Hair Care: How often should you shampoo?
 Q & A with Kendall at Mane Attraction
Q: This may sound strange, but is there a "right" way to shampoo your hair?
A: How often do you wash your face? Would you consider not washing your face for a day or two? The same factors that soil your face - dirt, dust and perspiration, soil your hair and scalp as well. Oftentimes your scalp will be dirtier than your face if the oil glands are more active or if you are using certain styling or finishing products like waxes and pomades. Contrary to popular belief, the true purpose of hair is to insulate, and you thought it was just for adornment! With your hair retaining the added body heat you will often perspire at the scalp but not on your face.
Many people exfoliate their skin regularly, but tend to ignore their scalp. Shampooing regularly helps to loosen and remove the dead cells from your scalp. There are also specific products designed to help exfoliate and promote a healthy scalp. One more reason to shampoo regularly is that hair has the unfortunate ability to hold odors, smoke and food in particular. Are you willing to start the weekend smelling like Tuesday’s dinner?
The first step in shampooing your hair is to use the correct shampoo. The condition, texture and chemical history (i.e. color, perm, etc.) of your hair will help determine the right product. Consult with your stylist to get a professional recommendation. Begin by gently combing out any tangles. Use a large toothcomb. Never use a brush. It will tear and break your hair. Once the snarls are combed out you may use a boar bristle cushion brush to exfoliate and stimulate the scalp. Wet your hair with warm water. Hot water will open the cuticle causing your hair to mat. After wetting your hair apply shampoo at the roots. The length and density of your hair will determine the amount of product needed. It is best to apply small amounts of shampoo throughout the head to distribute it evenly. Gently massage your scalp. This will promote good circulation and help slough off any dead cells. If your hair is extremely soiled you may shampoo a second time. If you are washing your hair daily you will most likely need just one shampoo.
People with damaged hair often ask if frequent shampooing further dries out their hair. The answer is a qualified yes and no. Sounds like a politician, maybe I should run for office. Maybe not, most politicians have bad hair, except Barack and Hillary. Shampoos by nature are cleansers. They use surfactants to remove oil and dirt. Surfactants are used in all cleansers from laundry detergent to oven cleaners. The harsher the surfactant in your shampoo the more it will damage and dry out your hair. Higher quality professional shampoos will generally use a gentler surfactant as well as additional moisturizers and conditioning agents. Another advantage to daily shampooing is daily conditioning. So, if you use the proper shampoo and conditioner it is fine to shampoo daily. If you are using E-Z Off oven cleaner, the less you shampoo the better. Whenever you shampoo, it is a MUST to use some type of conditioner. The right conditioner will leave your hair healthy and shiny. The wrong one will leave it flat and lifeless or dry and dull. Listen to your stylist as they know your hair and what it needs to look its best.
~ Kendall
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