Is it necessary to shampoo?
Why and How?
Image from Linda Hanson
Dirt is caused by sweat and product buildup. It makes your scalp itchy. You need to wash when your scalp and hair are dirty.
Contrary to public belief, dirt does not grow your hair.
Hair produced from a dirty scalp is not healthy. In fact, it thins out faster and it breaks. Anything applied on a dirty/clogged scalp does not work. You are just wasting your products.
So if you want healthy strong long strands you need a clean scalp.
Have you ever felt like your products are not working even after consistent usage? Your hair might be breaking, hard, and dry after moisturizing because it is suffocated with the products you piled on it.
If this is the case, you need to cleanse your strands first. Then monitor if there is an improvement.
What do you use for cleaning your scalp?
Primarily a Shampoo. It is a cleansing product used for cleaning the scalp of product build-ups, excessive sebum, and sweat. There are various types of shampoos that your hair needs for various reasons and seasons.
1. Clarifying shampoos: They are responsible for deep cleansing on your scalp.
If your hair treatments are not working, your hair is constantly dry, your scalp is itchy and you haven’t clarified before, you should clarify.
An example of a clarifying shampoo is shanyi clarifying shampoo 👇🏽
Sometimes, clarifying shampoos contain sulfate. They are good and bad at the same time.
So the good part first. They remove dirt that your sulfate-free shampoos cannot remove(scalp clarification). So do not totally eliminate it from your routine (that’s if you’re not allergic to sulfate).
The bad part- Because of how harsh sulfates are, they end up stripping your hair of moisture and its natural oils. This results in dryness and breakage. They can also irritate your scalp and make it itch (doesn’t apply to everyone tho). They are not suitable for regular use.
Using a sulfate shampoo depends on your hair needs and routine.
Example- You’ll need a clarifying shampoo if your scalp itches even after using a sulfate free shampoo.
However, sulfates may also cause itching so it’s really dicey. You can only know if you are allergic to sulfates when you use them.
2. Sulfate-free shampoo: This is a shampoo that does not contain sulfate. It contains mild surfactants that gently cleanse your scalp and hair.
They are suitable for regular use. They are less drying. Some are even moisturizing.
3. Neutralizing shampoo: A neutralizing shampoo washes out the relaxer left on your hair and lowers your pH level.
If you don’t use a neutralizing shampoo, you can be sure that you still have relaxer residues in your hair and it’s eating up your strands (still processing).
This is why your relaxed hair is breaking even if you did the 1week later wash.
Make sure to include a neutralizing shampoo in your list of products to use. We will see more about when I treat relaxer day.
4. Moisturizing shampoos: This falls under the sulfate free category.
It is usually recommended during harmattan. It cleanses your scalp gently without stripping it of moisture.
5. Shampoos for Itchy scalp: Yes, I made this category because the shampoos I use come under here. I usually recommend ayurvedic based shampoos for this. Example Shanyi Deep cleanser
They are what have worked when all other remedies failed. One is made with a herb called Reetha. While the other is made with bentonite clay,koalin clay and rosemary.
Google them and see for yourself.
Still under this category are antidandruff shampoos. They are made with special ingredients like zinc pyrithone, selinium sulfide, etc. Example of shampoos under this category is Megagrowth shampoo, As I Am Dry & Itchy Scalp Care.
WASHING PROPERLY
It is wrong to pour shampoo on your hair and squeeze it like you are washing clothes.
If you don’t wash well, you’ll have an itchy scalp.
There is a proper way to shampoo. There are a few things you should take note of.
- Work in sections so you can focus on your scalp.
- Use your finger pads, not your nails. Preferably use a scalp massager. It cleanses better than my hands for me. I love a squeaky clean scalp😅
HOW TO SHAMPOO YOUR SCALP AND HAIR
1. Spray or soak your hair with warm water.
2. Divide your hair into sections (clip down with sectioning clips or twist them).
This will help to prevent knotting and breakage. If your hair is shorter you don’t have to section.
3. Pick a section and apply your shampoo.
If your shampoo is jelly, pour into your palm and emulsify (rub your palm together) and apply on your scalp first.
If it’s a liquid shampoo, apply directly on your scalp first.
4. While one hand is washing your scalp, the other should be stretching the length of your hair from the ends. This helps to prevent your ends from tangling up.
5. Wash using your fingers pads not your nails, to lift off the dirt on your scalp. This will prevent a lot of scalp injuries.
To make life easy, like I love to do, please use a scalp massager.Be gentle while using your hands or your scalp massager.
6. Next wash the hair. Use the praying hands methods and work the shampoo into your hair.
When you are done, you can twist up that section or clip down.
7. Repeat this for all the other sections then rinse.
This method will minimize the knots you usually get on wash days.
If you can wash in twists, you can use that method as well. However, it doesn't work for everyone like myself😅
Here is a link to a clip that explains everything.
How to know if your scalp is clean
After the first wash, use your nails and scratch your scalp to see if it is clean. If it is not, shampoo again.
Make sure your scalp is clean. Not shampooing properly will result in an itchy scalp because your scalp is not clean.
Today's Summary
You cannot get long hair if you keep a dirty scalp.
Your relaxed hair is breaking because you don’t neutralize.
Get the right shampoo according to your hair needs.
I can help you do that. Send a message on WhatsApp by clicking the link below. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
