The Best Shampoo Tips for Creating a Salon Quality Hair Wash at Home

Who doesn’t love that squeaky clean, ultra fresh scalp and hair feeling after a good hair wash?! What we don’t love, however, is when our scalp feels clean, but our hair is left dry and straw-like! Cleansing your scalp is an important part of achieving your best hair health results because your shampoo and conditioner build the foundations of your overall healthy haircare routine. Between hair wash days, styling products, natural sebum (oil) and environmental pollutants can accumulate and create a build up on our scalps. Without properly cleaning and removing this build up, we can become susceptible to scalp problems, irritations and inflammation. So, the solution is simple, right? Use a shampoo that removes build up. Well, the concern is this; often, shampoos that give a thorough clean and remove build up can also cause our hair to be dry, needing moisture and, generally, feel unhealthy.

With our scalp health playing a key role in supporting healthy hair growth long term, it’s vital we effectively clean and nourish our scalp with a natural shampoo. However, our hair must not be forgotten about in the washing and shampooing process. So, let’s talk about the best shampoo tips that will elevate every hair wash, leaving you to feel like you’ve just stepped out of the salon. Plus, we’re also discussing which type of shampoo you should be using to enjoy your best scalp and hair health results.

1. Saturate your hair with water first

A vital step that we can easily overlook when starting a hair wash is not allowing enough time to completely saturate your hair with water before you apply any product. Before reaching for your shampoo, allow the water to saturate all parts of your scalp and hair. This is especially important if there is a significant build up of sebum and styling products on your scalp, to ensure you achieve an effective lather and clean when applying your shampoo.

2. Apply your shampoo gel generously

Understanding how much product you should be using on your scalp will also affect your overall hair washing results. Every shampoo is uniquely formulated, so take the time to understand the correct amount of product you need to apply, considering the specific shampoo formula you’re using. Overusing shampoo and washing too frequently is often discouraged because of the fear of stripping the natural oils from your scalp and hair each time you wash. However, with the right natural shampoo, you can apply it generously to enjoy a thorough clean without drying out your ends. We will talk more about the best type of shampoo later.

If you’re unsure about whether you’re using the right amount of shampoo for your scalp, pay close attention to how your scalp feels immediately after washing and drying. If it feels clean but some areas, particularly those underneath sections, still feel slightly oily or greasy, you will instantly know that the build up has not been completely removed and that you need to use more shampoo when you wash. If you’re worried about overusing or drying out your hair, always remember that it is more important to apply your shampoo generously to achieve a proper clean instead of using only a small amount and not thoroughly removing the build up from your scalp. An accumulation of build up can cause scalp issues, irritations, concerns and poor hair health in the long term. 

3. Massage shampoo into all sections of your scalp, getting under the weight of your hair

Starting to work and lather the shampoo in your hands first is particularly effective for ensuring you apply product evenly to all parts of your scalp. Often, if we apply a large amount of shampoo directly to the top of our scalp/head without being intentional with our application, it’s common to miss parts of your scalp, which means your scalp does not receive a thorough clean. When the rich lather and foam start to form, it is easy to assume that your scalp is clean because you’re spreading the shampoo foam around your scalp and through your hair. However, if you’re not intentional with your shampoo application, or you simply have a lot of hair, it can be easy to miss the lower and underneath/side sections of your scalp. This is particularly important, once again, if it’s been several days since your last wash and there’s a significant scalp build up.

So, instead of simply spreading the shampoo foam around your head when washing, take the time to massage your shampoo directly into your scalp, using your fingertips, getting underneath the weight of your hair. Unless you achieve an even application and allow your shampoo to clean all parts of your scalp, you risk not experiencing an effective clean, potentially causing scalp irritations or simply limp, oily hair.

4. Let your shampoo sit for a minute 

After giving your scalp a good massage with shampoo, you can also allow the product to sit on your scalp for a moment to let the ingredients absorb and do their work. This is a simple way you can enjoy more enhanced results from your shampoo as opposed to rushing the washing process and rinsing your hair immediately.

5. Rinse thoroughly and double shampoo

To ensure all product and build up are removed, always rinse your scalp and hair thoroughly, then repeat the process. Double shampooing is another effective way to maintain a clean and healthy scalp every time you wash. Taking the time to shampoo twice will ensure you completely remove any dirt, oil or styling products that accumulate between wash days. This means double shampooing is particularly important if you have an oily scalp or regularly use styling products like dry shampoo or texture powders.

Once again, you might be worried that double shampooing will strip or dry out your hair; however, when you invest in a high quality, all-natural shampoo that is formulated to clean and nourish, you can enjoy the benefits of double shampooing without drying out your hair.

