9 Shampoo and Conditioner Mistakes You Need To Stop Making. S.T.A.T!

We do it most days, yet many of us are getting it all wrong. Here’s how to ensure success when shampooing and conditioning your hair.

1 - Condition Kindly: 

Conditioning your hair correctly is key to ensuring hair health. Many of us are either slapping on Conditioner haphazardly or with a heavy hand but concentrating your Conditioner application exactly where it’s needed - and holding back where it is not - is a simple way to get this crucial step right. As your scalp produces natural oils to lubricate the entire hair shaft, you don’t need to apply Conditioner to the roots and scalp. Instead, gently smooth - not rub - Conditioner through the mid-lengths to ends of the hair - which is the area that can become the most dehydrated, requiring the most hydration. Then, ‘fold’ the lengths and ends upwards if you want to condition around the scalp area. The residual product will suffice in conditioning this area.  

Got an oily scalp? This is not an excuse to skip Conditioner. Even if you have oily hair, it can still become dehydrated which makes application to mid-lengths important.  

2 - Care For Colour: 

Hair Colour can suffer once you leave the salon if you don’t use the best Shampoo and Conditioner to nurture it. Coloured hair is no exception as many regular Shampoo and Conditioners contain ingredients that can prove damaging on chemically treated and coloured hair types. These include sulphates and parabens which swell the hair strand, opening the outer layer of the hair cuticle and leaving it susceptible to external aggressors - including UV damage - and allowing colour to fade. A compromised hair cuticle also creates loss of hydration and moisture, leaving hair brittle, prone to breakage and frizzy. Don’t make the mistake of using anything less than the best Shampoo for your professionally coloured hair. Drop into Hairhouse and ask our Professional Hair Stylists - or jump online - to shop the best brands to support and compliment your new colour at home.  

Try: L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Shampoo 

3 - I.D Your Hair Type:

You would never use the wrong skincare for your skin concern or incorrect shade of foundation on your complexion, so why should you skimp on ensuring you are using the right Shampoo and Conditioner for your hair type? With so many amazing Shampoo and Conditioners available, there is one designed just for you. And it’s not all fancy packaging and false promises. Modern formulations work and ensure that coloured hair, dry hair, oily hair, curly hair, grey hair, and fine hair all have a targeted Shampoo and Conditioner in their corner. Not sure of the best Shampoo or Conditioner is for you? Simply drop into Hairhouse and chat with one of our Professional Salon Stylists who will determine your hair type and prescribe the best Shampoo and Conditioner for your needs. Can’t get into a store? Just jump online to shop a variety of amazing Shampoo and Conditioner options to suit your shower needs! 

4 - Be Gentle:  
 
Even if you’re having a super quick shower, never rush your Shampoo or Conditioner application. Even the best Shampoo can only go to work if it’s used correctly, so it’s important to take the time to gently wash and condition your hair, which will reduce the risk of damaged hair from friction or roughness. Also, a bigger lather doesn’t equate to a better clean. In fact, lather can be created by sulphates and parabens so it can be a negative.  

Always approach the ritual of shampooing and conditioning with a level of self-care and a gentle touch - not unlike applying a face mask. Gently disperse the desired amount of Shampoo into the palm of your hand and apply to mid-lengths to ends, running excess product through the lengths of the hair, leaving hair feeling soft and coated. Take a Scalp Brush and in small, circular motions, create a gentle lather at the scalp, working the Shampoo into the area in small, circular motions. This will simultaneously stimulate blood flow, encouraging focused cleansing of the area, leading to robust, strong, healthy hair growth. Gently draw the excess Shampoo down the length of the hair shaft, avoiding rubbing the hair cuticle together, which helps reduce frizziness. Repeat with your Conditioner and rinse with a cool shot of water to close the hair shaft and retain moisture and hydration.

Try: Bondi Boost Scalp Therapy Brush

5 - Keep It Cleansed and Detoxed:  

Over time, Haircare, Styling products, dandruff and daily environmental build-up can leave hair feeling heavy and the scalp area congested. One mistake many people make is vigorously and roughly washing hair with their everyday Shampoo and Conditioner in the quest to detox and cleanse hair. But that is where we’re getting it wrong. Cleansing and detoxifying Shampoo and Conditioners are an easy addition to your Haircare routine that can remove build up that is preventing hair being - and feeling - fully cleansed and clean. Unlike regular Shampoo that may be focused on hydrating, moisturising, or protecting colour, Clarifying and Detoxifying Shampoos are designed to deliver a deep-clean, lifting and removing dead skin, dandruff and debris from the scalp and hair shaft, plus all build-up of product residue. This then allows for nutrients and goodness in Shampoos, Conditioners and Haircare to be effectively absorbed into the hair. So, stick with the right Shampoo and Conditioner for your hair type as a general rule, and use a Cleansing, Clarifying or Detoxifying Shampoo and Conditioner in regular intervals.  

