How to Wash Your Hair

Ready? Set? Rinse and Repeat!

1. Shampoo your hair

Before you set foot in the shower to wash you’ll need the right products. Think about what’s important to you and what your hair needs. Moisture? Protein? Volume? Curl enhancement? Clarifying? Get the most out of your time in the shower by using the proper strategy. Different shampoos offer different benefits so read the bottle carefully before you buy. You may be surprised at what a difference the right shampoo makes. (Ask your own happy hair stylist what they would recommend for you if you get stuck.)

I personally prefer to encourage clients to wash their hair every other day. If you over wash your hair, your scalp will try to compensate and produce more oil. Natural oils are good for you so every other day is a good balance.

Once in the shower shampoo with about a quarter-sized amount of product. Maybe more or less depending on how much hair you have. If your hair doesn’t lather, rinse and repeat until it does so you know your hair is clean. Always make sure you rinse out the shampoo completely before moving onto conditioner.

Using moisturizing shampoos everyday can sometimes cause build up on your hair so use a Clarifying shampoo about once a month to break up oils and deep clean your cuticles.

2. Condition your hair

After a thorough rinse try to squeeze as much water out of your hair as possible. It’s amazing if you leave a towel over the shower and dry it a little, too. Apply conditioner to midshaft and ends of hair. Comb through with your fingers to disperse the conditioner through all of your hair. Keeping a wide toothed comb in your shower is great too for an even more thorough saturation. 

Warning! Don’t just slap a lump of conditioner right to your head. This can cause your scalp to become oily. The ends of your hair have been with you the longest and are what need the moisture the most.

Leave the conditioner in your hair while you shave, wash your face, and/or loofah it up. This gives your strands a couple of minutes to soak up the nutrients in the conditioner. Once you’re ready to rinse, turn down the water temperature a little to help seal your cuticles. (A refreshing way to wake ya up in the morning!) Make sure you rinse hair well so it is not weighed down when you get out of the shower.

Follow these conditioning steps for daily washes or weekly mask applications.

Remember, your hair is an extension of you, so take care of it.
You deserve to look and feel beautiful inside and out.
Love, The Happy Hair Stylist

Hydrate Your Hair

Tips to Add Moisture IN the Shower: 

• Use a deep conditioning mask on your hair once a week. If you have extremely dry and damaged hair use the mask every time you’re in the shower. Using a conditioner that has both hydrating and proteinizing properties helps heal and build up hair from the inside out. 
• Squeeze out as much moisture as you can before applying any type of conditioner. Hair will absorb more of the nutrients without being diluted by the water. Always leave in for a few minutes before rinsing.
• Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners may build up over time so make sure you use a clarifying shampoo once a month to break up any weight and clear the way for the moisturizing properties of your daily products to penetrate the hair shaft easier. 

Tips to Add Moisture OUT of the Shower:

• Sleep in a mask or put a deep conditioner in your hair while you clean around the house so the moisture can really soak into your strands. Then rinse with lukewarm water to seal the cuticles. 
• Use a creamy leave-in conditioner to really lay on the hydration even after you get out of the shower. I like to apply one after using a light detangler. Towel blot your hair, spray in the detangler, brush with a wide tooth comb, and then apply your leave-in. 
• If you have fine hair a light hydrating detangler will be enough. A creamy leave-in conditioner may weigh hair down so skip it altogether or only apply on ends since they need the most TLC.
• I see many brittle and dry bangs. Spot treat your hair in those areas by applying a moisturizing mask while you sleep and shower as usual in the morning. 
• Take a break if you can from any hot tools or blow dryers that may damage your strands. Even if it's just for the weekend, a little vacation for your hair never did any harm.

Take these tips to heart and you'll on be way your way to silky soft hair in no time.
Your hair will thank you!
Love, The Happy Hair Stylist