How to Wash Your Hair Like a Professional

Just washed your hair, but it still doesn’t feel quite right?

Perhaps your roots feel heavy, your ends are tangled, or your blow-dry never quite has that fresh-from-the-salon finish.

It doesn’t necessarily mean you need more products. How you use what you already have is a good place to start.

Focus your shampoo on your scalp, condition where your hair needs it, rinse thoroughly and handle it gently. The finer details depend on your hair and the products you use.

Start with what your hair needs

Oily roots and dry ends can need different things. At Absolute Hair, we look at your scalp, your hair’s condition, its colour history and how it behaves between appointments before recommending home care.

Tell us what you notice. “It feels heavy as soon as I’ve washed it” is much more useful than knowing the name of a treatment.

Gently brush before washing

Before washing, gently brush through your hair to remove loose hairs and ease out tangles. Start at the ends and work upwards without pulling.

If your hair is matted or the tangles won’t release gently, ask your hairdresser for advice before trying to brush them out.

Thoroughly wet your hair before adding shampoo

Give your hair a really good rinse first, letting the water reach right through to your scalp, not just wetting the surface.

Then work the shampoo gently over your scalp with your fingertips and through your hair. Keep longer lengths down rather than piling them on top of your head, which can create tangles.

It’s easy to concentrate on washing your hair and forget the skin underneath, where oil, sweat and product can build up.

Don’t worry if your first shampoo doesn’t produce much lather. Work it evenly around your scalp and through your hair, then rinse thoroughly.

Do you need a second shampoo?

If you wash your hair two or three times a week, we often recommend two shampoos. If you wash daily, one may be enough. Your shampoo, scalp and how much build-up you have all play a part.

For your second shampoo, start with less product. You may find it spreads and lathers more easily after the first wash.

Some shampoos naturally produce fewer bubbles. Follow your product’s directions, and ask us if you’re unsure what works best for your hair.

Towel dry before applying conditioner

Excess water dilutes your conditioner. After rinsing out your shampoo, gently squeeze and blot your hair with a towel before applying conditioner.

Put conditioner where it will help

For fine hair, start with the ends. Dry or curly hair may need conditioner through more of the length.

Follow your product’s instructions for how much to use and how long to leave it.

Detangle without pulling

With conditioner in your hair, gently work through it with a wide-toothed comb to help distribute the conditioner and ease out any remaining tangles.

Start at the ends and work upwards without pulling. If a knot catches, ease it apart rather than dragging through it.

Rinse well, then blot gently

Rinse out shampoo and rinse-out conditioner thoroughly, following the directions for any leave-in treatment.

At Absolute Hair, we recommend finishing with a comfortably cool rinse.

Use a towel or soft T-shirt to gently absorb the water. Avoid rubbing your hair back and forth. When you blow-dry, use heat protection and a low or medium heat setting.

How often should you wash?

Let your scalp and routine guide you, rather than a fixed number of days. Oily hair may need more frequent washing; dry or curly hair may need less.

If your scalp stays sore, itchy or irritated, ask a pharmacist or health professional rather than trying to scrub the problem away.

What about a treatment?

There’s more to home hair care than shampoo and conditioner. Most professional haircare ranges include treatments you can add to your routine at home. Moisture masks, protein treatments, bond-repair treatments and hair oils all do different jobs. The right choice depends on what your hair needs.

Some treatments replace conditioner, while others are used before shampooing, after conditioner or as a leave-in. Always follow the product instructions. For example, K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask goes onto towel-dried hair after shampooing, without conditioner beforehand. Wait four minutes before continuing, and don’t rinse it out.

Not sure what would suit your hair? Ask your stylist and we’ll recommend the right home-care option. To see the treatments we offer in the salon, explore our in-salon treatments.