6 - Tailor Your Towel: 

The first step of Haircare starts with how you towel dry your hair. A huge mistake people make is reaching for any old towel after their shower, vigorously and roughly drying the hair and wondering why it isn’t smooth and frizz-free like the Shampoo and Conditioner bottles promised. If you’re focused on preventing hair damage, a microfibre towel is as high a priority. Cotton towels contain tiny loops that create a rough surface, immediately causing friction against the hair cuticle which leads to frizz and damage before your hair is even dry. However, microfibre towels can prevent frizz and tangles occurring due to their tightly packed surface, ensuring no snags or grabs, and allowing hair to glide over the surface without friction and frizz. As microfibre also absorbs moisture, hair drying time is cut down making them a complete no brainer.  

The steps are simple: once you have shampooed and conditioned your hair, squeeze out any moisture and - rather than rubbing the hair vigorously to dry it - wrap it in the microfibre towel in one twist and secure. The hard work is being done for you with your dry hair free of frizz and damage, leaving hair feeling conditioned, smooth, and ready to absorb the goodness of Haircare products to come. 

Try: O&M Turban Hair Wrap 

7 - Invest In The Best:  

There are a few things you just can’t skimp on in life: fine wine, fabulous shoes - and high-quality Shampoo and Conditioner. When it comes to this shower essentials, you truly do get what you pay for. Consider your Shampoo and Conditioner choice as the cornerstone of your hair health, ensuring that any other Haircare product, Heat Styler, or Styling product you then use is far more efficacious. You don’t have to break the bank on Shampoo and Conditioner, but always purchase from Salons where you can get expert advice on what is best for you - as opposed to supermarkets and mass-market chemists. Hairhouse is home of the very best Shampoo and Conditioner brands including Kerastase, Olaplex and Pureology as well as silicone, sulphate and paraben-free organic brands, keratin-infused Shampoos, Argan-oil rich options, the best Shampoo for hair growth or oily hair, and the best Shampoo for dandruff, dry hair, and thinning hair.   

8 - Simply...Don’t Shampoo: 
 
Daily Shampooing can lead to disaster when it comes to hair health. It is possible to ‘over-clean’ your hair, leading to the stripping of essential hair oils produced from the hair follicle to travel down the hair cuticle, naturally lubricating and hydrating the hair shaft from root to tip. Overzealous shampooing and conditioning can either over-stimulate sebum production (leading to oily roots) or strip the hair of this essential moisture, leaving hair brittle, dry and prone to breakage. So, ditch the Shampoo and Conditioner every other day, opting for Dry Shampoo instead. Dry Shampoo comes in powder-form and doesn’t require water to go to work. Instead, the powder texture is sprayed on to the hair, immediately absorbing oil and odours to refresh on days that a full wash is not required. Ideal for times you want to prolong your blow-dry or don’t have time to Shampoo and Condition your hair, Dry Shampoo can bridge the gap, but not replace, traditional Shampoo and Conditioner.  

Try: Sexy Hair Big Volumizing Dry Shampoo  

9 - Comb Correctly:  

Did you know combing or brushing wet hair is one of the fastest ways to cause damage? Whatever your hair type, whether you have thick hair, damaged hair, dry hair, fine hair, frizz, thinning hair, hair prone to breakage, curly hair, oily hair or suffer from hair loss, combing or brushing hair when it is wet is a No-No. When hair is holding moisture, the hair proteins change, causing the cuticle to immediately weaken. Add to this, abrasive bristles or a brush pulling through the hair and breakage occurs, leading to split ends and frizzy and uneven texture. Brushing or combing wet hair can also alter the hair’s natural texture, causing curls to drop and the hair cuticle to stretch. Combing Conditioner through the hair after application to ensure even distribution is not the problem, but the mistake happens with the brush or comb you use. Prevent frizz and breakage by only using a wide-tooth comb or a specifically designed detangling comb or brush. Don’t have one on hand? Comb or brush your hair before you shampoo or condition. This eliminates knots and tangles without compromising care and you can then finger comb the hair after shampooing and conditioning to further smooth it out.  

Try: Tangle Teezer Wet Brush 

Explore our entire range of amazing Shampoo and Conditioners in-store or online at Hairhouse today.