The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Shampooing Their Hair

Washing hair is a piece of cake, and anyone can do it, right? What if we told you that the chances are you aren’t washing your hair correctly? There are many shampooing mistakes many of us make without even thinking about them.

Most people make at least one mistake in the hair washing process.

So, how to properly wash your hair? We’ve made a list of the seven most common hair washing mistakes to point you in the right direction. Check it out to learn how many of them you make.

Hair Isn’t Soaking Wet

One of the most common mistakes people make is not allowing their hair to get soaking wet before applying shampoo. It only takes a full minute for your hair to get completely wet under the shower stream, so being impatient doesn’t make much sense here.

If you have extra-dense hair, you will also need to run your fingers through it to make sure water has reached and entered every strand. Your hair must be completely wet to get a deep cleanse.

Too Much or Too Little Shampoo

If you don’t have a solid idea how much shampoo you should use, so you just go with whatever amount you feel looks good, you’re not alone. Many people use too much shampoo and spill money down the drain.

However, some people use too little shampoo and never properly cleanse their hair, which leads to product buildup.

It turns out there’s a coin-based sizing for shampoo squeezes that works for everyone:

• Short hair: nickel size
• Medium-length: quarter size
• Long: half-dollar size

Skipping the Scalp

If you’ve ever been to a salon for a professional wash, you know they spend a lot of time paying attention to your scalp. Massaging your scalp is an essential step in the hair washing process. It helps cleanse your skin and dissolve dirt and oils from your skin and roots.

Hair experts say you should massage and gently scrub your scalp for at least three minutes during every wash.

Practicing Rinse and Repeat the Wrong Way

The R&R (Rinse and Repeat) practice works if you know what you’re doing. The principle is simple, and it involves rinsing your hair and scalp after the first shampooing and repeating the entire process all over again.

However, the key is to do it right:

• Apply shampoo to your (soaking wet) scalp and scrub it for three minutes.
• Rinse it out completely.
• Take a dime-sized amount of shampoo, rub it between your hands and apply it to your hair, focusing on your strands rather than your scalp.
• Spend as little as 15-20 seconds massaging the product into your strands.
• Rinse again.

R&R is significant if you have long, dense hair and use many hair products that tend to build up. People with short hair usually don’t need to rinse and repeat.

Not Applying Conditioner Correctly

Conditioners tend to get a bad reputation sometimes because many people believe it weighs their hair down. However, the only way that could happen is to use the product in the wrong way or to use the incorrect product for your hair type.

Research says most people use conditioner the same way they use shampoo: they dampen their roots with the product and then spread it to their strands. It’s a horrible mistake to make, and it’s a road that leads to guaranteed dull, stringy hair with flat roots and no volume at all.

The best way to use a conditioner is to squeeze all excess water from your strands (you may even use a soft towel to soak in some of the remaining water). Your hair should be damp, not wet.

Apply the conditioner along your ends and work it up until you cover 2/3 of your strands from the tips upwards. Don’t put the conditioner anywhere near your roots. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and wash it out thoroughly.

Skipping Conditioner Altogether

People with fine hair tend to skip conditioned because they feel it makes their hair look worse than without it. The problem is, fine hair is exceptionally sustainable to breakage and prone to tangles and knots, so it’s essential to give it a little conditioner to protect it.

As long as you don’t let the product touch your scalp, you should use a conditioner no matter what hair type you have.

Skipping the Cold Rinse

The cold-water rinse at the end is no beauty myth. It’s one of the most critical steps for getting lush, shiny hair after each wash. Hair specialists at Ayam Beauty explain that hot water during a wash raises your hair’s cuticles and allows the product to penetrate better and be more effective.

Similarly, cold water closes the cuticle, leaving a smooth surface that reflects light and makes your hair look glossy.