Who doesn’t love the feel and look of freshly washed hair? But as much as you might cherish them, we’d hate to break it to you that you’re probably going overboard with your hair products. If you always find yourself picking fresh shampoo bottles, way more often than one’s supposed to, you’re messing up big time!

Element5 Digital/Unsplash | As much as we love the look and feel of freshly washed hair, we shouldn’t use shampoo more than we should

What’s the right quantity of shampoo?

Now in truth, this question itself has two aspects—first and foremost, how much shampoo do you actually use? Let’s answer this one and then move to the next.

It might sound counterintuitive but in reality, more lather does not necessarily mean better cleaning. As a matter of fact, more shampoo leads to excess oil production, more product buildup, and dull-looking hair after several washes. Thus, you should rather start with a minimum quantity of washing products and follow up with a second rinse if required. Using the correct amount of cleaning products plays a crucial role in maintaining your hair’s structure and density. And to top it off, it’s the most effective and economical way to maintain your personal hygiene and beauty too.

Mathilde Langevin/Unsplash | More lather never means better cleansing, in fact, more shampoo leads to excess oil production, more product buildup, and dull-looking hair after several washes

And now for the second question—how often do you wash your hair? Every time you feel like washing your hair, you must question yourself “is it really necessary?” or “Is it doable without a thorough cleanse?” Keep in mind, over-cleansing will wash away the natural oils that are extremely essential for both scalp and hair health, leading to dull, lifeless hair and a dry scalp.

Shampoo or no shampoo?

One fact about hair that most people are not aware of is that it doesn’t hold a specific style when squeaky clean. Completely clean strands tend to be texture and moisture-free, which is why they can’t be styled in any way. On the contrary, second or third-day hair looks more healthy, luscious, shiny, and manageable, perfect for pulling off a great hairdo.

When it comes to the question of whether you should wash with or without a shampoo, the ball’s really in your court. If your hair doesn’t seem very greasy, a normal rinse would do the trick. Another helpful trick is that after rinsing your hair regularly, shake off the extra water and see the difference. It won’t feel as greasy or dirty as it did earlier.

Matthew Tkocz/Unsplash | If your hair doesn’t seem very greasy, a normal rinse would also do the required job. So only use shampoo when you really need to

The million dollar question!

How much shampoo is too much? Scientifically speaking, this depends on various factors, including the climate and your hair’s texture, density, etc. As a general rule of thumb, thin hair requires a nickel-sized amount of shampoo whereas people with thick and dense hair require two pumps from the plastic bottle. If your hair texture is somewhere in between, a quarter-sized amount should be more than enough to get the job done.

Andy Ford

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