Suds Up the Right Way—Here’s How to Wash Your Hair Properly

Think of washing your hair as setting the foundation for a house. You don’t want to build your forever home on top of a neglected foundation. Nor do you want to style or apply products to hair that hasn’t been washed correctly. Your shampoo session sets the scene for the rest of your routine—that’s why learning correct hair-washing techniques is so important. To clear up any confusion, we’re sharing all our best wash-day tips to add to your haircare routine for healthy-looking hair. Keep reading for an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide on how to wash hair.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Good hair day by @bytaylorchere.

One reason it’s easy to get hair washing wrong is that haircare isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for your parent, sibling, or friend may not work for you. This is especially true when it comes to how often to wash your hair. Those with fine or straight strands may get oily faster and need to wash more often, while thick and curly hair tends to need less frequent shampooing. These are some general guidelines on how often to wash your mane:

• Fine hair: Daily or every other day
• Thick hair: Every five to seven days
• Coily hair: Once per week
• Damaged hair: One to two times per week

For more advice, read our article, Here’s How Often You Should Really Wash Your Hair.

How to Properly Wash Your Hair: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ask 20 people the best way to wash hair, and a good percentage of them are likely to offer up the same answer: “lather, rinse, repeat.” This idiom-slash-haircare advice has been repeated so often, many assume it’s practically hair-washing gospel. In reality, however, it isn’t necessarily the best approach. Ahead, learn what we recommend instead.

Step 1. Brush through tangles

Brushing through your mane post-shower may seem like the natural move, but it’s time to rethink that habit. When your hair is wet, it’s more fragile, so brushing it can lead to increased breakage and damage. Brushing through your hair before you shampoo, on the other hand, can help loosen buildup so you can get your strands and scalp squeaky clean. Plus, it can help you avoid shedding in the shower and clogging the drain with hair (we’ve all been there). Gently brush or comb through dry hair, working from the ends of your strands upward, before hopping in the shower.

Editor’s tip: If you ever do brush wet hair, use a detangling brush designed specifically for use on fragile, wet hair. Learn more about different types of hair brushes and when to reach for each one here.

Step 2. Saturate your strands

Chances are you stick your head under the water before you apply shampoo, but do you ensure every lock of hair is wet? Shampoos are formulated to work on wet hair, so it’s important to fully saturate your tresses for the best results. Get under the water and work your fingers through your hair, exposing the different layers and sections to the stream of H2O. You don’t want to leave any dry pieces underneath.

Beyond getting your hair completely wet, it’s key to find the right water temperature. A lot of us enjoy the feel of steaming hot showers, but that isn’t necessarily what’s best for your strands. Overly hot water can strip your hair of moisture, so turn the dial down and wash your hair with lukewarm water instead.

Step 3. Choose the right shampoo

Not every shampoo will be a match for your hair’s needs. If you usually suds up with whatever you find in the shower and see disappointing results, you may need to try something new. It’s best to select a shampoo (and coordinating conditioner) formulated for your hair type and concerns. Below, we have a few recommendations.

If you have dry hair… try the Biolage Professional Hydra Source Shampoo and Conditioning Balm. This duo gently cleanses and helps optimize your hair’s moisture balance.

If you have oily hair… try the Matrix High Amplify Shampoo and Conditioner, which adds body and weightless volume to limp hair.

If you have curly hair… try the L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression Moisture Shampoo and Intensive Moisturizer Mask. Together, they gently cleanse and deeply moisturize 2A-4C wavy to coily curl patterns. (Psst: Opting for sulfate-free products like this pairing is one of our best tips for washing curly hair!)

If you have color-treated hair… try the Redken Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner to boost shine and maintain your hair’s vibrancy.

Step 4. Apply and massage in your shampoo

Once you’ve picked your shampoo, squeeze out enough for your hair. Getting the amount right is a key part of how to shampoo hair properly, and you may need less product than you’d think. Here’s a quick overview to help determine how much shampoo to use:

• Short or fine hair: About a nickel-sized amount
• Medium-length hair: About a quarter-sized amount
• Long or thick hair: About a walnut-sized amount

Apply the shampoo to your hair and scalp, starting on your roots (where there tends to be the most oil and buildup) and working your way down. Massage the shampoo over your entire head, creating a lather.

Step 5. Rinse until your hair is suds-free

Shampoo generally doesn’t need to sit on your hair for any period of time. So once you’ve applied it, you can rinse it right off. Be thorough with this step, as you don’t want to leave any product on your hair. Make sure to get the spots that can be easy to miss, like the underneath of your hair and the area around your ears. If you have any issues getting all the shampoo out, try clipping your hair up into sections and rinsing them one at a time until your hair is completely clean.

If you’ve been a devotee of the “lather, rinse, repeat” method mentioned earlier, this is where our guide on how to wash hair will really differ. After you finish rinsing, you don’t need to repeat. Typically, one shampoo is enough. In fact, overdoing it can strip your hair of essential moisture and dry out your locks.

Step 6. Condition the ends of your hair

Next comes conditioner. If you currently think of this as an optional step, we’d recommend you reconsider. Conditioner isn’t just for nourishing dry hair—it also helps with detangling, making hair more manageable, and balancing your hair’s moisture levels. Anyone seeking healthy-looking hair can benefit. Much like shampoo, it’s all about finding the right formula (scroll back up to see some of our favorites).

As for how much conditioner to use, if you have shorter hair, a blackberry-sized amount should be enough. You can double that for longer hair. If you think you may need more, we recommend starting small—you can always apply a little more if it turns out you do need it.

To apply the conditioner, work your appropriately-sized dollop through the ends of your hair (which tend to need the most moisture). Most conditioners are meant to sit on your hair for about one to three minutes, but check the instructions on the back of your bottle.

Editor’s tip: If your hair needs extra nourishment, try swapping your conditioner for a hair mask about once per week. Using a mask tends to be quite similar to using conditioner, but typically they’re left on your hair for a few minutes longer. Exactly how long will depend on the particular mask, so read the directions.

Step 7. Rinse again

Last but not least, rinse out the conditioner. Again, you want to use lukewarm water and make sure to rinse your hair so it’s completely free of product residue. Some people may insist that the best way to wash hair includes finishing your shower with a blast of cold water to make your strands appear shinier, but research actually suggests there aren’t any benefits to a cold rinse. So, there’s no need to endure frigid temps!

3 Post-Wash Haircare Tips

Now you know how to properly wash your hair, but what comes next matters, too. Try these tips to complete your haircare routine:

1. Gently towel dry. Roughly rubbing your hair with a towel can cause more damage than you might think. Be gentle with your mane and blot out excess moisture using a soft microfiber towel. If your towels seem too harsh, try drying your hair with a clean cotton T-shirt instead.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner. You don’t need to load up your strands with products, but a little leave-in conditioner can go a long way. Try Redken’s One United spray, which helps detangle, calm frizz, and strengthen hair.
3. Air dry when possible. We won’t deny the results hot tools can deliver, but it’s best not to overdo it. To minimize heat damage, air dry your hair whenever possible. For styling inspiration, read our article 14 Air-Dry Hairstyles To Show off Your Natural Hair.

Next Up: Is It Bad to Sleep With Wet Hair? The Answer Might Surprise You

Header photo credits (left to right): @biolage, @bytaylorchere, Redken

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