For starters, the cleansing detergent in the shampoo makes your hair dry, which leads to brittle hair and inevitable damage. Even shampoos that promise to repair dry hair will have this agent if they claim to cleanse hair as well. These shampoos often contain an agent that leaves a film on the hair to produce a false shine. Now you are left with damaged hair and it builds up. Also, the scrubbing action that is involved in the “lathering” process creates new split ends and makes old ones worse. To avoid these problems, learn to wash your hair as recommended by stylists to the stars.
This process takes a bit longer, but the results are worth every second. Before you get in the shower, make sure your hair is free of tangles. After your hair is wet, apply a small amount of shampoo and gently rub it into your scalp, and your scalp only. If you are concerned that this will not be enough for cleansing, you can leave the shampoo on your hair without rubbing it in for another minute or two. Then just rinse out the shampoo. As it glides through the rest of your hair, it will continue to clean, removing the products you’ve applied and the natural oils that are produced on the scalp. Unless you’re washing your hair after a day of playing in mud puddles, the “repeat” instruction is completely unnecessary. The result is clean hair that is easier to manage.
Some simpler tips can improve this process. When applying conditioner, use it only on hair that extends to the nape of the neck, not on hair close to the scalp. The scalp produces natural oils that make conditioner unnecessary. Leave it on for a few more minutes and rinse with cold water to close the cuticles, leaving hair softer and less susceptible to further damage from styling. Finally, when it comes to drying your hair, never, and I repeat, never, rub it with your towel! Rubbing a rough, yet soft, towel against the fiber of your hair further damages it and makes split ends worse because hair is weaker when wet. Instead, towel dry your hair and comb it lightly with your fingers. When it’s dry, feel free to brush it off.
If you insist on using a blow dryer on your hair, there are a few rules to avoid heat damage. If you have time, wait several minutes to allow your hair to dry a bit naturally. Drier hair is stronger, and you won’t have to expose it to heat for as long. Also, swipe a serum or pomade on each section of your hair to create a barrier between your cuticles and heat.
Let’s not blame hair product manufacturers for not informing us of these vital instructions. The bottles are generally small, leaving room for just three (misleading) words. And, of course, they do offer serums, masks and lotions so that we can repair the damage that they have caused us.
