Hair-washing is a fundamental hygiene ritual. It’s something that most people – including men and women – do every single day. But there’s a right way to do it, and if you aren’t doing it in the right way, you could suffer from any number of problems.

Understanding Your Hair Type

Hair comes in many different types, and each needs to be treated slightly differently. Your hair might be straight, wavy, curly, or coily. This is typically determined by genetics – you might have the same kind of hair as your mother or grandmothers. 

What matters more from a washing perspective is the amount of sebum being produced by your scalp. This is a natural kind of oil that helps to insulate hair strands, and protect against moisture loss.

Some people produce an excess of sebum; others don’t produce enough of it. This is effected by your diet, age, and stress levels. 

Depending on the shape and structure of your hair, and the amount of oil being produced naturally, you can tailor your approach to hair-care.

The Right Shampoo and Conditioner

Washing the right way starts with the right products. Look for shampoos that are free from sulfates, formaldehyde, parabens, hexachlorophene and phthalates. If you have coily hair, then looking for a hydrating shampoo that’s rich in oil might be beneficial.

If you’re suffering from an oily scalp, then you might instead look for tea-tree-based shampoos, or those containing sulfosuccinates (which will get rid of a lot of the oil). If your hair is thinning, then you can coax it back to life, or at least give the appearance of volume, with the right shampoo for hair growth.

What matters is that you experiment with a few different products before settling on the one you like. Try the expensive stuff, but don’t feel that you have to invest if the difference isn’t substantial. You might even experiment with forgoing shampoo entirely.

Washing Techniques: Step-by-Step Guide

So, what’s the best way to wash?

Firstly, you should wet your hair by rinsing it with warm water. Then apply just a little bit of shampoo, depending on how much hair you have. Massage this through your scalp before rinsing again. Then apply the conditioner and repeat the process, this time rinsing with cold water.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

With all of that said, there are a few common errors to watch out for, too:

Washing hair too frequently or infrequently

If your hair is fine and oily, or you suffer from dandruff, then washing every other day might be advisable. For everyone else, it’s better to wash twice a week. Just about everyone who washes their hair, according to the science, does it too often.

Using too much shampoo or conditioner

If you’re using too much shampoo or conditioner, then you could be leaving some of it in your hair. Even if you’re rinsing it properly, excess shampoo and conditioner is a waste of money.

Scrubbing the scalp too harshly

You don’t need to scrape your nails into your scalp to get a decent wash. The shampoo should naturally soak into your hair with just a little bit of encouragement.

Using hot water

Cold water is better, especially for the final rinse. You’ll get a better shine this way, in theory, because those nutrients will be sealed in. Plus, there are health benefits to cold showers.