Q&A for How to Shampoo Your Hair

It depends on your hair texture and skin type. Most people can go a day or two in between. Curly hair can usually go longer.

You can rinse shampoo out immediately after applying it. You want to massage it into your scalp thoroughly, but it doesn't need to sit.

Washing your hair every other day helps it to self-regulate better than if you wash every day. Over time, your hair will produce less oil.

If you are shampooing regularly with the correct technique you should only have to wash once. If your hair is very dirty, you may need a second shampoo.

It's best to untangle your hair before you shampoo it because otherwise it will become more tangled. This makes it take longer for you to detangle your hair after you wash it.

First, you need to determine your hair type and texture. For example, if your hair is curly, then you might want to use a moisturizing shampoo. On the other hand, you might want to use a volumizing shampoo if you have fine hair.

You can use bar soap in place of shampoo but really this should only be done in a pinch, when you have run out of shampoo. The pH of shampoo is designed for skin care, not hair care and soap can be drying on hair if used regularly, and can strip your natural hair oils. There is an exception to this in the form of shampoo bar soap, which some traditional soapmakers produce specifically for hair care; such a soap will contain the right balance of ingredients for hair rather than skin.

If you don't have shampoo, body wash can be used to shampoo your hair. However, it's not designed to deep clean hair, so it's not something to substitute your usual shampoo with. Body wash tends to work best with short hair.

No, once is enough. Most people use more shampoo than they need to, and this "advice" to shampoo twice helps use the shampoo up faster so you can go and buy more. On the rare occasions when your hair feels really dirty because you've been doing something like house painting, DIY or car mechanics, then two shampoos will probably feel heavenly but other than that, one shampoo use is sufficient each time you wash your hair.

If the shampoo is a known brand normally sold in the supermarket or hair salons, then it probably is a good deal. If it's something colorful with a brand name you've never heard of, etc., then it's more likely to be little better than detergent and will not do a good job and may even strip the oils from your hair.

Yes, but at the end it is a good idea to quickly rinse your hair with cold water to reduce frizz and add shine and bounce.

Not normally. However, daily shampooing is not recommended because it is likely to strip your hair of its natural oils, which will make it less healthy.

You really shouldn't as conditioner doesn't clean your hair. You should shampoo your hair to clean it, and then follow up with conditioner.

No it is not okay. If too much shampoo is added, it will cause flakiness, dry scalp, and unprotected hair.

Yes, that won't damage your hair.

A conditioner can act as an extra layer of protection on your hair which can help it from becoming damaged from the environment. It also acts as a moisturizer which helps it from becoming dry or frizzy. If you have oily or greasy hair you might not need to use a conditioner at all.

No shampoo will lead directly to hair growth, but it can keep your hair healthy, which promotes growth. Look for a gentle shampoo for hair loss.

That's entirely up to you. Some people prefer to get it over with at night, some people like to shower in the morning. Some people find their hair looks better when freshly washed (in the morning), others prefer their hair after a night of sleep.

Your hair will become very oily, collecting more and more dirt. It will be difficult to style, and it may emit a foul odor.

Brush your hair before and after washing if you have trouble with tangles.

Yes, that's perfectly fine.

It depends on your hair type, but generally you should wash it at least three times a week.

The most common reason is using too much product. Otherwise, your hair might be getting tangled and the water cannot get around it to rinse. Be sure to brush your hair free of tangles before bathing. Be gentle with your lathering to prevent the introduction of tangles. When rinsing, lift sections and move your hair to give the water access to all areas. Take your time. If all else fails, try a different product.

Yes, shampoo and conditioner are often made into combined products. Such a product will clean your hair. After lathering, leave it in your hair a few minutes to allow the product time to condition, then rinse. It will clean your hair as well as any other shampoo, but two-in-one shampoo and conditioners do not condition as well as separate products. You will need to occasionally deep condition your hair to compensate for less moisturizing on a regular basis.

It's not recommended as towels can take the moisture out of your hair, leaving it dry and frizzy. Instead, squeeze as much water out of your hair as you can and then 'plop' it in a cotton t-shirt.

Putting conditioner on your roots can lead to a flaky scalp and oily hair, but it won't damage anything.

Yes. It is suggested that most people only apply conditioner from mid-shaft to the ends, as most people do not need conditioner closer to the roots due to the oil naturally produced by the scalp. If dryness does occur on the scalp or roots, it is generally recommended that one shampoo less and/or switch products, rather than choosing to condition the roots. So yes, it is right to only apply conditioner to the lower ends of your hair.

You cannot change your hair texture by just shampooing. You either have to style it straight, which generally lasts until it gets wet, or get it chemically relaxed, which lasts from several weeks to a few months.

The best way to add shine is to improve the condition of your hair through nutrition and products like a good conditioner. In the meantime, there are products that mist a bit of oil or silicone to temporarily make your hair shine. These go by a variety of names: shine spray, finishing mist, dry oil, etc.

There are too many factors to "diagnose" your hair trouble by those details alone. If you are struggling with trial and error, it is time to consult a hair stylist for assistance.