The correct way to wash your hair

This story was originally published on Beauty Heaven and is republished with permission.

It's hard to believe that there's a right way to wash your hair.

The process has always been habitual, part sudsing, part conditioning, part rinsing.

But in reality the most healthy, clean tresses come from a more technique-filled undertaking.

Shampoo twice

The debate over whether or not you should shampoo your hair once or twice per wash has been long contested, with trends rising in alternate favour of one over the other.

But since grime on hair is as persistent as dirt on skin, we adopt the same principle for cleaning them thoroughly – namely, the double cleanse, to first remove oil build-up and then to give everything a really good clean so we're near sparkling.

Shampoo can often strip away moisture if used in excess, so make sure to use no more than roughly a 20 cent coin-sized amount for each lathering.

Your fingers should moved in slow upward and downward rotations instead of circular movements so hair doesn't tangle.

Side tip: In addition to paying special attention to your roots (and conversely, avoiding shampooing your ends), wash areas that regularly come into contact with cosmetics or sweat, such as your hairline and any hair underneath that might brush up against your neck.

Condition to your conditions

In the case of conditioner, it's particularly important to use a quantity that fits the needs of your hair.

Course, dry, long or lacklustre locks will benefit from a healthy dolloping of conditioner left in for anywhere between five and seven minutes, while fine hair, which can get weighed down by generous quantities of product, will reap more benefits from only a light coating over drier ends.

Side tips: Gently wringing out hair prior to applying conditioner will allow your hair to better absorb the product you'll soon use. Also, if your hair is severely dry or in desperate need of a pick-me up, condition your ends both before and after you shampoo.

Tinker with the temperature

To close hair cuticles and pores, ensuring moisture is locked in and the effects of your wash are prolonged, rinse hair with cold water once you've conditioned. It's rumoured that this also makes hair shinier!

Side tip: Your hair is happiest under luke warm, rather than hot, water.

Know your frequency

While it might seem like common practice to wash your hair everyday, hair actually produces more oil when it's cleaned day after day.

As a general guideline for normal or dry hair, wash your hair a maximum of three days per week, using dry shampoo in the days in between to keep roots fresh and enliven hair with a boost of subtle texture.

If your hair is on the finer side and you find it's getting greasy quickly, add more days into your hair-washing routine.

Note: Make sure the products you're using are best suited to your hair's needs. The right formulation, whether it's designed to make colour last longer, bring moisture back or add volume, will have your hair reaching its full potential.