6. Focus on washing the scalp, not the hair

The most important area to focus on when shampooing is your scalp, not your hair. So, instead of applying product directly to your ends, focus only on massaging and cleansing the scalp, allowing the shampoo to naturally rinse down and through the rest of your hair. When you create that lovely shampoo lather and foam, it’s easy to fall into the habit of gathering all your hair on top of your head and enjoying that foamy goodness. However, this can cause unnecessary matting and knots in your hair, so stay focused on massaging the scalp for an effective cleanse.

7. Wash frequently and according to YOUR scalp needs

Once again, it is often said that washing as little as possible is the healthiest habit for your hair if you want to prevent your hair from becoming dry and damaged. But as we’ve just discussed, this is not the case for all shampoos. Yes, heavily chemical and sulphate-based shampoos and haircare products can dry out and strip your scalp and hair. However, when you invest in a natural shampoo, you can wash as frequently as your scalp and hair require. Everyone has unique hair types, which means some people wash more frequently than others, and that is absolutely normal and more than okay! If you have an oilier scalp, if a build up of styling products accumulates or you’re simply sweating or swimming every day, it is vital you wash frequently and according to your needs to maintain a clean scalp. Don’t be afraid to wash often to support the best results for both your scalp and hair.

8. Finish with a good conditioner and/or mask

During the shampooing and cleansing process, hair cuticles are lifted, which is very normal. However, this can cause our hair to become slightly tangled and matted if not properly cared for. It is actually the role of conditioners – in addition to general conditioning and nourishing the hair – to smooth and flatten the lifted cuticles. Flattening these hair cuticles is what makes the hair, once again, smooth, shiny and easy to brush and detangle after washing. This means that using the right conditioner and/or hair mask after shampooing is vital if you want to enjoy not only a clean scalp, but also a nourished scalp and healthy, smooth hair. Even if your hair is naturally oily, fine or short, conditioner is always needed to support your best hair washing results. So, by using a nourishing yet lightweight conditioner and hair mask you can elevate the results of your shampoo and enjoy your healthiest scalp and hair, without that heavy, greasy after feeling many conditioners create.

9. The MOST important shampoo tip – Choosing the RIGHT Shampoo!

Yes, how we shampoo and wash our hair is important for creating that ultra fresh scalp and hair feeling. But using the right shampoo is equally, if not more, important for your scalp and hair health in the short and long term. Using a sulphate free, natural formula is essential for preventing that dry, straw-like hair feeling. There are, of course, many different factors and products that can cause dry, unhealthy hair. But choosing the best shampoo for your hair is an easy way to prevent dry, brittle ends and it’s an effective place to start when assessing your current haircare routine. 

The fear around shampoos stripping and drying out our hair stems from how shampoos are traditionally formulated. Most shampoos are commonly made with harsh sulphates that are used as the primary cleaning and foaming agent. And although they are known to provide a good clean and lots of foam, they can be a contributing factor to your hair feeling dry after washing. However, in our chemical free Sozo Hair Health Shampoo, we have formulated sulphate free surfactants alongside a range of natural oils and extracts to provide that rich clean and foaming experience without stripping your hair. So, if you want to enjoy clean, healthy and hydrated hair both now and for many years to come, investing in a natural shampoo is your best option.

Our sulphate free shampoo, as well as our entire range of natural haircare products, is scientifically formulated to soothe your scalp, reduce inflammation, condition and hydrate your hair, strengthen, increase shine and support body and volume for easier styling. Using aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera) as the first ingredient in our Sozo Hair Health products is one distinct difference between our haircare and other hair products available. Water is most commonly used as the first ingredient in most hair products; however, aloe juice is proven to provide more enhanced results than water (aqua) based products, which is why our shampoo and conditioner, and all our natural haircare solutions, can give your scalp and hair what they truly need to thrive. This means when you step into the shower, you are not simply washing your hair. You are actively targeting and enhancing both your scalp and hair to support your healthiest hair now and for years into the future.

The shampooing process builds the foundation of your most effective haircare routine, so implementing these easy shampoo tips each time you wash is a quick yet highly effective way to promote your best hair health results. Don’t let the busyness of life prevent you from washing and nourishing your hair properly. Take the time to stop, reassess your current hair washing routine and identify where you could improve and start implementing these simple haircare tips. And don’t forget to look deeper into the ingredients of your current shampoo to determine if your haircare products are genuinely supporting your healthiest hair naturally. With the best natural shampoo possible, you can wash frequently, cleanse your scalp and enjoy strong, healthy, shiny hair every time you wash.