Before opting for the reverse hair washing or reverse conditioning approach, learn how this simple hair care adjustment can impact the health of your strands.
If you want your hair to achieve the salon-quality feel and look after a wash but are failing at it, you should likely blame your hair care shower products or the order in which you are applying them. If your tresses feel greasy, limp, or both after a wash, your conditioner is probably the culprit. But before skipping the conditioner altogether, you should consider giving reverse conditioning a try.
The reverse hair washing approach may sound ridiculous but worth trying for those who have fine or flat hair and want to achieve more volume. In short, this unique approach involves the use of conditioner before shampooing the scalp. Sounds strange, right? Read on to explore its benefits and how to do it!
Do you wish to unravel the science behind this bizarre hair washing approach? Well, the secret is that reverse hair washing involves the application of conditioner first because this product typically constitutes hydrating ingredients. These hydrating substances will help create a protective layer over the hair shaft. As a result, limp or fine hair gains added volume and thickness. The conditioner's texture and weight can make flat hair appear fuller with voluminous locks.
If you apply conditioner before using a shampoo, the former product will serve as a shield for your hair. It offers a slick coating that will make your strands easier to detangle, manage and comb through. This protective conditioner shield will diminish hair breakage when detangling your hair and promote easier styling. This method will not only prime your locks for styling but also make them more manageable.
Can this hair washing approach minimise frizz? The answer is, yes! Let us crack the code. Frizz often occurs on damaged and dry hair cuticles. The pre-shampoo conditioning method creates a protective barrier which helps prevent the shampoo from removing excess natural oil from the scalp. This hydrating layer nurtures the cuticles, making them more aligned and smoother—minimising the occurrence of frizz—and the outcome is silky strands, all set to dazzle.
According to experts, the reverse hair washing approach is a lot gentler on thin and fine hair than the traditional ‘first shampoo, then conditioner’ technique because it will enable you to condition the roots of your hair without leaving any residue.
To kick start the ritual, you need to first take a generous amount of your conditioner and thoroughly apply it to the strands. Next, gently detangle the tresses using a wide-tooth comb (to avoid hair breakage). After leaving it for some time, wash off the conditioner and move on to the next step.
Your hair is now ready for shampoo. Pick a sulphate-free mild shampoo and gently massage it all over your scalp to cleanse your strands well. The final step involves rinsing out the shampoo and leaving your tresses to air dry.
The reverse hair washing approach might not yield the best results for people with naturally curly hair, since conditioning after shampoo is still the best hair care ritual for them. The traditional method will help maintain their natural curl structure and keep tangles at bay. Even people with chemically-treated hair should also condition after shampooing because it helps minimise breakage.
The technique may sound whacky. but it will take your hair game a notch up.
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