how to shampoo

[blondebomb]

Is there a right way to shampoo? I remember reading an article once about a right and wrong way to shampoo. The right way being to lather in your hands and then apply to hair. The wrong way is to put the shampoo on your hair and then start to lather. The article went on to say if you weren't getting enough suds to add more water not more shampoo.

Is any of that right? I know when my shampoo is not sudsing right adding more water doesn't make suds, but adding shampoo does.

[Toni]

Hello blondebomb,

Am wondering if I have welcomed you to the forum or not and don't believe I have. Glad to have you and the great questions you pose.

Shampooing your hair means using the least amount of soap as possible since it can dry and strip your hair out. You really only want enough to remove the dirt and oils. Since those oils come from the glands beneath the skin, said oil is, of course, going to be right there on and near your scalp.

Rubbing the shampoo into the scalp area means having the shampoo on the pads of your fingertips as much as possible. Massaging your scalp with only the tips of your fingers so as to not activiate your oil glands further is the trick the professionals use. Even though we know how wonderful nails can feel, they are not a good idea.

Soap up the scalp area and work the hair shaft and ends into this bubbly foundation. And yes, water activates soap, any soap, so when it isn't foaming up for you, a little water gets it going. Unless of course, you don't have that much shampoo to begin with.

How much shampoo is enough? Depends on the length and density of your hair. Also, how dirty and oily it is makes the difference. If all of these are average, then a capful should do the job. Adjust up and down from there.

[topsyturvy]

I don't shampoo my hair every day, and I use styling products. Is there a shampoo that lathers up real well with just a small amount? I'm tired of using at least a 1/4 cup of shampoo every time I wash. (I have alot of thick hair)

[Toni]

Originally Posted by topsyturvy

I don't shampoo my hair every day, and I use styling products. Is there a shampoo that lathers up real well with just a small amount? I'm tired of using at least a 1/4 cup of shampoo every time I wash. (I have alot of thick hair)

Shampoos that are creamy lather the best as a general rule. Especially the thick, rich, creamy ones.

[blondebomb]

Originally Posted by Toni

Hello blondebomb,

Am wondering if I have welcomed you to the forum or not and don't believe I have. Glad to have you and the great questions you pose.

Thank you so much! This is a very nice forum you have here.

Originally Posted by Toni

Shampooing your hair means using the least amount of soap as possible since it can dry and strip your hair out. You really only want enough to remove the dirt and oils. Since those oils come from the glands beneath the skin, said oil is, of course, going to be right there on and near your scalp.

Rubbing the shampoo into the scalp area means having the shampoo on the pads of your fingertips as much as possible. Massaging your scalp with only the tips of your fingers so as to not activiate your oil glands further is the trick the professionals use. Even though we know how wonderful nails can feel, they are not a good idea.

OK. So I should be using my fingertips and not my palms? I can certainly give that a try. I had no idea.

Originally Posted by Toni

Soap up the scalp area and work the hair shaft and ends into this bubbly foundation. And yes, water activates soap, any soap, so when it isn't foaming up for you, a little water gets it going. Unless of course, you don't have that much shampoo to begin with.

Hmmm. I know that water activates it, but I guess unless you have enough to start with it can't work miracles.

Originally Posted by Toni

How much shampoo is enough? Depends on the length and density of your hair. Also, how dirty and oily it is makes the difference. If all of these are average, then a capful should do the job. Adjust up and down from there.

A capful? Oh my. I am probably not using near that much. But unless I've gone a day without washing my hair (I don't have oily hair but it feels really gross if I don't wash it every day) my hair feels clean with the amount I use so I must be OK.

[Toni]

Originally Posted by blondebomb

Thank you so much! This is a very nice forum you have here.

thank you!

OK. So I should be using my fingertips and not my palms? I can certainly give that a try. I had no idea.

yes, fingertips gets up to the scalp where the most oil and dirt collect.

Hmmm. I know that water activates it, but I guess unless you have enough to start with it can't work miracles.

A capful? Oh my. I am probably not using near that much. But unless I've gone a day without washing my hair (I don't have oily hair but it feels really gross if I don't wash it every day) my hair feels clean with the amount I use so I must be OK.

I need to rephrase the capful thing cause we might not be on the same page about this. There are WAY too many cap sizes out there. I'm talking something about as wide as a nickel (the cap) and as deep as an inch. So not very big.

[Shorty]

Who knew that there was a right and a wrong way to wash your hair. ALl these years and I have just been slapping the shampoo on my head and scrubbing away. Now I actually have something to blame my bad hair days on. I had no idea you were supposed to do it a different way. Well I am glad I came here today you learn something new every day

[Sweetcakes]

I love to have my hair washed when I get it cut. I try and mimic what the professional do but have little success.

Thanks for the washing tips. I will have to try these. I usually just plop the shampoo on my head and go from there. I do add more water when I don't have enough suds. I think I mainly do that because it's easier to do that while showering than grab the shampoo bottle.

[jellybean]

Originally Posted by Sweetcakes

I love to have my hair washed when I get it cut. I try and mimic what the professional do but have little success.

Thanks for the washing tips. I will have to try these. I usually just plop the shampoo on my head and go from there. I do add more water when I don't have enough suds. I think I mainly do that because it's easier to do that while showering than grab the shampoo bottle.

I also love having my hair washed by the stylists... it's like a head massage. It always leaves me feeling really good.

I've tried to mimic what they do, and I think I've done fairly well. I have to keep reminding myself to only use the tips of my fingers when I catch myself trying to use my whole hand, though.

[pigtails]

Great and interesting thread.

Originally Posted by Toni

I need to rephrase the capful thing cause we might not be on the same page about this. There are WAY too many cap sizes out there. I'm talking something about as wide as a nickel (the cap) and as deep as an inch. So not very big.

Toni, would you say this is about the equivalent of about the cup of your hand?

Originally Posted by Toni

Soap up the scalp area and work the hair shaft and ends into this bubbly foundation.

So massage your scalp with your fingertips and then wind your hair on top of your head? How long should you spend on the shampoo process?