We’ve all gone through a myriad of potions, lotions and masks for our hair. We’ve tried co-washing, where you ditch your shampoo and use only conditioner, and un-shampooing, where you replace shampoo with an all-cleansing conditioner. But the latest trend (which has actually been around for some time now) to beautiful locks doesn’t require you to throw out any products or buy any new ones. And it works! Welcome to the era of reverse hair washing.
What is it exactly?
It’s simple really: apply conditioner to your hair before you shampoo.
But what’s the point of that?
To put it bluntly, it hydrates your hair without leaving a conditioner based residue on your locks. For those of us with thin, oily hair where product builds up quite quickly, it’s a genius solution because it nourishes without flattening your strands.
So will it work for me?
Hmmm, that depends on your hair type. While those of us with thin, lifeless strands can see an instantaneous change in our hair, if your hair is thicker, experts suggest conditioning, shampooing then conditioning again to increase hydration. The real trick though is to use as little product as possible. One other important thing to note: not every shampoo and conditioner works the same, so try a few variants before you give this method a yay or nay.
Does that mean I don’t need to wash my hair the traditional way anymore?
Not entirely. Traditional hair washing still has its place, especially if your hair super dirty or oily – it gives you a much deeper clean. Reverse hair-washing is just another tool you can use on those days when your hair is looking more limp than full of life.
Need-to-knows
So now that you’re ready to give reverse hair washing a go, here’s some tips to keep in mind:
• Ensure you soak your hair thoroughly before applying conditioner so it spreads to all your hair follicles.
• Let your conditioner sit on your hair and scalp for up to five minutes after you’ve lathered it.
• This may sound weird, but use your shampoo to wash the conditioner out of your hair – it will clean your strands without making them dry.
Will you be trying this new hair washing technique? Let us know in the comments below then check out these seven foods for healthier hair.
