How to Wash Your Hair (Yes, It Really Matters)

If you’re totally confused about the “right way” to wash your hair, you’re not alone. We grew up being taught to wash it every day, and then later we learned you should probably only be sudsing up a couple times a week—and now there’s the whole “no ‘poo method” floating around the internet.

Using the correct techniques can make a world of difference in your hair’s health, bounce and shine—but if you’re making some common mistakes, you could be damaging your lovely locks without even realizing it. We asked two of New York’s foremost hair pros, hair stylist Nunzio Saviano of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York and Kyle White, lead colorist at Oscar Blandi Salon, to share their best tips for lathering up—and doing it the right way.

1. Start with a rinse

Just like your laundry needs a rinse cycle before you add detergent, hair should be thoroughly wet before you add your shampoo. “Hot water will open the cuticle, which is good for removing any dirt or product trapped in the hair,” says White. Another bonus: “When your hair is rinsed in warm water, it loosens the oils through the scalp and opens the cuticle so it is able to absorb the oil” in your conditioner, says Saviano.

2. If you have long hair, condition first

Yes, really! “If you have hair beneath the shoulders, protect fragile ends from drying out and further damage by running a small amount of conditioner through them and lightly rinsing, before any shampooing. This will not only keep ends healthy, it will fill any holes in the cuticle with moisture, making it smoother and boosting shine,” says White.

3. Lather up — but only at the scalp

“You only need to shampoo the hair at the scalp, particularly at the nape,” Saviano says.

White agrees. “The best way to lather up is from roots to ends. The hair closest to the scalp is the youngest and will inevitably be the oiliest, while the end of the hair is the oldest and usually driest, most fragile part of the hair.”
Don’t use more shampoo than you need; both Saviano and White say that a quarter-sized amount of shampoo is enough. If your hair is particularly long or thick, go ahead and double that.

4. Be gentle!

Friction can permanently damage your hair’s cuticle, leading to breakage and frizz. Think about washing your hair like you hand wash your delicates — very carefully.
“Start your lather at the roots,” says White. “Increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair growth by using vertical strokes with medium pressure.” Don’t use circular motions, which can tangle your hair.

Next, “Smooth the lather over the ends in a straight stroking motion,” White advises. “Do not scrub the fragile ends or use a back and forth motion like you’re washing a rag on a washboard.”

5. Don’t rinse and repeat

Despite what the instructions on the back of your shampoo bottle may say, there’s no need to wash your hair twice.
“Avoid stripping the hair by doing one shampoo only, which is usually sufficient,” says White. “Unless the hair is extremely dirty and the first shampoo didn’t produce a lather.” In that case, go ahead and lather up one more time.

6. Add conditioner from the mid-lengths to the tips

After you’ve rinsed out your shampoo, “squeeze some of the water out of the hair before you put in the conditioner,” says Saviano. “Then clip your hair up and finish showering, leaving the conditioner rinse out for the final step of your shower.”

The longer the conditioner stays on your hair, the better it absorbs. Don’t put conditioner at the roots of your hair; the natural oil from your scalp is more concentrated there.

7. Finish with a cold water rinse

“Cold water will shut the cuticle tight, sealing the shingle-like outer layer, which will cause it to reflect the most light and give off the most shine,” says White.

More Hair Washing Tips…
Use a shampoo and conditioner that’s made for your hair type. If your hair is dry, choose moisturizing products. If you color your hair, opt for color-safe formulas. “Volumizing” shampoos tend to leave hair drier, so they’re best for fine hair types that would be weighed down by more moisturizing products.

How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type, too. If you have oily or fine hair, you may need to shampoo daily. Normal or dry hair can lather up closer to three times a week.

Filter your water. White recommends using a shower filter, such as the T3 Source Showerhead, since it “removes rust and minerals from water that can dull color, and deposit on blondes making them dark and muddy.” (We’ve tried it, and it also made our hair super soft.)

Supplied by stylecaster

A beginner's guide to finding the best hair oil

It's not just thick manes or coarse hair that can benefit from oil; even thin, fine and oily locks can reap the rewards too. It's just a matter of finding the right elixir for you…

1. Argan oil: Best for dry or frizzy hair

Hailed as liquid gold in its native Morocco, nutty argan oil kick started the UK's hair oil obsession. Rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, it can help turn dry, coarse and unruly hair into softer and shinier, more manageable tresses, while cutting frizz and fly-aways too.

2. Coconut oil: Best for all hair types

The ultimate multi-tasker, coconut oil can be used on all hair types (yes even greasy hair) to replenish your strands and also keep your scalp healthy. Packed full of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, coconut oil can help to build stronger strands too, making it a great weekly treatment for locks prone to breakage and slow growth.

3. Macadamia oil: Best for extremely dry or damaged hair

Nut oils tend to be the most intensive, and macadamia is one of the richest available. Use it on very dry or damaged hair as a weekly mask, or to replenish your tresses after a series of heavy heat styling sessions.

