Wash your hair right

At our recent ANTIDOTE pro stylist session, we started talking about opening up in a C-19 world.  The discussion turned to how surprising it was that so many people don't wash their hair right.  A good shampoo removes product build-up, frees follicles from dirt, and let's your scalp breathe.  "It makes a big difference to any style, yet people are usually in too much of a rush to do it right."

Before you share your neglected tresses with your stylist, impress them with properly clean scalp and hair.  The most important thing to remember that a good shampoo takes time.  One stylist commented, "... set aside 5-10 minutes, relax, and pamper yourself."

We brainstormed and here's what we came up with:

1. Gently brush your scalp with a nylon and boar bristle brush to stimulate blood flow and remove dirt. 
2. Thoroughly wet your hair with warm water. This opens the hair cuticle and makes the shampoo spread more evenly throughout your hair.
3. Mix your shampoo - typically 2 full teaspoons - with water first.  This gets the lather started to more evenly coat the hair and scalp.
4. Show your scalp some love. That's where your hair is the most oily, and healthy follicles mean beautiful hair.  Start shampooing at your roots and work out from there.  Avoid scratching your scalp - this can cause abrasions - and beware that wet hair is fragile.
5. The second wash.  If you haven't washed your hair in a while or use a lot of product, a second wash works wonders.  You'll often see your professional stylist double washing to make sure you have a healthy base to work from.
6. Rinse with cool water.  This closes the cuticle and soothes the scalp.
7. Pat towel dry, don't rub, then let hair air dry. 

Of course, the type of shampoo you use makes a big difference, too.   Look for ingredients like sulfate free cleansers, aloe vera bases, and Vitamin E.  These clean without stripping your hair of its natural oils and won't irritate your scalp. After all, beautiful hair starts with a healthy scalp!  

How does this compare to your normal shampoo routine?

Stay tuned for how to properly condition your hair.