How You Should Use A Clarifying Shampoo?

Your everyday shampoo cannot help much in this case and you need a clarifying shampoo to help with this. Note that you should not use it too often as it can dry out your scalp and cause more issues. The frequency of use will depend on your hair type and scalp condition. For some people, it can be as regular as every week. And for others, once a month will suffice. So before using any product, I advise that you look into what would work for you. That said, below is a guide on how this works:

Know your needs

Your friends may use something, and it works for them, but that might not be suitable for you. As such, you should start by determining your hair type. For example, if you have dry hair, you should use a productthat will not dry out your hair. For people with oily scalps, a highly effective formula is of the essence. If not, they will suffer from greasiness, which can be quite a bother. People with normal hair types are lucky as they can use products designed for all hair types.

If your water has minimal minerals, this should not be a problem, and you can use pretty much anything. But the situation is different when you use hard or chlorinated water on your hair. In this case, you would need some chelating ingredients in the formula to aid in mineral buildup removal. The same goes for people who swim in chlorinated water. EDTA is one such ingredient that should be present for you to remove mineral buildups effectively. It helps to look into the state of your water by using testing kits.

Nowadays, people are moving more towards organic products, and I love this trend. It means that you use fewer chemicals on your scalp, leaving your hair less vulnerable to breakage. Suppose your hair is curly, fine or is in a state where it can dry out with ease, you need hydration. This shampoo will generally remove residue, and in so doing, it will strip you of natural oils. However, you can avoid suffering adverse effects owing to this by using products infused with natural oils. Examples include Shea butter and avocado oil. Also, you should be on the lookout for sulfates. The presence of these drying ingredients will make dryness worse.

Using this shampoo may not work for you, more so if you have damaged hair or extremely dry hair. In this case, you can use other shampoos as you work on strengthening your hair. Failure to do this can render your scalp and hair vulnerable to more damage. Where you have color-treated your hair, use a color-safe option that will not strip you of hue.

We live in an age where information on products is easily accessible. Go online, talk to your stylist, and get some feedback from friends. Couple this information with your needs and head to the store for a bottle of shampoo. Now, let’s focus on how you should use it.

The Washing Process

Using this product follows a procedure similar to what you would use when using normal shampoo. As is the case with the latter, you start by wetting your hair.

Note that the key here is to wet your hair, and not to dampen it. I prefer doing this in the shower or sink where I can keep wetting my hair. As much as you may feel tempted to use hot water to open the cuticles, it is a bad idea. You will end up damaging the strands, and the result will be limp hair. Warm water works just as well in opening the cuticles, without running the risk of damage.

Next, use a shampoo amount as indicated on the bottle. In most cases, this will be a quarter-size. Work this shampoo into your hands to create a lather before applying it to your hair. You should focus on massaging your scalp as this is where the buildup is. The aim is to remove residue from the roots and leave your hair feeling and looking clean. I like to spend at least five minutes on this as it also improves circulation and increases hair growth. However, overdoing it is not advisable as it could dry out your hair.

Once you have worked it onto your scalp, you can rinse it out using cold water. Warm water will leave the cuticles open, and this can expose your hair to damage. But cold water will seal in moisture, and you will have more shiny hair as a result. Ensure that you rinse out all the shampoo. Now, the question is if you should do the whole rinse and repeat thing when cleaning your scalp.

Well, this is not advisable as it can further dry out your hair, even when using a hydrating shampoo. But you may find that your scalp is so greasy that one application will not suffice. Try and massage the lather for a longer period, and if this does not work, you can repeat the process.

You have to condition your hair after using such a strong shampoo. Not only will the shampoo strip you of dirt and artificial oils, but it will also eliminate the natural oils.

As such, if you do not condition your hair, you will end up with dry strands. Conditioning will depend on your hair routine and the state of your hair. Again, you have to choose products that work for your hair type.

For example: If you have an oily scalp, you should condition the tips of your hair. That way, you will avoid oiling the roots and scalp. Over time, your scalp will produce enough sebum to maintain the oil balance, and your hair should remain moisturized. But if you work the conditioner to the root level, you will end up with a greasy scalp in no time. Think about this regarding all hair types and follow through with the recommended application. Also, it is best to deeply condition your hair after using this shampoo. I advise that you do so weekly after cleaning your hair as it will help in nourishing the strands to make them stronger.

When to use it

How often should you use this shampoo? The truth is many people are unsure of what works for their hair. They end up underusing or overusing it, and the results are unsatisfactory. It all comes down to your hair type and the activities in which you engage.

If you swim a lot or use tons of hair products, you should use it each week. Note that this should be in conjunction with deep conditioning to avoid drying out your hair. Alternatively, you can use fewer hair products on your hair to prevent your strands from getting weighed down.

For people with normal and oily hair, cleaning can take place twice a month. In this way, you can prevent buildup while ensuring that you do not dry out your hair. Note that many shampoos will use strong ingredients whose effects last a long time. Thus, the more you minimize their use, the better your hair will look. For the intervals between washing, you should use a normal shampoo with hydrating properties.

If you have damaged or color-treated hair, this can weaken your hair or strip you of color, respectively. As such, you should use it once a month. When you feel that its use is not necessary, you can skip a month. Also, you can use this shampoo before getting your hair color-treated. It will make the hue seep into the cuticles faster and will result in vibrant color. After this, you can skip washing for a while to maintain the color.

Notes

Not all shampoos will work for you. As such, if you suffer complications such as burning or itching after using a product, discontinue its use. Also, most such shampoos contain sulfates that clean the hair but leave it feeling dry. You should get products that are free of drying alcohols, sulfates, and parabens for you to get the most out of this process.

You do not have to spend a chunk of money on hair products. If you look around, you can get a good deal that will work great for you.

Bottom Line

This shampoo is good but in small doses. So if hair products are causing the residue, it would be best to avoid them and minimize the use of these shampoos. All the best!