The Proper Way To Wash Your Hair in 5 Steps

Washing your hair may seem like a no-brainer, but when was the last time you thought about the process? One of the reasons you love your hair so much after a visit to your hairstylist is that the pros know how to treat your locks.

They use the right products and techniques to help beat the frizz and give you shiny, healthy hair. The good news is that you can get the salon effect at home – you just need to make a few adjustments to your normal haircare routine. Read on to learn how to wash your hair the right way for soft and healthy-looking results.

Table of contents:

• How Does Shampoo Affect Your Hair?
• How Does Water Affect Your Hair?
• How Should You Wash Your Hair?
• Can You Use Leave-In Conditioner?
• How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

How Does Shampoo Affect Your Hair?

You can end up causing more harm than good to your hair when you use the wrong products. Different hair types have different needs – but no matter what type of hair you have, you'll want to steer clear of products containing sulfates and silicones.

These ingredients are commonly found in drugstore hair products. They can initially make your hair feel soft, but over time, they can build up on your hair strands, making your hair look dull. They can also strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and damaged.

Sulfates can even cause skin irritation if you have sensitive skin. Because of this, those with certain skin conditions that can cause skin sensitivity may want to stick with sulfate-free shampoos.

When it comes to what kind of shampoo to use, if you have fine hair, you can look for a gentle and clarifying product. If you have thick or coarse hair, opt for a moisturizing shampoo. If you have color-treated hair, you should use color-safe products that won't remove any hair dye.

No matter what your hair type is, conditioner is all about hydration. You can find different conditioners to help with things like natural damage repair, smoothing frizziness, and even supporting hair growth.

WOW Skin Science's hair products can transform your hair. Even better, our products don't contain any sulfates, silicones, or parabens . Our tried-and-true formulas can nourish all hair types – and since they're vegan and cruelty-free, you can rest easy knowing that you're putting the animals first.

How Does Water Affect Your Hair?

Something you may have never considered before is the type of water you're using to wash your hair. If it's hard water , you may end up with a film on your hair.

Hard water contains several minerals, like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can create buildup on your hair and prevent your hair products from properly absorbing into the shaft. Hard water may even irritate the scalp and skin of some people.

So what do you do if you have hard water? Obviously, washing your hair with bottled water isn't practical.

However, you can get a water softener, which will help remove some of the minerals in the water. If you don't own your home or rent an apartment, you can install a water softener showerhead that'll get the job done.

You also will want to use a clarifying shampoo like our Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo one to two times a week to help remove mineral buildup. It's infused with raw apple cider vinegar, helping clarify and rebuild your hair to remove buildup and restore softness.

How Should You Wash Your Hair?

Now that you know what kinds of products to use and what to avoid, let's get into how to properly wash hair.

1. Wet Your Hair

Once you get into the shower, thoroughly wet your hair with lukewarm water before using shampoo. Depending on how thick your hair is, it could take some time for your hair to get completely wet.

Allow the water to run through your hair, and use your fingers to make sure the bottom section of your hair is fully wet. Avoid using super hot water, which can be damaging to your hair and scalp. Instead, opt for warm water, which helps open up your hair cuticles and allows them to absorb your products better.

2. Shampoo Your Hair

Using the right shampoo for your hair type, apply an appropriate amount of shampoo to the palm of your hand. You don't want to use too much because this can make it harder to wash it all out.

Before applying the shampoo to your hair, mix in a little water to thin out the shampoo and rub your hands together. This will make it easier to distribute the shampoo evenly throughout your hair. Next, rub your hands over your entire scalp and crown.

You don't need to massage shampoo into your roots since it might dry them out. Focus the shampoo on your scalp and massage it with gentle pressure from your fingertips to work a good lather up.

However, you don't want to scrub your scalp too vigorously, as this can cause irritation. Try to find a happy medium.

Spend around three minutes working the shampoo into your scalp and roots. Avoid using a circular motion, which can damage your hair follicles and cause tangling.

Finish by rinsing out the shampoo, making sure not to leave any traces behind. A big mistake people often make is leaving shampoo in their hair. Product buildup like this can lead to scalp irritation and flakiness , and it can also dry out your hair.

