Don't mess with your hair

Most people don't realise that washing your hair the wrong way can cause a great deal of damage. Hair is most fragile when it is wet, so the constant pulling and touching of wet hair during washing can seriously weaken the hair.

The key to protecting the hair when it is wet is to minimize movement of the hair itself. This will help to keep the cuticle flat and undamaged, resulting in shinier healthier, stronger hair.

Always wash your hands before you wash your hair; I know that sounds obvious, but you would be amazed at how many people forget this. If you have dirty hands and you touch your hair, you are transferring the dirt from your hands to your hair.

The following is a guide to washing your hair your hair the right way:

Step one-Choose the right shampoo and conditioner.

It is important to select the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Your aim is to strike the right balance between washing away excess oil and dirt, yet still leaving the hair soft and manageable. You don't want to strip the hair of all oils, nor do you want it to feel heavy and weighed down with product. It can take a good deal of experimentation to find the products that work best for you. However as a general guide fine hair tends to benefit from light herbal products, dry hair needs hydrating products, oily hair benefits from an alcohol free sebum cleanser ,and if you suffer from dandruff you might need an anti dandruff shampoo.

Step two-Get the timing right

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to hair washing frequency; this is highly dependent on your hair type and lifestyle. If you go to the gym, or perform tasks that work up a sweat you will probably need to wash your hair more frequently than those who simply perform light duties in a climate controlled office. Fine hair and oily hair typically benefit from daily washing, but dry hair reacts better to only being washed every few days. Try to wash your hair when it seems oily at the roots and lank, rather then simply washing it daily out of habit.

Step three-Get brushing

Before you wash your hair it is beneficial to give it a thorough brush through. This will help loosen up dirt and dead skin cells ready for removal. It also helps to untangle the hair, which is important because you should never brush hair whilst it is dripping wet.

Step four-Get the hair wet

Hop under the shower and drench your hair in water. Hair needs to be fully wetted down to aid the task of massaging shampoo into the scalp. The water temperature should be warm, but not hot. Hot water can be aggravating on the scalp and cold water is not potent enough to remove oil and build up.

Step five-Apply the shampoo

Figure out where you need to wash. Do you have greasy roots and dry ends? Then only apply shampoo to the roots, the rest of the hair will be cleansed when the shampoo is rinsed out.Rub a small amount of shampoo between the palms of your hands, smooth it over the hair.

Use the pads of your fingertips to massage under the hair to avoid roughing it up and causing tangles. The most important aspect is massaging it effectively into your scalp. You want to make sure it will remove dirt and oil, but take care to be gentle on the hair.

Step six-Rinse

Poor rinsing can lead to an irritated scalp and hair that looks lank. So make sure you thoroughly rinse out the hair for at least two minutes. Bath water is not clean enough for this task.

Step Seven-Condition

When you wash your hair, evenly gently, you still rough up the cuticle. Conditioning helps encourage the cuticle to lie flat again. Most people simply need to apply conditioner to the mid lengths to ends of their hair.

I recently found out that conditioners use quite a lot of science, I won't bore you with too many details, but they do more than simply moisturise your hair. Conditioners contain positively charged cationic molecules that are attracted to negatively charged areas of damaged hair.

Step eight-Final rinse

Conditioner also needs to be washed out well; otherwise the hair is likely to lack body. A final rinse in only cold water will further help the cuticle to lie flat and encourage the hair to shine.

After you complete your other cleansing duties in the shower, you are ready to emerge. Make sure you pat your hair dry or allow it to dry wrapped up in a towel, because rubbing and vigorous squeezing can damage the hair.

The same rule for shampoo applies to conditioner; choose one that is right for your hair. If you have greasy hair, stay away from anything too heavy or intensive, opt for a lighter conditioner specifically formulated for greasy hair. If you have dry hair, you will need something a little more heavy duty.

For a more intensive conditioning, you can apply your conditioner and then wrap your hair in a heated towel. This helps the conditioner to penetrate the shaft of the hair.

Smooth the conditioner onto your hair with the palms of your hands, making sure that you stroke the hair down, following the cuticle. Gently massage the conditioner into your hair and leave for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly, again, let the water run over your hair and gently massage until all of the conditioner has been rinsed away.

Step eight-Final rinse

Conditioner also needs to be washed out well; otherwise the hair is likely to lack body. A final rinse in only cold water will further help the cuticle to lie flat and encourage the hair to shine.

For shinier hair, you can always give your hair a final rinse in cold water. This is supposed to help the cuticle to lie flat.

After you complete your other cleansing duties in the shower, you are ready to emerge. Make sure you pat your hair dry or allow it to dry wrapped up in a towel, because rubbing and vigorous squeezing can damage the hair.