08 Feb 5 Tips for Shampooing to Enhance Your Natural Curls
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For natural hair, the bouncy, shiny silk press doesn’t come easily with just any shampoo and conditioner. Your regular flatiron and blow dryer combo ain’t gonna cut it, boo! And achieving a springy, luminous rod set is no cakewalk without knowing how to shampoo your hair properly. Do you want your twist-outs to be well-defined and less weighed down? There’s more to it than an extra cleanse! Keep reading to learn all the details on how to shampoo your hair and achieve a flawless silk press on natural curls without damaging your pattern.
I am Tish Hankerson, your online (and in-person) textured hair care expert. I used to pride myself on giving toe-curling, back-arching, eye-rolling shampoos with my scalp manipulation techniques. (Ya girl is goodt! Okay?!) My mom, who was the OG of healthy hair maintenance, taught me how to shampoo properly and really scrub and manipulate the scalp for optimal hair health. You see, that was an integral skill to have at the time. But textured hair today needs so much more than just a good scalp scrub, so stay with me for these results!
First off, my OG mommy corrected women even in her last days. She’d say: “we don’t WASH hair, we SHAMPOO hair.” I stan her for that! She was so classy. ❤️
At home, most people “wash” and condition their hair with some common drug store brands. You may have even gotten ahold of some salon-quality products. Now for some, these may get the job done… but if the results don’t cause a double-take, then keep reading. Because it’s not just about the products. Your full haircare routine is what’s really going to take your curls to the next level. Like, ask yourself: Did you prep your hair before you proceed with your product of choice? Yes, Prep! 👀 Well, if you want show-stopper hair, write this down:
Get into the quality salon results mindset. It’s all about mindset when you’re upgrading any aspect of your life. Learning how to shampoo your hair is no different. Today, we’re upgrading your hair hygiene, your results both in the salon and at home, and your hair goals! This blog is about to give you insider intel on the right way to shampoo your hair to achieve salon results. Whether you’re a hairstylist or just trying to save a few coins and are willing to do the homework, this technique for cleansing your hair and scalp will get you exactly what I promised: defined curls and insane results for your favorite natural hairstyles. Ok, here we go!
How to Shampoo Your Hair for Best Results
1. Shampoo Your Hair Once a Week
One of the biggest questions I get from my clients is, “How often should I shampoo my hair?” I always say shampoo your hair at least once a week. Anything beyond that is unfair to your scalp and your hygiene. Healthy scalp = healthy hair. Because the hair grows out of the scalp, right?
2. Best Shampoo for (Deep Cleansing) your hair: Clarifying Shampoo
Start with a clarifying shampoo.. You can find a clarifying shampoo in most beauty supply stores, but you may have to do some looking. As a professional, my favorite supplier is Salon Centric. I love using the Malibu C’s un-do-goo shampoo, followed by Redken’s Cleansing Creme as a deep cleansing duo in my salon. Once I prep the hair with these two products, anything I use afterward works more efficiently.
3. Think of Your End Goal
Always choose your shampoo and conditioner with the end result in mind. For example: If your goal is to achieve a curly style, use a shampoo and conditioner tailored for natural curls. But if you want to do a silk press, your shampoo and conditioner should aim to smooth the hair cuticle for silkier results. Consider CROC for your best silk press results. You want to keep this mindset for every product and technique you use, which leads me to my next tip…
4. Gently separate the Hair
Gently separate your hair during every step of the process. Whether you’re applying the product, shampooing, or rinsing, continue to separate your strands section by section. This technique ensures that each section receives the same TLC as the rest of your head. Not to mention, it helps the curls begin to form naturally. Yes, this is time-consuming… but we’re going for insane results, remember? 👀
Now, I’m going to squeeze all the super hot (or cold!) bonus tips in this last nugget:
5. Water Temperature Matters
When you’re wetting your hair in the beginning and rinsing out your shampoo, use warm water to help break up oils. If you can get your hands on one, I even recommend using a steamer while shampooing and conditioning.
But always rinse conditioners and treatments with cool water. This helps lock in moisture and seal the cuticle, without stripping all those good hydrating factors you just put on your hair.
Now, with these 5 tips on how to shampoo correctly, I know you’re going to see a difference in your natural hairstyles. And if you want to see your hair at its maximum potential, well, there’s always room for you in my chair.