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Washing your hair is a mundane gesture that we often do mechanically. Water, shampoo, lather well, rinse. And that’s it!
This gesture, which is now commonplace and can quickly turn into a big “wash day” for the hair, is nevertheless a key step for the well-being of the scalp and hair.
So don't neglect it!
Even though it’s a common practice, it may be interesting to hear exactly what this gesture does.
The sebaceous glands of the scalp produce sebum. Together with water and sweat, this sebum is the essential component of the hydrolipidic film (HLF).
Its purpose is to envelop the surface of the scalp to protect it, by preventing the penetration of external substances and regulating moisture. It also keeps the hair soft and silky. It is therefore essential to the health and beauty of the hair.
But when it’s deposited in excess, the hair seems to become weighed down and loses its shine and lightness. As if glued together, it no longer breathes.
Excess sebum also has harmful effects on the scalp. It encourages the proliferation of lipophilic saprophytic flora (made up of bacteria and yeast that love lipids). This flora is irritating and can aggravate the scalp.
You must therefore regularly remove the sebum from the scalp and rid the hair of its dirt.
It’s common to hear French grandmothers tell their grandkids to go “wash their heads.” They're not talking about the hair—they’re actually talking about the head!
Are they right?
Well, yes!
As a matter of fact, the first mistake we make is thinking that it’s the hair that needs to be washed. But it’s not the hair that needs to be washed... it’s the scalp!
What makes the hair greasy and gives it that dirty look is the sebum that comes out of the scalp. Therefore, it needs to be cleaned so the hair can breathe.
It's also important to remove this sebum from the scalp because, as we have seen, too much of it can lead to irritation.
The second mistake is thinking that you have to wash your hair, as the expression goes. In reality, it’s not the hair that needs to be washed... it’s the scalp!
And scrubbing is out of the question. You have to massage it.
Here is the process to follow.
Ideally, start by brushing your hair, especially if it's long, to close the cuticles, get rid of dirt and remove any dead strands.
Next, wet the hair. Then apply the shampoo with your fingertips directly on the scalp.
Then massage the product into the scalp—don't rub.
For shampoos that stimulate microcirculation, such as shampoos with biospheres, your self-massage technique should start at the nape of the neck and work up to the forehead area using concentric movements.
Rinse and, if recommended, repeat and leave it on for 2 to 5 minutes.
Then rinse your scalp. The lather formed during the massage will then spread over the hair fiber, which will clean the strands.
Massaging the scalp will loosen up the sebum. But on the hair, the sebum is simply deposited. That's why this cleansing base is enough to make the dirt slide off the hair along with the water.
You really should not rub your hair. It can make the hair sensitive, especially if it’s dry.
Then, when the time comes to dry your hair, you should be careful not to use a hair dryer that’s too hot and not to point it at the scalp.
First of all, it’s important to adapt your shampoo to your scalp, which in most cases is oily. The shampoo should contain active ingredients designed to meet the specific needs of the scalp.
As for the frequency, we recommend shampooing two to four times a week.
However, if you feel the desire or need to wash your hair more often, contrary to popular belief, it’s absolutely possible. In this case, you should alternate your treatment shampoos with frequent-use shampoos or dry shampoos.
Here are some common misconceptions about hair washing...
"You need to change your shampoo often so that your scalp doesn't get used to it. "
Wrong! When a shampoo suits you, keep it! However, the scalp can have different needs depending on the season and the environment in which you live.
"You shouldn't wash your hair more than once or twice a week."
Wrong! If the need or desire arises, you can use a frequent-use shampoo or dry shampoo in between. Unlike a treatment shampoo, which requires two applications, a frequent-use shampoo can be applied only once.
In conclusion, it’s clear that healthy hair is strong and beautiful hair.
The more the hair is cared for, the more it’s brushed, the more it’s nourished with appropriate treatments, the less it’s aggravated by shampooing... the healthier it will be.
It will therefore be more resistant to all the coloring, curling or straightening techniques that it may be subjected to. But in moderation!
