Guest Author - Grace D. Dooley

When you go to a beauty salon to have your hair washed and styled, it feels so good because they do it right; the shampoo that is. They have you lay back relax and let their fingers do the walking through your hair. The water is warm and soft. Not much splashing in the face. It feels like more of a massage than a shampoo.

Many of you have searched this site for help with shampooing ethnic hair. You want to know how to properly shampoo your hair. Understand though that these are just suggestion. Please consult with a hair professional. What I am about to show you is how I wash my hair. I am very tender headed with soft hair when wet, dry and brittle when dry.

Below is an outline on How to Properly Shampoo your hair. Understand though, what¡¦s right for you may not work on others and vice versa. You¡¦re the only one who knows your hair the best. You know better how your hair behaves and how it reacts to certain situation and products. Trust your instincts with your hair, again finding what works for you and what¡¦s comfortable for you.

Here are the steps to Properly Shampooing you hair. There are also things you should know and take into consideration when shampooing your hair.

„« The first thing to do is make sure you have the proper shampoo for your hair type or condition.

o Shampoos come in different formulas for a wide variety of hair conditions and types.

„« The next thing is to know how much shampoo to use. Measure the amount of shampoo by how long or short your hair is.

o Is your hair thick or thin? Is it brittle and damaged? Use the least amount of shampoo necessary to thoroughly clean your hair; adding more as needed.

„« When washing your hair it is best to do it in the shower or over a sink. The water temp should be as hot as you can stand it. This aids in stimulating the scalp and actually releasing and melting the debris from the hair.

o Note: If you suffer from dandruff or some type of dermatitis; not too hot. For these hair conditions hot water is not good, but it still needs to be warm in order to get the hair clean.

„« Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet before applying shampoo. This is one of the key factors in making sure you hair and scalp gets clean. During this time, the hair becomes pliable and the curl is softened. The hair actually absorbs the water which means it is ready for shampooing.

o In order to ensure your hair is wet thoroughly, here¡¦s how to do it: when under the water hold your head back. Allow the water to run through it. Lift hair by different sections in order to make sure the water gets all the way through. You can also squeeze the water through it if you have longer hair. Your hair is like a wash cloth. It absorbs water, but the first time you ring out the cloth it only seem to absorb more when you wet it again.

„« Once the hair is thoroughly wet it is prepared to accept the shampoo and its conditioning agents. Ethnic hair absorbs better when wet. Now you are ready to apply shampoo.

o To apply shampoo: Pour some in the palm of your hand. Rub them together and finger it through your hair. That is using your fingers to comb the shampoo through your hair.

„« After applying the shampoo, use your finger tips to massage the scalp and break up the dirt and oil to be release. This action stimulates the glands to help in the cleansing process of your hair and scalp. Massage your scalp for about a minute. Then wash the hair itself.

o Do not tangle the hair too much. Avoid roughly tousling your hair. Be firm and be in control of your hair. You want your hair and scalp clean without causing too much damage.

„« After washing your hair rinse with lukewarm water unless you are doing a second wash; then I recommend using warm water, really more on the really warm side.

o This helps breakdown any stubborn particles still hanging onto your clean hair. Rinse your hair the same way you wet it, making sure you remove all traces of shampoo from the hair.

„« When everything is said and done and you are finished shampooing, take one final rinse of cool water.

o Cool water helps close the pores and glands locking in the remaining moisture and conditioning agents from your shampoo.

How to properly apply conditioner will be the follow up on this How-To Properly Apply Shampoo article. So stay tuned and visit often for updated information and new articles. Also drop me a line to let me know if this article was helpful.