Six hair wash blunders you might be making

We may all be guilty of the following hair-care mistakes

While washing hair may not seem like rocket science, there is (or at least, should be) much more to it than simply lathering on some shampoo and rinsing it off. A proper hair wash routine requires much more than that but most of us remain blissfully unaware of this fact.

We continue to follow our misguided washing techniques without realising how detrimental they can be to the hair and hair follicles. Read on to find out about the six most common blunders we make when it comes to our hair and how we can avoid them for a healthier mane.

1. Give it a break: We are all clean-freaks when it comes to hair but did you know that daily washing can take away hair’s natural shine, thanks to the strong chemicals mixed in commercial shampoos? According to hair experts, natural oils are produced by the scalp and reach till the ends of your hair, making them look shiny and healthy. Regular wear and tear causes the oils to deplete. If you are worried about grease, try a dry shampoo or water and restyle them with a blow dry.

2. Stick to one shampoo: Switching from one shampoo to another might be okay once in a while but regular switching —  or even using two or more different shampoos at one time — affects hair adversely. As time goes by, your hair gradually builds tolerance to the special product you are using. However, if you suffer from oily hair or style them frequently using sticky products, then a switch to a clarifying shampoo once every couple of weeks could do you good.

3. Don’t overdo it: You are overdoing the washing when you apply the equal amount of shampoo and conditioner from scalp till the ends of your hair. Experts recommend focusing the shampoo on your scalp and conditioning just the mid-shaft of each strand to the ends. This ensures that the moisture reaches where it is needed most and also protects against excess build up and residue on the skin.

4. Always use conditioner: Don’t underestimate the power of conditioner because without it, your hair will be limp, dry and dull.  Adequate conditioning after every wash will boost your hair’s strength and volume, especially if the conditioner is of the same brand as the shampoo. In fact, conditioner also cuts down on friction and breakage when you brush your hair. Using only conditioner to wash your hair may not result in the thorough cleaning of a shampoo but will leave the hair feeling and looking nice.

5. No to hot showers: It may be cold outside and as relaxing as a hot shower may seem, it can actually distress your hair further. Heat tends to open the pores on the scalp and a hot water wash doesn’t allow the pores to close down once the hair has been washed. Cold water, on the other hand, is more relaxing to the skin and closes the pores. The best option for you is to take a warm shower and at the end, rinse your hair with cold water for about 30 seconds. This will also lock in essential moisture needed for healthy tresses.

6. Let the dye stay: Unnecessary rinsing of dyed hair will shorten the life-time of the hair colour. Coloured hair tends to absorb and release water much easily so avoid washing it too much, especially with hot water as heat makes the colour fade faster.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, March 15^th, 2015.