I used to shampoo the wrong way until a hairdresser told me how to do it properly.
If you have fine hair and are anything like me, you’ve washed your hair the same way your whole life: Add shampoo, lather it all up, and rinse it out straight away. I didn’t realize until recently that this method is actually counterproductive for healthy and shiny hair.
And after I talked to my hairstylist the other day about my concerns, I quickly realized I’ve been washing my hair all wrong. A common mistake people make when shampooing their hair, according to my hairstylist? Not paying attention to the scalp.
By always shampooing my entire head and hair every day, my already fine hair often felt rather flat and quickly greasy again. According to hairdresser Charlotte Probst, however, a good result mainly depends on one area: the scalp.
“Cleansing the roots or scalp is much more important for the health of the hair,” she tells me. “This is where sebum—an oily substance that keeps your skin from drying out—collects and brings with it excess oils and dirt.” If the roots are cleansed with shampoo, the scalp remains healthy and can maintain its balance, which results in fresh and less greasy hair.
Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, agrees, adding that concentrating on the scalp makes sense, since it gets the most action. “When shampooing, you should focus on massaging the scalp to prevent product buildup, excess oil, and dirt from clogging hair follicles,” says Dr. Green.
Other shampooing rules to follow? Celebrity hairstylist and L’Oréal Professionnel global ambassador Min Kim says choosing the right products is equally as important. “It’s essential to select a shampoo and conditioner tailored to your hair type and concerns,” says Kim, who also says to focus on the scalp.
The lengths and ends, which tend to be dry for many people, do not need extra shampoo. The lengths in particular, which are already dry and sensitive, are only roughened even more by regular shampooing. “The suds will cleanse the lengths as they’re rinsed out,” says Kim.
This simple and free life hack has also been going viral on TikTok for some time, and it makes perfect sense: By focusing on the roots, you protect the lengths and ends from getting too dry, while the most important part of the whole process—the scalp—is thoroughly cleansed. This leaves the hair healthier, smoother, and looking fresher for longer. I’ve noticed the effect from day one.
So I now shampoo like this: I lather up a small amount of product in my hands and then massage it thoroughly into my scalp and hairline with my fingers. Then I rinse it out with water and occasionally apply conditioner to the ends. According to my expert, Probst, this step should never be missed when washing your hair if you have dry lengths or split ends.