3. Condition Your Hair

Next, grab your conditioner and rub it onto your palms as you did with the shampoo. You don't want to apply a massive glob of conditioner to one part of your hair and then try to spread it out – this can cause your hair to look and feel oily in some areas and dry in others.

When you apply your conditioner, focus the product from about the mid-length point of your strands down to your ends. You don't need to massage it into your scalp because it can cause your roots to look oily. We recommend leaving it on your hair for at least two to three minutes to allow the nourishing ingredients to soak in.

If you have dry hair, try WOW Skin Science's Coconut & Avocado Natural Hair Conditioner . This conditioner is infused with botanical extracts to soften and rebuild your hair, and it'll have your hair smelling like a tropical paradise.

Afterward, you can use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair while the conditioner sits to help make washing it out easier. You can also opt for a hair mask instead of a conditioner if your hair needs a little more hydration.

4. Rinse Your Hair

Once your conditioner has worked its magic, give your hair its final rinse. If you need to wake up a little, consider turning the water temperature down and doing a cold water rinse.

The cool water can help remove the conditioner without stripping any moisture from your hair like hot water can. The cold water can also help close your hair follicles, making your hair look smoother and shinier.

5. Dry Your Hair

Once you're done with your shower, towel-dry your hair. First, squeeze out as much excess water as you can. Then, wrap the towel around your head and gently pat your hair dry. You want to avoid rubbing the towel back and forth since this can cause breakage.

You can also use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt instead of a regular towel since your everyday towel may be a rougher material that isn't soft enough for your hair. You can allow your hair to air dry or blow dry it while using other hair products to smooth and give volume to your hair.

Can You Use Leave-In Conditioner?

After you wash your hair, consider using a leave-in conditioner to help you brush through and get any tangles out of your hair without pulling on or damaging it. A leave-in conditioner can also add more moisture and nutrients to your hair.

Our WOW Hair Revitalizer Spray is a leave-in conditioner that contains many essential nutrients. For instance, it has extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil, Moroccan argan oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, vitamin E, bhringraj extract, rosemary, and tea tree essential oils. This nourishing concoction can help tame frizzy hair and give you stronger roots with fewer split ends.

Our gentle formula can also help restore the shine and vitality of your hair. To get glossy, runway-ready hair, simply apply a few sprays throughout wet hair and gently massage it into your scalp and the length of your hair.

Brushing through your hair can also help distribute the product. You can leave it on all day or go to bed and allow it to absorb into your hair overnight.

It's especially helpful to use a leave-in conditioner if you're going to blow-dry your hair. A moisturizing product like our Revitalizer Spray can help protect your hair from the heat and restore hydration that the hot air might strip away.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

The good news is it's not necessary to go through this whole hair-washing routine every night. In fact, you really shouldn't be shampooing your hair every day since over-washing can remove too much of your hair's natural oils and moisture.

Even if you use a high-quality conditioner, it's still good to maintain your hair's natural moisture by spacing out your washes. Plus, if you color your hair, washing it every day can accelerate color fading.

Instead, aim to wash your hair two to four times per week, depending on your routine and your hair. If you regularly work up a sweat at the gym or have oily hair, you may need to wash it more often. You can also rinse with water instead of using shampoo every night to help give your hair a little refresh.

Wet your hair and use a small amount of conditioner on days you want to clean your hair without washing it thoroughly. This will wash away the sweat and revive your strands without stripping the natural moisture.

If you're not washing your hair and it's feeling a little dry, you can use a small amount of leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair. It will allow you to go an extra day without washing and give your hair the hydration it needs.

If you have oily hair, a small amount of dry shampoo can go a long way toward helping your hair look fresh all day. However, too much dry shampoo can cause product buildup and dry out your hair. Instead of using dry shampoo for several days in a row, try learning new hairstyles to keep your hair up on bad hair days.

Healthy, Happy-Looking Hair

Now you know the proper way to wash your hair! Remember to wash your hair thoroughly every few days and apply a leave-in conditioner to rock the fresh salon 'do every day.

But it's not just about how you wash your hair. Choosing the right products will also go a long way in achieving a healthy hair look. Luckily, we help take the guesswork out of haircare.

WOW Skin Science's vegan hair products are made without harsh chemicals, parabens, or sulfates so that you can take your hair care routine to the next level.