Lisa Proctor

You can wash the scalp thoroughly without treating the hair lengths like a dirty dish.

The scalp needs cleansing. The hair lengths need protection and conditioning. Good shampooing respects both.

Put the Shampoo Where the Oil and Buildup Are

For most people, that means concentrating shampoo at the scalp rather than aggressively scrubbing the full length of the hair.

Massage the cleanser through the scalp with your fingertips, not your nails. Rinse thoroughly. As the lather rinses through the lengths, it can remove some residue without requiring the ends to be repeatedly scrubbed.

Use Enough Water Before You Add More Shampoo

Hair that is not fully saturated can make shampoo harder to distribute. Thoroughly wet the scalp and hair first, then work the cleanser where it is needed.

Rinse Better Than You Think You Need To

Residue left behind can contribute to an itchy or uncomfortable scalp. Rinse until the scalp and hair feel free of cleanser rather than rushing through the final step.

Then Condition the Clean Hair

This is where you replace lubrication and improve manageability. Conditioner helps reduce friction, tangling and roughness in the hair fiber.

Fine or straight hair may need conditioner mainly through the mid-lengths and ends. Dry, curly or coily hair may benefit from conditioning more of the length. The point is to match the conditioning to the hair—not to use conditioner as a substitute for cleansing the scalp.

If Shampooing Always Leaves Your Hair Awful, Change the System

Do not confuse “my hair needs more conditioning” with “my scalp should not be washed.”

Wash the scalp. Properly condition clean hair.

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Next Useful Move

If your scalp feels clean but your lengths still feel rough, focus on the conditioning step before deciding you need to stop shampooing.

General cosmetology education. Individual wash frequency and product choice vary by scalp condition, hair texture and styling practices.