5 Shampoo Mistakes You May Be Making

Shampooing seems so easy! After all, we’ve been doing it most of our lives. There isn’t really a right or wrong way to shampoo hair. Since everyone has different hair types, textures, and length, washing can be very personal! However, there are definitely some techniques that’ll promote hair growth and a healthy scalp. Here are five mistakes to avoid when shampooing.

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Not Massaging the Shampoo Into Your Scalp

If you’re not giving yourself scalp massages, you’re definitely missing out! Scalp massages stimulate blood flow, which is good for hair growth. Not only that, but the massage will help the shampoo saturate your roots to get rid of any product build-up that needs to go. It’s a win-win with a deep cleanse and a full pampering! Personally, I love using a scalp brush while lathering.

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Using Too Much Heat

Although it’s really hard not to take piping hot showers, it’s much better to take lukewarm ones! The hot water strips the moisture out of the hair and skin. This not only causes itchy scalp, but will dry out strands leading to frizzy hair. Unfortunately, it also leads to more breakage. If you have color or bleach in your hair, high temperatures will also be damaging to the dyes. The best way to shampoo is in cold water, as it keeps the hair shafts closed giving a sheen and sleek look. If you can’t handle the chill, washing your hair in warm water won’t cause damage like heat will.

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Forgetting to Rinse Twice

Be honest, have you ever thought that the “rinse twice” wording on the back of the shampoo bottle was just a marketing gimmick? Me too! I used to believe that that was just written to try and sell more shampoo bottles. After talking with my hair stylist, she myth busted my opinion; shampooing twice is a thing! Here’s how shampoo and water work together: think of it this way, the first time you shampoo, it’s working with the water to clean its way through all the product build up. If you use leave in conditioners, styling gels, dry shampoos, or hair spray you’re shampooing the first round to break those down. The second rinse is to really clean the scalp and hair shafts! Even though my stylist knows best, I didn’t believe it until trying the double rinse myself. The second time putting the product in my hair felt much different, and, after my shower, my hair dried with more volume at the roots.

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Lathering Your Hair With Too Much Shampoo Product

Did you know that a little shampoo goes a long way? Here’s how to use low shampoo: for every rinse, you only need a dime to quarter sized amount of shampoo to go directly onto your roots and scalp. A common mistake people make is using too much shampoo, which is drying to the hair strands. If you’re using a sulfate-free formula, it may seem less intuitive because there will be far less suds and lathering, but trust me on this one.

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Washing Your Hair Too Often

It’s only natural to want to instantly wash as soon as oil shows up. But, did you know, that you can train your hair to be washed less often? This will also help you use less shampoo. If you’re constantly washing the oil out of your hair, the scalp will produce more to compensate. This can cause an imbalance and lead to oily scalp, and dry ends from over-washing. Instead, use a detangling paddle brush from root to tip to spread the oil over your strands. Skip a wash day, slowly adding in more skip days, and eventually you’ll have trained your hair to only need shampooing once or twice a week!

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Lauryn

Lauryn is the founder and creative face of Lauryncakes. Since 2013, she has worked on hundreds of social media campaigns, organized various blogging events and workshops, and offered individual consultations for influencers and social media marketers.