10 Big Shampoo Mistakes You’re Making

Most of us lather-up in an almost zombie-like trans, but shampooing properly is far from a no-brainer. A crucial step in our hair-care routine, washing hair correctly can make the world of a difference. Start the transition to stunning tresses and learn what top mistakes people make while shampooing so you can stop yourself in your sudsy tracks.

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1 / 10

You’re using too much shampoo

According to Woman’s Day, you should only use a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to wash your hair. While using more shampoo to create a sudsy lather may seem like its doing the job, too much foam can actually prevent the shampoo from properly massaging into your hair and leaving you with perfectly clean and shiny locks.

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2 / 10

You brush your hair after you shower

Most of us are guilty of brushing our hair when it’s sopping wet, straight out of the shower, however, hair breaks easier when it’s wet. Preserve your strands by brushing them before you head into the shower so they’re much less gnarled after you shampoo. Another option is using an ultra-absorbent microfiber brush that dries wet hair as you brush it.

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3 / 10

You always apply shampoo to the same spot

Most of us apply shampoo to the crown of our heads and work it into a lather from there, but this can irritate your scalp and cause it to become dry and flaky. Instead, we recommend alternating your shampoo application on the nape of your neck and working it upwards, to prevent irritation.

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4 / 10

You wash your hair as soon as it’s greasy

You’ve probably heard by now that washing your hair every day, and even every other day, strips it of its natural oils. Train your hair to get greasy less quickly by waiting an extra day in between your regular washes, relying on dry shampoo and these greasy day hairstyles to keep it looking clean.

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5 / 10

You use dry shampoo the morning of

Try this genius dry shampoo trick: apply dry shampoo before bed, opposed to in the morning. Not only will sleeping with it in your hair create added volume, the product will have time to settle into your hair so the grey powder residue disappears by morning.

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6 / 10

You switch shampoo every few months

If you notice your shampoo is less effective after a few months, it has nothing to do with the fact that your hair has gotten “used to” the formula. Our hair’s texture changes based on the season, so instead of switching products entirely, just make sure to use a shampoo that meets your hair’s specific seasonal needs.

You might also like: 34 dramatic celebrity hair colour transformations.

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7 / 10

You don’t wet your hair enough

Did you know that your hair should be soaking wet when you apply shampoo? Most of us don’t give our hair enough time to soak up water in the shower before lathering up. Incorporate this crucial step into your hair-washing routine for more effective cleaning.

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8 / 10

You apply shampoo and conditioner to your whole head

Follow this rule of thumb while washing your hair: shampoo your roots and condition your ends. Roots get the greasiest so will benefit from a strong lather, while often-dry ends don’t need as much shampoo to de-grease. The opposite is true for conditioner. Apply it to the bottom half of your hair, being careful to omit your roots.

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9 / 10

You use silicone-based shampoo

Silicone-based shampoos are a quick way to make your hair feel silky smooth, but they actually end up drying hair over time by preventing moisture from penetrating. It’s fine to use silicone-based hair products, as long as your shampoo washes them out, and it can’t do so if it contains the ingredient itself. Watch out for shampoos that contain the ingredient dimethicone, which is just another word for silicone.

See more: these are the best products for curly-haired people.

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10 / 10

You rinse out your shampoo with hot water

Rinsing out your shampoo with steaming hot water can leave your hair dry, not to mention it makes colour-treated hair fade a lot faster. Instead, rinse your shampoo out with lukewarm or cold water to help seal the cuticle and lock in moisture.