Who Taught You to Shampoo
In today’s society, healthy hair is at the forefront of beauty trends forecasted for 2024, and we approve this message at Frenchie’s! To continue our last blog about healthy hair, scalp care, and in-salon options, we are now flipping the narrative of home procedures.
Cleansing hair dates back thousands of years and varies across cultures with different rituals, products, and methods. Generally speaking though, our first lessons on shampooing were taught by our parents or guardians and their elders before them. While they may have passed down the basics of how and why to shampoo, based on many years of washing thousands of heads of hair, I know there is often a lack of understanding about proper and effective methods—even among fellow professionals at times.
If your hair and scalp are not being properly washed and conditioned, the following problems can arise:
Buildup on the scalp can lead to irritation, excess oil production, unwanted odors, and hair loss.
Buildup on the hair can prevent color or chemical services from taking effect and can cause yellowing from hot tools.
Styling challenges.
Haircut challenges, especially when working with texture.
Breakage and split ends.
Color fading.
I bet you don’t want any of these issues, and we don’t want them for you either. So here’s how to have your best wash day yet!
Yay, It’s Wash Day!
Start with a long initial rinse. Go as warm as your color and scalp will allow. Remove all of that product and pollutants—seriously, rinse for what feels like an hour!
Make sure to get the top back crown, under your occipital bone, and around the ears; these areas that are commonly missed.
Leave some water in your hair to help the shampoo distribute better, especially since our shampoos at Frenchie’s are highly concentrated.
Emulsify the shampoo and apply it to the scalp in sections, then massage your scalp. Consider using a scalp brush for extra stimulation and exfoliation. Rinse and repeat.
Focus on the scalp and let the shampoo stay in the hair for the full duration. Then gently pat or press the excess shampoo down into the strands. Be gentle with your locks; they are super fragile when wet.
Shampoo as many times as needed to achieve “squeaky” clean hair.
Remove all water from your hair before conditioning.
Condition first the thickest part of your mid-lengths, then the ends, and finally work it up to your roots—your scalp needs moisture too, along with the closing action of the lower pH! Detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Brushes (even wet brushes) are not recommended at this stage, as hair can stretch easily and break.
Let the conditioner sit for 3 minutes for finer hair and 5 minutes for coarser hair. Use this time to give your scalp a nice massage, take a moment for meditation, breathe, or other shower necessities.
Rinse with cooler water— as cool as you can handle—to close down your cuticles and follicles, helping to prevent free radicals from causing havoc and to assist with detangling and styling.
For your very best results, we recommend:
Water softeners, even a simple shower head attachment.
Microfiber towels .
Shampoo brushes.
Your favorite Frenchie’s recommended products—did you know we offer virtual consultations?
Use a gentle, non-chelating, color-safe, detoxifying shampoo such as Eufora’s Urgent Repair weekly to combat mineral buildup, along with your favorite stylist-recommended treatment.
On days you are not washing, refresh your hair with a dry shampoo such as Eufora’s Fresh Effect, and use your favorite oil for the ends. (Not all oils are equal, so please test our personalized consultation service to find out which one is best suited for your hair.)
Fun Fact: The word "shampoo" originates from the Hindu word "champo," dating back to 1762. It means “to press, knead the muscles.” This process is crucial for stimulating blood flow and encouraging impurities and oils to loosen and be washed away. The kneading and pressing is also said to help prevent hair loss. (Torkamani et al.)
References: “Shampoo (v.).” Etymology, Douglas Harper, www.etymonline.com/word/shampoo. Accessed 25 Feb. 2024.
Torkamani, Niloufar, et al. “Beyond Goosebumps: Does the Arrector Pili Muscle Have a Role in Hair Loss?” International Journal of Trichology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158628/#:~:text=The%20arrector%20pili%20muscle%20(APM,tissue%20of%20the%20basement%20membr.