Using Shampoo and Conditioner Properly
You might be thinking that after doing it for so many years, you know how to wash your hair, right? Well, you may have been doing it the wrong way this entire time! In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about how to wash hair correctly using shampoo and conditioner. Things like the amount of conditioner and the amount of shampoo you’re using, the amount of time you leave it in for (whether that’s five minutes or thirty seconds makes a difference!), and your hair type (whether you have thick hair, textured hair, wavy hair, curly hair, frizzy hair, color-treated hair, fine hair, oily hair…) can affect the results of your hair care routine and might produce some undesired effects on your hair.
The first step is to figure out which of all the different hair types you have and what hair concerns you have because these two things will help you find the right products for you! It’s important to make sure that you choose the right shampoo and hair conditioner because they will contain certain ingredients that will work well with your hair type and leave you with clean hair that is one step closer to your ultimate #hairgoals.
The next step is to be patient when testing out products: sometimes, even if the product appears to be a perfect match for your hair type, it might not be! If you find that after using a new set of products for shampooing and conditioning, your hair is not looking and feeling great, then it’s time to move onto the next product. It might take a while until you hit the jackpot, but you’ll find that washing your hair correctly with the right shampoo and conditioner will work wonders. Next, we’ll talk about how to wash it correctly.
Who should use conditioner
Like we said before, different hair types and textures have different needs. Everyone should be using hair conditioner. If you have thick hair, textured hair, wavy hair, curly hair, and/or natural hair, then you should be using conditioner very often (as in, every time you shampoo your hair). This is because your hair type tends to get frizzy and lose definition easily, so by using hair conditioner, the necessary moisture your hair needs to look and feel its best is locked into each hair strand. If you have thin hair, oily hair, fine hair, and/or thinning hair, then you might think to shy away from conditioner because of fear that it will make it oilier or dull, but that might be a big mistake!
Hair conditioner is necessary for every hair type and concern, and if you are not getting the results you want then either you are using the wrong product (certain ingredients in certain conditioners might not work well for you) or you are applying it incorrectly! If you keep the conditioner to the ends of your hair (as you should), and are rinsing your hair correctly afterward, then you should not be left with oily hair! If you have chemically treated hair and/or color-treated hair then it’s very likely that you have very dry hair.
If you have this hair type and have not been applying conditioner correctly or as often as necessary, then it may be a big cause of hair damage. Usually, this hair type is very dry from the chemicals and hair treatments it’s been through, so it’s extremely important to prioritize conditioning your hair. This will ensure that the necessary moisture is replenished to the hair shafts and keep your ends from looking like a broomstick.
How to apply hair conditioner
To sum up what we’ve learned by now: everyone should be using hair conditioners, and it’s important to find the right hair conditioning product for your hair type and concerns. So, after you found what seems to be the best hair conditioner for your hair type, what next?
How should you apply it correctly to avoid oily hair and other undesired effects? Well, the first thing you should keep in mind is the amount of conditioner you should use. If you use too much conditioner, then you’ll be left with dull hair (and your pockets will not be happy about you using up all of the hair conditioner so fast!). The amount of hair conditioner you should use depends on your hair texture (whether you have thick, coarse hair or thin, fine hair) and length. Of course, if you have long hair that goes down to your waist, you’re going to need more product than someone that has short hair that barely touches their shoulders.
A good rule of thumb is to use a quarter-sized dollop if you have short to medium thin hair and to use two of those if you have medium to long thick hair. The more common order is to use conditioner after you shampoo your hair, but some people like to apply it before using shampoo (we’ll get into that later).
Steps for using conditioner
First, wet your hair with warm water if it isn’t already wet enough. Then, apply the product by using the right amount of hair conditioner into the ends of your hair. If you have longer hair, you can work it in a little bit upwards, but always steer clear of applying conditioner close to your scalp (this will cause buildup and oily residue).
You can also use a wide-toothed comb to make sure that the product is dispersed evenly throughout your hair. Leave it in your hair for a few minutes (3 minutes is usually best). Then, use warm water to rinse thoroughly, making sure that there is no leftover product in your hair. This last step is very important because it will avoid any product buildup that can cause oily, dull hair.
Using conditioner before shampoo
Lately, it’s become a trend to use hair conditioner before applying shampoo when washing your hair. Some people have gotten amazing results from changing up the order: more volume, hair that appears less thin and fine... However, it might not work for everyone! Here’s why: shampoo is used for cleaning your hair and scalp, so it makes sense to use it first when you wash your hair because it’s meant to strip your hair from all the dirt, sweat, and product buildup you might have.
This is why it’s usually a better idea to apply shampoo first and conditioner second. If you feel that your hair is very dirty and needs a little extra cleaning, then shampooing twice is a great idea! It’s more widely recommended to use conditioner after shampooing because hair conditioner is used to make sure that hair is left shiny, soft, and silky smooth.
Another lesser-known effect of conditioner is that it protects your hair by forming a protective film over your hair strands which can help with shielding it from environmental pollutants and heat protection. This is why it makes sense to use it as the last step in your hair washing routine!
Either way, you might want to try out this trend and see if you like the results! Like every trend, it won’t work for everyone, but you can try it out. If you try it and like the results, we still recommend using the traditional shampoo first, then the hair conditioner method most of the time since it guarantees clean hair that is well protected from the elements.
Try it out with your favorite AYAM Shampoo and Conditioner set and let us know if it worked for you or if you’re staying with the traditional method!