The key to healthy, natural-looking hair is cleaning it to keep it fresh. To maintain your hair, you must clean it regularly. When washing your hair, you’ll want to be sure you don’t damage the hair along the way.
Here are the 5 steps to showering to avoid damage to your hair. Follow these basic fundamentals to keep your hair looking luminous and clean.
1. Pre-Wash
To begin, you’ll want to remove tangles and knots from your hair. Using a brush and moisturizing detangler, rid your hair of snarls before getting it wet. This will prevent breakage down the line. Pay special attention to the ends of the hair and the nape area where friction is greatest. Next, you’ll pre-condition, distributing the product evenly throughout the hair. Once you’ve worked it in, rinse with lukewarm —not hot— water. Hot water dries out hair and strips it of the much-needed nutrients, and even color. Rinse out the conditioner in a waterfall-like motion to avoid damaging the hair. Don’t let the water hit the hair directly where it is tied to the base. Make sure all product has been removed from the hair before moving on.
2. Cleanse
Work in an appropriate amount of shampoo with lukewarm water. Comb the product into the hair with your fingers carefully to avoid creating knots. Rinse out the shampoo, again in a waterfall motion to avoid damage. Once again, you’ll want to keep the water from hitting the hair directly where it is tied to the base, and rinse out the product thoroughly. Use lukewarm water rather than hot because hot water causes color to fade by lifting the cuticle of the hair.
3. Rinse and Repair
Repairing hair ensures it is moisturized and prevents additional breakage. To repair your hair, apply a protein treatment, working the product from mid-strands to end. Do not rinse it out until the next step is applied, as repair continues. Next, you’ll want to apply an appropriate amount of moisturizing detangling conditioner to the hair, over where the protein treatment was placed. Using your fingers as a comb, distribute the product throughout your hair, avoiding the roots. Keep the treatment on for three minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water in a waterfall motion.
4. Towel Dry
With your hands, towel dry your hair, squeezing out all excess water carefully. Use a friction-free towel to blot out any remaining excess water. Using a blotting technique, move the towel around the entire surface of the hair to absorb moisture. Turn your head upside down and shake out any remaining water. This will put body back into the knots that secure the hair to the base.
5. Post-Wash
To finish, you’ll want to re-secure your attachment. Press down around the outer perimeter of the hair replacement or extensions to re-secure the attachment. Hydrate your hair by spraying an appropriate amount of leave-in protein product. Use your fingers to work the product into the hair. This will hydrate your hair and make it easier to comb through. Keep your hair protected by spraying a liberal amount of moisturizing detangler and work it throughout your hair with your fingers. Keep your hair feeling refreshed throughout the day to avoid buildup with anti-bacterial spray or toner daily.
Following these steps is the key to prolonging the life of your hair. Knowing how to moisturize, cleanse, rinse and dry your hair correctly prevents breakage and avoids damage, leaving you with healthy, beautiful hair. We want you to look natural, beautiful and feel like yourself.
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