Bathe your locks

Your hair is the one fashion accessory that you wear everyday. Like the finest of cashmere or silk, it is imperative that you choose to care for it delicately. With so many haircare products on the market, and the advancement of natural/silicone free products, bathing your locks has moved leaps and bounds since 2-in-1 shampoo in a green bottle.

Everyone is different and each head of hair is unique, which is why manufacturers have produced specialized haircare products prescribed for the individual. Your stylist will recommend to you a regimen that will consider your hair texture, overall condition and desired end result. Often, haircare brands carried in the salon work in synergy with the colour lines and other chemical services they offer.

We think that the shampoo process or ‘bathing your hair’ is a mundane task that happens in the shower to make us smell good: wrong! This important part of your beauty regimen ensures that the health of your scalp, and the length and colour of your hair are maintained between professional services.

Naturally, our body produces sebum, an oily substance secreted from glands all over our body. This is a natural moisturizer that creates protection from outside aggressors and aging. The more of the sebum we can preserve on our scalp, the healthier the scalp. For this reason, it is recommended to shampoo your hair only every other day. This ensures the maximum amount of protection for your scalp and it also moisturizes your hair.

When you begin to shampoo your hair, ensure that you have fully saturated all the strands in the shower. Always lather a quarter-sized amount of shampoo in your palms and begin the application at the back of your head and working your way forward. There is more hair at the back of your head than at the front, so naturally you would begin there. Massage the shampoo at the scalp over your entire head, using small circular motions. Remember, shampoo is used to cleanse the scalp and hair of any products or dirt collected over time.

Once the scalp has been completed invigorated by the nimble pads of your fingers, use your hands to gently massage the lather down the mid-strand and lengths of your hair, working always from the root, in circular motions to the ends.

Rinse thoroughly. An easy way to tell when you are done is to ensure the water runs clean without any bubbles going down the drain. Long thick hair requires more rinsing time in order to completely discard the unwanted shampoo. Depending on the formula of the shampoo, leaving excess shampoo on your scalp can cause irritation and dryness from the cleansing agents.

After any cleansing process, always utilize a conditioner specific to your hair type to re-energize the vitality of your lengths. Here we will begin by working a hazelnut size amount of product through the ends, up to the mid-strand. Avoid applying conditioner at the root (especially with fine hair) as this is where the hair is the healthiest and it does not require as much moisture. Leave your conditioner to rest for 3-5 minutes to ensure maximum results. Rinse thoroughly, as described previously.

I also recommend a ‘Sunday routine’, which is not restricted to one specific day of the week, but rather a day off when you have a little extra time to dedicate to yourself. On this day, use a scalp cleansing shampoo to remove any further build-up of product (hairspray, gel etc.) that a gentle shampoo may not remove. Follow up by spoiling yourself (and hair) with an ultra conditioning masque (applied the same as conditioner) for added moisture and softness and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

Always remember that the professional services received in the salon are best followed by a strong at home maintenance regimen. After all, you would never throw your new cashmere sweater in hot water with Tide, would you?

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.