Basic Hair Care

Woman taking care of her hair — Photo: Shutterstock

Let's take a look at the basics of caring for the hair. We'll discuss the proper ways to shampoo, condition, and dry the hair. I know that many of you are going to think that this is a completely unnecessary article.

You're probably thinking, "I know how to shampoo and condition my hair; I've been doing it for years." But I've noticed in dealing with my clients that there are a large number of people who just seem to be mishandling their hair. This mishandling is having an effect on the hair that isn't beneficial.

I'm a professional stylist who chooses not to work in a hair salon. I offer my services to clients who want or need the convenience of someone coming to them. Because of this, I travel to clients' homes and provide them with the same expert service that they would receive in a salon visit. It also allows me a better opportunity to observe how they perform certain hair care functions.

Because the nature of my services allows me to charge a higher rate for services, many of my clients prefer to take care of basic processes themselves. I'll arrive at the client's home; we'll discuss the service (haircut, roller set, perm, color, etc.) and I'll send them to the bathroom with products to shampoo and condition their hair (when appropriate) while I set up my equipment. They usually emerge with their hair still wet while they towel it dry.

Transparent container with shampoo — Image: AI illustration

The products that I give them have been dispensed into transparent bottles, and I always ask to see the bottles after they've finished. This allows me to see how much of the product they use in a single shampooing and conditioning treatment. As often as not, we discuss the routine they use when washing their hair. Based on my experience and the things I've seen my clients do, I've learned a few things that I think are common to many people. They are as follows:

•  Most people use more shampoo than necessary when washing their hair.

•  Most people are rougher than necessary when handling their hair during basic hair care processes like shampooing and conditioning (especially those with long hair).

•  Many people (especially those with longer or thicker hair) don't rinse their hair well enough after shampooing or conditioning.

•  Most people with short hair use too much conditioner.

•  Most people with long hair use too little conditioner.

•  Most people towel dry their hair in the roughest manner imaginable.

•  Most people are unaware of the proper way to comb out towel-dried hair.

Woman who looks as though she has hair concerns — Image: AI illustration

I've also learned that my clients tend to have a number of similar complaints about their hair. These are:

•  My hair gets very knotty after shampooing and conditioning.

•  My scalp gets itchy after I shampoo and condition my hair.

•  My hair gets weaker as it grows longer. My shorter hair always looked healthy, but now that I'm growing it out, it seems to break more easily.

•  Using conditioner on my hair makes it oily.

•  When I wash my hair, it gets too dry, especially on the ends.

I'm sure many of you can see the correlation between the complaints in the second list and the traits I've noted in the first one. It amazes me that, as obvious as the relationships seem to be, few people ever see the connections between the ways they shampoo, condition, and dry their hair and the complaints they have. I think this is because most people learn their hair care habits at an early age and don't think to make changes in the way they do things as they get older or their hair changes.

A man (or woman) who grew up wearing his (or her) hair cut short learns to shampoo, condition and dry his (or her) hair in a specific manner. Now that he's (or she's) older and trying to grow long hair, he (or she) fails to realize that the way you treat long hair is different from the way you treat short hair. It's a similar problem with women who grow up with long hair and decide to suddenly go with a short hairstyle. They tend to use the same amounts of product on their shorter hair as they used on their longer hair.

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