How to Use Shampoo & Conditioner
We’ve done it a million times and have another million to go. Nonetheless, getting it right is just as tough. Yes, figuring out how to use shampoo and conditioner may not be rocket science but doing it correctly makes all the difference for your lengths.
Remember, hair washes do more than give you fresh-looking hair. They’re vital for your scalp health, hair growth, and texture, and even have a say in how much hair you shed. Even with just 2 products, a good hair wash routine should tackle how to use shampoo and conditioner well. A good hair wash routine should thoroughly cleanse your scalp, removing pollution, impurities, greasiness, hair water minerals, and product build-ups, while protecting your scalp's natural oils. Learning how to use shampoo and conditioner will also help you prevent long-term hair problems like dandruff, breakage, frizz, and hair loss.
So, if your hair wash routine has turned into clockwork, it’s essential to revisit it once in a while to keep your hair health intact. This is especially true if you’re doing something differently, like using conditioner before shampoo. So, leave no stones unturned and get all your hair wash routine questions answered with us.
Should Conditioner Go Before Shampoo?
Wondering what to use first, conditioner or shampoo? The answer is both. It largely depends on your hair type.
While reverse shampooing has been the rage for those with dry and damaged hair, it may not work for everyone. A shampoo’s purpose is to cleanse your scalp and lengths, opening up the cuticles. This is why your hair may feel slightly rough after a cleanse. These raised cuticles, however, absorb the moisture from conditioners and masks better. This is why using conditioners before shampoos may not be the best idea if you already have matted hair, full of build-up.
On the flip side, using conditioner before shampoo has worked out well for those with very fine hair that gets weighed down instantly with conditioners. In the shampoo or conditioner first debate, the latter trumps again when it comes to dry and damaged hair. Shampoos may strip off all the moisture from fine, already coarse lengths. This is when using conditioner before shampoo comes in handy. A conditioner acts as a primer and a shield for your lengths while reverse shampooing, preserving their moisture.
So, if you ask what to use first conditioner or shampoo, it’s time to analyze your hair type first. Setting a hair wash routine and deciding how to use shampoo and conditioner largely depends on your hair type, hair porosity , scalp type, and lifestyle.
Using conditioner before shampoo works great for those with -
- Very thin hair:
- Oily hair:
- Damaged Hair:
- Treated Hair:
If you wonder whether to use shampoo or conditioner first for very thin, fine hair, go with the latter. Using a conditioner before shampoo will nourish your hair just enough while taking away any excessive product, maintaining the bounce and movement of your lengths.
If your scalp gets so greasy that you wash your hair every other day, you may want to reconsider how to use shampoo and conditioner. Using conditioner before shampoo for oily hair helps you keep your lengths soft without creating a moisture overload, letting you go longer between washes. Using a shampoo for oily hair will also help your hair regimen.
If your hair is very dry and brittle and tends to get coarser after cleanses, you can try using a conditioner before shampooing. You can also try hair repair shampoos, with effective formulas like acidic bonding concentrate, to tend to your hair's health.
Applying the same principles, the shampoo or conditioner first question can be settled for colored hair too. Using a repairing conditioner before a shampoo can come in handy to preserve color-treated or chemically-treated hair. However, it’s best to consult your stylist before sticking to a regimen and make sure you use shampoos for colored hair regardless of your hair wash order.
How Long Should You Leave Shampoo & Conditioner in Your Hair?
A large part of learning how to use shampoo and conditioner is about leaving them on for a long amount of time. Whether you use shampoo or conditioner first, following the process to the T makes all the difference. Here’s how to use shampoo and conditioner for regular and reverse wash routines.
Shampoo before conditioner
For shampoo or conditioner first, If you’re sticking with the former, start with rinsing your hair thoroughly with water till it’s completely drenched. Depending on your hair length and density, take an adequate amount of shampoo and emulsify it with a few drops of water. Lather the shampoo and apply it evenly on your scalp and mid-lengths. If it’s a clarifying shampoo or an anti- dandruff shampoo, leave it on for a few minutes to let the ingredients do their work.
Rinse off the shampoo thoroughly and wring out the water gently. Leave the conditioner on your mid-lengths for roughly 5 minutes and rinse it out. You can follow this with a nourishing leave-in conditioner that can stay on your lengths until the next wash. To learn more, read our detailed guide on how to use shampoo and conditioner.
Using conditioner before shampoo
After reading up on how to use shampoo and conditioner if you want to stick to reverse washing, make sure you do it right. Using lukewarm water, thoroughly rinse your lengths and scalp. Use a repairing conditioner on your mid-lengths and ends and leave it on for nearly 5-7 minutes.
Without washing it off, take your shampoo and lather it on your scalp. Leave it on for 1-2 minutes, more if it’s a cleansing shampoo. Now wash off both, shampoo and conditioner together. Use a light hair serum for frizzy hair.
While it’s never right to play a guessing game with hair care, observing how your hair reacts to different routines and products is important while learning how to use shampoo and conditioner.
If you’re looking for certain results in the first go itself, it’s best to go for pH-balanced shampoo ranges. Look for all-in-one care solutions that help you deal with dry, damaged hair, like the Acidic Bonding Concentraterange by Redken. Read up more on hair care and select the right shampoos and conditionersfor your hair type, with Redken India.