The cold weather is in full effect, providing a harsh reminder to keep hair hydrated during dry months. Lucky for you, we’ve got some conditioning basics to help your hair stay healthy this winter and all year round.
The hair’s cuticles are parched after shampooing, so following with a daily or deep conditioner is an absolute must. Basic conditioners detangle strands without causing the hair stress, but they should also be adding back moisture. Proper application is key in maintaining beautiful, healthy hair, so follow these simple steps to ensure your treat your hair right!
- Thoroughly rinse shampoo out of hair with warm water. The warmth will help liquify shampoo and make sure it’s completely rinsed out.
- Pour a small amount of conditioner onto your fingers in one hand. Rub fingertips together to evenly distribute conditioner.
- Apply conditioner two inches away from the scalp. To do this easily, gather hair into a mock ponytail and slide fingertips down to the ends. Conditioning is most important for the ends of your hair. Never rub conditioner into your scalp! You’ll clog the follicles and cause split ends.
- Run your fingers or a plastic wide-toothed comb through your hair to detangle and condition the hair shaft. (Tip: avoid combs with rubbery ends on the teeth; their edges can grab and rip out strands after a few uses.)
- Leave conditioner in for three minutes to plump hair with moisture and proteins.
- Rinse hair by letting cool water run through it, rubbing only the scalp with your fingertips to remove any remaining conditioner. Cool water helps to smooth the cuticle so it lays down flat and avoids split ends and frizz.
- For extra hydration and to seal the cuticle further to prevent frizz, follow with a leave-in conditioner. This helps hair hold onto moisture, creating a protective barrier that adds shine while safeguarding hair for overall health and vitality.
- Daily conditioners may not restore the nutrients that give hair lasting strength, so use a deep conditioning treatment at least twice a month. Deep conditioning restores vital proteins and amino acids that are lost through heat styling and weather. A deep conditioning treatment should always include heat; this allows the protein molecules in the cuticle to melt and bond together, rebuilding the molecular layer and restoring hair’s strength. (If your deep conditioner doesn’t have a heat component, simply wrap a hot towel around hair while conditioning.)
Photo source: harpersbazaar.com
You know, I’ve always rubbed conditioner into my scalp, for YEARS. Intuitive, right? Holy cow, how can I have been doing it wrong all these years? Yikes!!
Great blog. I love this post on the proper way to condition hair. Here’s a great vid I found that gives tips on how to deep condition hair. http://www.salonhive.com/videos/video/32/How-to-Style-with-deep-conditioner