ARE YOU WASHING YOUR HAIR WRONG?
A REGULAR SUDSING ROUTINE MAY BE DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD “WHEN HAIR is WET, STRANDS STRETCH and SWELL, BECOMING MORE VULNERABLE”
The game-changing replacement to conditioning.
WASHING YOUR HAIR can often feel like one of life’s biggest burdens. Just like wrestling with autocorrect or organising your tax return, it requires time, energy and a whole lot of mental stamina. But in the end, you always do what’s best for your hair, right? Well, maybe not.
It turns out your locks may be dreading the wet, wash and dry process as much as you are. That’s because your strands are made up of keratin, which is protected by a natural biome layer to defend the hair’s inner cortex against water, heat damage and other environmental stressors. With each wash, that protective layer is stripped away, which means the keratin absorbs water and the hair becomes weak and susceptible to damage. “When hair is wet, strands stretch and swell, becoming more vulnerable – this is called hygral fatigue,” says Britta Cox, founder of haircare brand Aquis. “When we add heat and styling tools, weather exposure, pollution and product build-up into the mix, we disrupt our hair’s protective ecosystem and are left with hair that’s dull, damaged, tangled and prone to breakage.”
But don’t stock up on dry shampoo and showercaps just yet. You should still wash your hair, you just need a new approach. The first step is to add a pre-shampoo product to your haircare routine, stat. As Cox explains, using a product pre-wash will protect your hair from potential harm. “It prevents waterlogging, maintains your hair’s ph and protects against moisture loss during cleansing by closing the cuticle and fortifying from the inside out. The result is hair that remains tough and more prepared to handle any stress we throw at it.”
Once your pre-wash treatment is complete, jump into the shower and shampoo it out. Your next instinct may be to slather on that heavy conditioner, but according to Cox, that’s not doing your hair any favours either. “Traditional conditioners leave the hair feeling good temporarily, but they eventually trap damaging water in the hair, making it fall flat,” she says. “It’s also extremely important to make sure your hair’s not still soaking wet before adding additional hydrating elements or styling products, which is why towels and turbans have become such key haircare tools.”
So instead of reaching for your regular conditioner, opt for a turban and a leave-in conditioner. You’ll still have smooth, detangled locks, but without the unnecessary weight, your hair will be bouncier and substantially more voluminous. Another bonus? You’ll spend less time under the water, which is good for your hair and the environment. Now prepare for some seriously good hair karma.