How often should you use hair shampoo?
It all depends on the individual and the environment in which you live. The main aim of everyone of course should be clean healthy hair.
Whether you need to shampoo daily or not will depend on whether you live in an urban environment where your hair is likely to pick up dirt and grime more quickly.
It can also depend on the season of the year. Many find they need to shampoo more often in hotter weather than in cooler or colder seasons.
That aside, the steps outlined below will help you avoid unnecessarily subjecting your hair to harsh treatment or even damage when using shampoo and at the same time get great results.
Be sure to choose a shampoo that is suited to your hair type, whether it be oily, dry, or chemically treated.
Step 1
Either go through your hair with a wide-tooth comb to loosen dirt and dead skin or gently massage the scalp for a couple of minutes which will do the same job.
Combing also has the advantage of making sure your hair is not tangled before you wash it. Wet hair is fragile and trying to de-tangle wet hair can cause damage.
Step 2
Thoroughly wet the hair with WARM water, avoid high temperatures.
Step 3
After putting a dollop of shampoo on the palm of one hand and then dividing it into the palm of the other hand (simply rub hands together), gently distribute the shampoo over your hair as evenly as possible, preferably using a stroking action. (See Appendix regarding quantity)
Step 4
Rinse the hair with generous quantities of warm water.
Step 5
Rinse your hair again with generous quantities of warm water. (Generally one time is not enough. It takes a lot of water to thoroughly rinse away the shampoo. Remember, shampoo residue left in the hair can contribute to dull looking hair.)
Step 6
Use a towel and dab your hair, (don't rub), to remove excess water.
Step 7
Put a dollop of conditioner into the palm of your hand, divide it into the palm of the other hand and evenly distribute over the surface of the hair. Generally this light application will be enough to treat the hair. Usually it doesn't increase the effectiveness of the conditioner to leave it on for extended periods. Conditioner usually works immediately it comes in contact with the hair and hair cuticles.
Step 8
Rinse the conditioner away thoroughly with WARM water.
Step 9
Dab or pat your hair with a towel to remove excess moisture. Don't rub as wet hair is fragile and liable to be damaged with rough handling. Wrapping the towel around the head for a few minutes can be effective in getting rid of the moisture.
Appendix
How much shampoo should you use?
If you wash your hair every day one application of shampoo, a dollop roughly 1 inch in diameter, should be enough.
If you wash your hair after two or three days, you may need to repeat the application.
The pH factor
Some hair shampoos are advertised to give your hair more bounce or body. In some cases these shampoos are alkaline based which can give the impression of added bounce when in actual fact they can make the hair stiff and brittle.
Good quality hair shampoos that really add volume to your hair should have an acid balance between pH 4.5 and pH 5.5.
Regarding the pH factor, Proctor and Gamble give this helpful information:
"When a shampoo with a different pH factor is applied to the hair, the pH levels of the hair and scalp are altered temporarily. However, as soon as the shampoo has been rinsed away and the hair and scalp are dry, they return to their normal pH, usually within minutes.
It is only when the pH of a shampoo does not fall within the normal range of 4 - 9 that it can affect the hair. If left on for a long time, highly acidic products with a pH under 4, or highly alkaline products with a pH over 9, can break down the bonds which hold the hair shaft together and cause permanent damage."
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