A Proper Wash: How Often Should You Really Be Washing Your Hair?
By Romina Manenti
You may have heard that for your hair’s optimal health, you should only wash it once a week. This makes sense: your scalp’s oils aren’t stripped too early and your natural texture is allowed the time to thrive. In practice, however, a week can be an uncomfortably long time to wait for wash day. People who sweat, swim or surrender to the dance floor - everyone during the summer, basically - may be reaching for the shampoo more often. If you must lather up multiple times a week, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Choose The Right Shampoo
Out of all the hair products in your routine, shampoo is the one that comes into contact with your hair when it’s at its cleanest, and when the protection of natural oils has washed away. This means that while you want to choose a shampoo that effectively cleanses the hair and scalp, you also don’t want one that strips them, causing dehydration, irritation and damage. Make sure to choose a sulfate-free formula, and while a big lather may feel satisfying, you shouldn’t need more than a dime-sized amount. Focus entirely on the roots, especially if your hair is color treated or bleached, to work at any oil or grime without drying out your ends.
2. Don’t Forget To Massage!
Work the product into your totally wet hair and scalp for a full minute (yes, that long). Use the tips of your fingers with moderate pressure, but avoid your nails as they could scratch the scalp. Rinse and apply your conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends, gently combing or brush it through so that every strand is coated from root to tip. Leave in for at least a minute and preferably longer, but we get it… you’ve got places to be!
3. It’s All In The Details
Despite what you’ve been told, a cold water rinse isn’t necessary to close the cuticle. With the right scalp balance and natural sealants, the hair structure will be infused with enough moisture that the cuticles will smooth themselves. Between washes, a small amount of dry shampoo can be used to control any excess oil, and the MAY 11 Purifying Scalp Oil can be used to keep the scalp balanced and cleansed. By applying the scalp treatment at least 20 mins before washing, it can help both protect your hair from being stripped, and actually increase the effectiveness of shampoo.
As one of the pillars of a healthy hair routine, shampoo is an important step to get right. Whether you’re sticking to a once-a-week wash, or are grateful for the permission to lather up more often, you’ll find that a proper wash will leave your hair feeling healthy, bouncy and rejuvenated.
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