HGKWW ::: all washed up!!!

Washing your hair may seem as simple as slapping your favorite shampoo around in your hair for a couple minutes before rinsing it out...but there is a little more to it.

There actually is a right way to wash your hair.

Before I say anything else, though...do yourself a favor and buy a shower comb!!! They really are that great, especially if your hair is natural. There is such a difference between how a regular comb versus a shower comb glide through your hair when detangling in the shower. Plus, there is much less of a risk of ripping your hair out.

I usually co-wash (washing hair with conditioner...post coming soon), but this will focus on how to correctly execute a basic wash using shampoo, conditioning the hair afterward.

TIP: Before we begin, I strongly recommend placing your hair into sections. This allows you to manuever through your hair more easily and results in less tangling. It will also make the rinsing process quicker and more effective.

ONE: Rinse your hair for about a minute or two before adding shampoo. You want to saturate your hair and rid it of any topical debris, dirt and oil. You also want to make sure all hair product buildup is gone before you add shampoo

TIP: Warm or cold water are fine to wash your hair with (notice I did NOT say scalding hot); however, I recommend using warmer water initially to help open the cuticles and cooler water for the final rinse to close and seal them.

TWO: After getting a lather going in your hands, work the shampoo on to your scalp and NOT the ends of your hair. This is where washing your hair in sections may come in handy, especially for thicker hair. Shampoo is actually very drying on the ends of your hair, something I learned only a few years ago, so you will want to focus on using it to clean the scalp and near the roots of your hair.

TIP: Use your fingers to rub and massage--not scratch--your scalp. Although it feels so good sometimes and we might even remember Mom giving our scalp a good scratch'n when we were younger...your fingernails really should not be making that much contact with your scalp, if any. Scratching damages and irritates the skin, which is not conducive to a healthy scalp.

THREE: Rinse WELL. Time permitting, repeat shampoo process. You might want to allow the shampoo to rest for a couple minutes before rinsing it out the second time around. This gives the shampoo more time to bind to any leftover dirt and oil from the first round. Rinse THOROUGHLY.

FOUR: Apply a conditoner, focusing on the hairline and ends of the hair. Remember that good ol' shower comb? Use it to comb conditioner through the hair, which will smooth and detangle the hair. Place shower cap on your head to allow the conditioner to do its work for about 10 minutes before rinsing.

Simple, right?

There are different kinds of shampoos and conditoners that all have different effects and purposes, depending on what your hair needs. Do your research! Make sure you know what you are putting in your hair and if you are giving it what it needs. And of course, I'm always here to help you find your way ;-)