Have you ever started out with all the motivation, tools and products to create that look that is going to turn heads, but become completely disheartened when it just didn’t turn out? What you didn’t know is that it all begins by getting your cleansing right, so you can achieve that perfect Victoria’s Secret model hair finished look. Let me share the most useful guide on how to wash your hair you will ever use.
Wash Your Way to Perfect Hair
So, you’re motivated and armed to style your hair, and you’re thinking, “Victoria’s Secret runway, here I come,” or, maybe not? Is your hair not keeping the style as you want it to? Maybe your curls keep dropping out or the smooth shape you are blow-drying or straightening is looking flat and limp instead of full and bouncy?
Well, I can assure you that achieving that fresh, just-stepped-out-of-a-salon perfect look has more to do with how to wash your hair than how great your technique is with using mousse, a large round brush and a hairdryer. When you cleanse your hair properly, you keep it healthy with consistent porosity from roots to ends. You may also notice that, once you are cleansing your hair properly, you are able to get an extra day or two out of your style.
Follow my steps to start cleaning your hair correctly today and you, like so many others, will have “insider knowledge” to the secret of a beautiful hairstyle that lasts days.
Start with about a cherry-sized dollop of shampoo.
Rub your hands together to create the shampoo lather before you place it on your head. If you have the shampoo lathered before you apply it on your head, you will be able to get a more consistent application.
Apply the shampoo to your scalp, only. Do not run it through to the ends or pile your hair on top of your head and mix it in.
Instead, massage the shampoo into your scalp. I like to start at and focus on the hairline and front section; this is usually often a place where a lot of extra products and oils get into your scalp.
Rinse out.
Next, shampoo again. Remember to create the lather in your hands again and then apply to your scalp, only. I usually focus on the crown and nape of my neck during the second shampoo.
Massage the second shampoo into your scalp with a circular motion. Again, don’t rub or massage the ends of your hair at all.
If you can, try to stand away from the spray of the water while you massage the shampoo into your hair so that the shampoo has a chance to cleanse your scalp before it gets washed away by the shower spray.
Rinse out the second shampoo well. Make sure there is no shampoo residue left before you move onto the conditioner.
The amount of conditioner you use will depend on the length and thickness of your hair. I start with about a cherry-sized amount and add more, if needed.
Rub the conditioner through your hands again. It won’t lather up, but spreading the product through your hands will help you get an even application.
Gather your hair from the base of your neck, as though you are about to make a ponytail, and focus the conditioner on this part of your hair down to the ends. This way you avoid getting excess conditioner on your scalp.
Using a wide-tooth comb, run it through your hair starting from the ends, one section at a time. When you comb, go from the ends first up to the crown of your head; you will slowly free your hair of knots.
The comb will bring the conditioner farther up your hair, without saturating the area around your scalp.
Rinse your hair well. Make sure you remove all the conditioner from the roots. I usually like to keep rinsing out the conditioner from my hair until there is no more slimy feeling remaining. I make sure to rinse my hair well so I know there is no more conditioner left.
Towel dry your hair. Don’t rub your hair with the towel, but do squeeze your hair with the towel, which can help prevent knots and breakage.
Apply leave-in moisturizer. I always recommend finishing your cleanse with a moisturizer; make sure to choose the correct one to suit your hair type. I recommend a spray-in moisturizer for fine to medium hair, and a cream leave-in moisturizer may be better suited for medium to thicker hair types.
NOTE: EVERYONE SHOULD USE A LEAVE-IN MOISTURIZER.
Focusing on the middle to the ends of your hair, apply your chosen moisturizer to the hair in sections, and then comb through.
When this process is followed, you should find it helps to prevent a build-up of oil from your roots, and it will help keep your ends moisturized, leaving you with consistently smooth, hydrated hair! I recommend to my salon guests that the cleansing of the hair should be done no more than twice a week. Following my steps will show you how this can easily be achieved. By washing your hair less or keeping it to twice a week, you will see your hair begin to repair itself and become much healthier because of this. To see the process of correct cleansing, I invite you to watch my tutorial as I take you through the steps from start to finish.
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