hair, washing it under hot water may cause your color to fade faster.
The right way to wash your hair is to use lukewarm water to wet your hair before you shampoo. The mild heat will allow the cleansing agents in your shampoo to penetrate the hair shaft, but it won’t be so hot that it’ll cause damage. Lather up as usual, and then rinse with cool water to close your hair cuticles and lock moisture into each strand.
Try a cold rinse routine for a while and see how it helps to preserve your hair color, promote shine, and prevent breakage.
If your scalp is tender and itchy, you might not scrub it too hard, preferring to concentrate on working the suds into the lengths of your hair. Dirt, oil, skin cells, and hair products build up on your scalp as much as (if not more than) in your hair. It’s impossible to have healthy hair without first taking care of the skin that forms the foundation for growth.
As you wash, make sure to spend some time massaging your scalp with your fingertips. There’s a happy medium between ignoring your scalp entirely and scratching it roughly with your fingernails the way a cat kneads a blanket. The goal is to gently exfoliate away the buildup, work your shampoo into the roots of your hair, and stimulate circulation to the skin.
For best results, spread some shampoo over your entire scalp—from hairline to neck and from ears to crown—and massage in circular motions to promote optimal blood flow. If you have thick hair or a lot of buildup, you may need to rinse and repeat two or three times to get a good lather and a deep clean feeling.
If you have dry hair from roots to tips, you can use this same circular motion to massage some conditioner into your scalp before working it through the lengths of your hair. If you tend toward greasy roots, use conditioner just on the ends of your hair. As a general rule, too much moisture is a better problem than too little moisture.
Caring for your scalp can help you grow healthier hair in the future. It also ensures that your hair is clean, so you can reduce hair-washing frequency.
Hair products feature a vast variety of ingredients, formulations, and scents for a reason. Not everyone reacts the same way to every product. Products that give your best friend shiny, thick hair might cause your scalp to be itchy and dry.
If you struggle with hair and scalp dryness, greasiness, flakes, irritation, or other problems despite washing your hair with the above techniques, the products you’re using could be the culprit.
Find a high-quality shampoo and conditioner set without sulphates that can exacerbate dry hair by stripping away natural moisture, or silicones that can worsen hair damage. All of our Abbey products contain no sulphates, and you can personalize your choice based on your hair color (choose this shampoo for lighter shades or this one for darker hues).
Don’t focus on just the shampoo and conditioner that you use. Every product that contacts your skin and hair can make a difference, so check the ingredients on your detangler, mousse, hair spray, and anything else you apply to your hair.
You’ve incorporated cold rinses to preserve your hair and prevent damage, you’ve swapped out harsh products for gentler, more natural options, and your scalp massage skills could rival those of a professional masseuse. So, why are you still experiencing hair breakage?
It’s possible that your gentle routine in the shower isn’t translating once you step out. Maybe you’re late for work, your kids or spouse are banging on the bathroom door, and your patience is running thin. You give your hair a quick scrub with the towel, yank a hairbrush through the biggest tangles, and then do your best to dry and style your hair quickly before you’re out the door.
Unfortunately, vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel and roughly combing through wet strands is almost guaranteed to cause some hair damage and breakage.
In those moments when you find yourself rushing, try to slow down, pat gently to dry, and use a high-quality detangler to get rid of the snarls without breakage. It takes a few extra seconds, but your hair will thank you in the long run!
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