4. Kalahari melon seed oil: Best for sensitive skin

High in omega-6, the fatty acids known to boost hair growth, protein and vitamins C, B2 and G, kalahari melon seed oil is an excellent reparative oil, known to be particularly gentle on sensitive skin and scalps. If you suffer from dermatitis, psoriasis or often have itchy reactions to beauty products, this is the shine boosting hair oil for you.

5. Almond oil: Best for beating dandruff

Though one of the lighter nut oils, almond oil is jam-packed with goodness. Along with antioxidants, vitamin E, fatty acids and protein, it's also high in magnesium, which will help to boost hair growth and reduce breakage. If you suffer from irritation on your scalp, try massaging your scalp with almond oil whenever you wash your hair, to reduce inflammation, redness and dandruff.

6. Baobab oil: Best for boosting growth

Fairly new to the British hair market, there's plenty of hype surrounding baobab oil and its high vitamin content. Along with the essential fatty acids needed for deep hydration and nourishment, baobab also packs vitamins A, D, E, and F, which all combine to improve the elasticity of your locks, and encourage cell regeneration. That's right, it can actually help your hair grow faster!

7. Marula oil: Best for holiday hair

If you don't like the nutty smell of oils like argan and macadamia, marula makes for a fruitier alternative. Nourishing and packed with vitamin C, it's great for all hair types, but especially handy on holiday, as it'll protect your hair from drying out in the sun.

8. Abyssinian oil: Best for fine hair

Also known as organic crambe seed oil, abyssinian is intensely hydrating but extremely light in weight and texture, making it a brilliant option for thin, fine or greasy hair that can easily become lank if overloaded. The molecular structure of abyssinian oil also makes it one of the most heat resistant oils, and so perfect to use as a pre-heat styling product.

Supplied by Cosmopolitan

What is the Difference Between Balayage and Ombre?

Do you often find yourself asking what is the difference between balayage and ombre? Both are among the hottest hair trends for everyday women and celebrities alike; sporting a gradual color transition from dark to light, balayage and ombre give us low-maintenance, lived-in color.
If you know you want highlights but aren’t sure what to ask for in the salon, knowing the difference between balayage and ombre is important.
Hang tight and we can show a peek into the world of these two top techniques so you can spot the look, know which suits you best and maybe just get to rockin’ it yourself!

What Is Balayage

Balayage is a French word meaning “to paint” or “to sweep.” It offers a soft, sun-kissed sweeping color from root to end. It is technically a highlighting technique but is not to be confused with the foiled highlights of the past. Gone are the days of sitting in the salon under the heat with a pound of foils in your hair in order to be blonder. Nowadays, balayage has taken over the traditional foiled highlights as the new way to brighten and lighten your hair.

Balayage involves the hair colorist hand-painting soft pieces of color from the roots that gradually become more saturated toward the end. Because the highlights are much softer at the root, the regrowth lines are less noticeable, making it the perfect choice for those who want the look without the upkeep every two to four weeks. 
What the process looks like: You’ll want to bring photos of inspiration for your ideal hair look because each stylist can freehand how heavily to highlight your hair or not. You can ask for a “rooty” look if you like the lived-in color which means they will begin the highlights a few inches down from your root. Alternatively, the hair stylist can place the highlights further up to the base or directly at the root for a fresher vibe. No foil or meche is used.
The best way to differentiate it from ombre? It’s a highlighted look.
Perfect for: Those wanting customized highlights without the harsh lines. It’s also ideal for brunettes who want a natural-looking blonde ‘do.

What Is Ombre Hair

Ombre is the French word meaning “to shadow” or “to shade.” Ombre is a hair painting technique where the colorist keeps the hair darker from the roots to midshaft and then lighter from the midshaft to the ends. Ombre was probably the trend you heard about first and can be considered the O.G. hand-painting technique. It’s the perfect way for brunettes to transition into blonde or for bold women to rock a vibrant hair color without it saturating your roots and possibly overpowering your skin complexion. Ombre does not include foils and is a great low-maintenance look.

What the process looks like: The process includes painting on the color from dark roots to saturated, light ends. If hair is already colored or highlighted, the hair stylist may paint on roots at the base that match your natural hair color. It’s a good idea to bring a photo of your ideal “tip” color so your hair stylist can gradually work the color from mid-shaft to the ends.
The best way to differentiate it from balayage? It’s a solid, gradual look.
Perfect for: Those wanting super saturated blonde hair but without the high maintenance. It’s also very popular among those with crazier colored hair (such as green, purple or silver) to rock that trend in a softer way by allowing the roots to remain a natural color.

Balayage vs Ombre

It is easy to confuse ombre and balayage because they are two low-key looks going from dark to light. You may even be thinking: Is ombre and balayage the same thing? There are subtle but important differences when comparing them side by side. Ombre was the first technique to take over the A-lister looks and it lead the way for other painting techniques like balayage to have a place at the table. Ombre moved us away from foils and into a more creative and modern direction.
However, balayage quickly took over in popularity and left ombre in the dust due to it’s more natural lived-in and sun-kissed look. Because the hair stylist can choose where to hand-paint the color, the balayage technique can frame the face in a more customized way as the colorist places highlights where the sun would naturally hit.

by Kaleena Stroud Updated on 1 March 2018