Back to Basics: Hair Care 101

So I was washing my hair one day enjoying a lovely scalp massage and it occurred to me as I was rinsing that not all of us know the basic hair care techniques I love and cherish :) Yes, there is a correct way to wash and condition, to towel dry, and to even brush. Implementing these basic techniques can and will give you optimal results when it comes to your hair. Whether it is maintaining your color or achieving a smooth style, practicing proper hair care ( yes, the basics!) can help make all your hair dreams come true!

Good shampooing and conditioning is the first step to creating a masterpiece. When looking for a shampoo look for something acidic as opposed to alkaline. Your hair is made up of tiny scales called cuticles. Products that are too alkaline burst open the cuticle causing your dye and beneficial oils to come out; acid closes the cuticle giving you sleek and lovely hair. Steer clear of sulfates (the detergents that make your shampoo foam) and products full of silicon and oils (they coat the hair and make it look dull and greasy). Foamy shampoo does not equal great shampoo.  Some of the best shampoo I have ever used didn't foam at all but it kept my color in tip-top shape and made my hair shine like silk.

 If your product claims to have something beneficial in it (for example Argan Oil) make sure you read the label and see if it is in the shampoo. Don't pay for something that isn't there. Last but not least, cool water is better than hot. Hot water bursts the cuticle open and cool water closes it.  This is important for those of us who dye our hair and want to go longer in between salon visits.

By properly shampooing your hair you can actually save money. Proper hair care extends the visits you make to the salon thus keeping your pocket full of that hard earned green stuff.

Steps for shampooing your hair
1. Wet hair
2.Start at the scalp- Many of us (myself included sometimes) put a whole bunch of shampoo on our hands and lather up mid-shaft to ends and kind of get the roots. However, it is important to start scrubbing at the scalp.  Then, move on to your hair roots.  The roots are where the oils from our scalp are mostly at, so scrub those first and then work the shampoo down into the ends.
3. Rinse out thoroughly with cool water and repeat once more if your hair is especially dirty.  If you are a product junkie you may want to repeat so that you get all the product out, if not just go on to conditioning.  Over-shampooing your hair is not the best either.
4. Ring out your hair! If you put conditioner on right after you rinse you give your hair no chance of absorbing any of the conditioner! Ring out or towel dry your hair.
5. Condition. This is opposite shampooing in terms of application. Do not condition the roots! This can make your hair look greasy. Start mid-shaft and comb through your ends.
6. Rinse. Cool water, please, so that you smooth out the cuticle.
7. Don't over-shampoo! For goodness sakes, you don't need to wash twice a day or even once a day. It is best to wash every two to three days, and if your hair gets especially oily and dirty try to go a day in between.

Styling 101

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