Do you have dry, oily, lackluster, frizzy, tangled, or easily broken hair? The way you wash could be to blame. So what should you do instead? Here are five hair-washing tips from professionals.
Wash Regularly but Not Too Often
The truth is, most people wash their hair too frequently. And we get it–you want to feel clean. But you may be sabotaging your tresses. That’s because when you shampoo your hair, you remove the natural oil that protects it. And while that may sound wonderful if you have oily hair, washing too often may actually increase your problems because your body will produce more oil to replace what was lost.
So what’s the solution? Figure out the frequency that works best for your hair, set a regular schedule, and stick to it. For example, if your hair is super dry, you may only need to wash once a week. If it’s oily, you’ll need to wash more often, but you should still let your hair rest for two or three days between washes.
Use Trusted Natural Products
Lots of shampoos are pretty harsh on hair. That’s why many pros recommend using natural, plant-based shampoos. According to NYC stylist Cara Craig, many shampoos contain ingredients like silicone that can dry out your hair, steal your volume, and even cause your strands to break. She recommends using plant-based shampoos instead.
And that’s good news because there are tons of natural plant-based ingredients that are nourishing to your hair. For example, here at Viori, we use ingredients like Longsheng rice water, bamboo, aloe, shea butter, and cocoa butter in our shampoo bars.
Watch the Temperature
Have you ever wondered about the drastic difference in temperature at the salon between when your hair is washed and when it’s rinsed? We promise it’s not because your stylist wants to scald, then freeze you. There really is a good reason behind the water temperatures used at the salon.
When you wash your hair, your cuticles are opened, allowing the shampoo to do its job and clean all the dirt, oil, and built-up product from your hair. Warm to hot water helps that process. But it’s important to close your cuticles again, too. So after you’re done conditioning, you should rinse with cold water to help your cuticles seal.
Always Condition
Speaking of conditioning, it’s a step you should never skip, even if you feel like your hair is too oily. That’s because the conditioner adds moisture to your hair after shampoo has removed it. Conditioner also helps seal your cuticles, so moisture remains inside your hair shaft.
If you have trouble with oily hair, we recommend using Citrus Yao conditioner. The natural citrus oil it contains removes excess oil from your hair, so your locks are moisturized without feeling greasy.
Use the Right Shampoo for Your Hair
Hair comes in a beautiful spectrum of colors, textures, and thicknesses, and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. That’s why it’s important to use a shampoo that works well with your hair. Factors such as whether you have dry, normal, or oily hair, along with whether you color or bleach your hair, will all play a part.
Viori bars are formulated to work well on all types of hair and are safe for color-treated hair. Take our quiz here to find the best products for your hair, or contact us here, and we’ll be happy to provide a recommendation.