Apparently the majority of high street consumers are disappointed with hair products because 8 out of 10 people do not assess their hair type properly when buying products. Various surveys sponsored by big corporations and retailers have said similar and suchlike things over the years. There is definitely an element of truth here, although from my own professional experience I would say the biggest causes of disappointment are firstly, that most hair products sold are poor quality (most of the money went in the marketing) and secondly, consumers do not know how to use products to get the best results. So here are some tips on choosing the right shampoos and how to shampoo your hair for best results.
Assessing your hair type In the olden days (I’ve just been speaking to my kids) most people washed their hair once a week, so oily hair was very common and shampoos tended to be categorised and sold for either Dry, Normal or Oily hair. Those descriptors seem quite retro now but are still appropriate with further qualifying categories. Oily hair is quite uncommon as it is mostly dealt with by daily or alternate-day shampooing.
Normal – fine to medium thickness, limp, soft, silky, flexible, uncoloured, shiny Dry – thicker, coarser, frizzy, coloured or chemically treated, brittle, dull
Just to complicate matters, many people especially those with longer hair will have qualities covered in Normal at the roots, and also some qualities covered in Dry at the ends. It’s generally best to choose shampoo for scalp and root area and choose conditioner by mid lengths and ends. Often a comment from people with finer hair is that they can’t use conditioners as they are too heavy. However most conditioners on the market are laced with silicone and this will weigh hair down giving it an inert dead feeling as it builds up over time.
All our shampoos and conditioners are silicone-free and all hair types benefit from a protective, bodifying conditioner, even fine hair which is often fragile. It just needs the right conditioner. Shampooing lifts the hairshaft cuticle during cleaning and the conditioner smoothes it down for comb-ability, protection and shine.
Cashmere Protein Angelica Rose Shampoo is a heritage favourite with the lingering scent of Edwardian rose.
Many people think it’s bad to wash their hair everyday as this will dry it out. It's certainly not true if you're using high quality shampoos and conditioners and then gently drying the hair, but if you have an aggressive styling routine (harsh products, excessive heat styling) then 7 cleansing and styling cycles a week will impact the condition of hair more than two cycles a week.
How to Shampoo – 3 Steps Few people get really excited by the prospect of washing their hair; I think it’s still the standard rebuff for unwanted date requests. Yet following a good shampooing regime will leave your hair healthy, shiny and positively radiating with vitality. It will also be easier to style.
Shampooing hair in the shower is often most effective as the hair is easier to rinse thoroughly. If you do shampoo in the bath without a hand held shower head then have a jug for fresh water for rinsing.
Combing or Brushing - Take out any knots starting from the ends first and then work your way up. Our Large Safety Comb or the No.1 Brush are best for this.
Shampooing - Ensure the hair is completely saturated before applying shampoo. Pour a teaspoon of shampoo and spread across palms. Apply the thin film across the hair and start to massage into lather across the scalp paying particular attention to the nape and hairline which will tend to be dirtier. Do not use nails to scratch the scalp. Bleached, tinted, curly or long hair is more likely to tangle, so handle with special care. Use fingers to comb the hair between movements and keep the hair in line. Do not rub ends together, nor use overly circular movements. Massage for at least 30 seconds. Then rinse thoroughly, and for 30 seconds more. If you are washing your hair daily one shampoo should be enough, but repeat if you feel the hair needs it.
Conditioning - When hair is thoroughly rinsed spread a teaspoon of conditioner across palms and apply to hair. Conditioner is for all the hair but more towards the mid lengths and ends. Do not massage it into the scalp. It is designed for hair not skin. Comb it through to ensure every strand is covered. Then rinse, a little less if the hair is very dry. The hair will hang on to what it needs.
Be aware that hair type is never a constant. It's sensitive to climatic changes, health and emotional disruption, and can become finer, coarser, oilier, drier, frizzier and smoother at different stages of our lives. Hair at the front is different to the back. Hair at the roots is different to the ends. And all these things are affected by the length and style.
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