I'm sure you recognize "Lather, Rinse, Repeat" as the infamous and widely misunderstood directions on the back of the shampoo bottle. I've often wondered why the directions are so elusive, and can only imagine that those who haven't sat in a class about proper shampooing must be even more confused. What does "lather, rinse, repeat" mean? Well, let me break it down for you.
To Lather or Not to Lather
The idea of the first step is not to wash your hair, but rather to clean your scalp and remove the sebum (oil) and product that has accumulated since your last shampoo. Emulsify a quarter-sized amount of shampoo in your hands by rubbing the product between your palms. Apply the shampoo to your scalp using your fingertips and work the shampoo vigorously into your scalp for about 30 seconds.
It is important to know that the shampoo will likely not produce a lot of lather during this step. The type of shampoo you use will determine the amount of lather that you achieve. Professional shampoo brands will lather less than drugstore brands, as drug store brands typically include emulsifying agents to create lather.
Rinse it, rinse it good!
Although rinsing your hair seems simple enough, the fact is that most people do not rinse properly, leaving hair with unwanted sebum and product build-up. A good rule of thumb is to rinse for approximately 30 seconds, working your fingertips through your hair while rinsing.
Can you repeat that?
Now it's time to shampoo and rinse the remainder of your hair. Emulsify a minimal amount of shampoo in your hand. The amount you need depends on the length and density of your hair and the brand of shampoo that you are using. Professional shampoos are more concentrated and allow you to use less. Drug store shampoos, which are more watered down, will require more product.
Work the shampoo into your hair from scalp to ends for at least 30 seconds. You will notice that the shampoo should lather up more than it did in the first step (however, some professional products are so concentrated that they do not ever create a lot of lather).
Rinse the shampoo well for at least 30 seconds. If you have extremely long or thick hair, you may need to rinse longer.
Repeat, again?
If your hair is extremely oily or if you have a lot of product build up, it may be necessary to repeat the repeat step. I shampoo my hair every 2-3 days, so I usually repeat twice, or as many times as it takes until my hair and scalp feel very clean. If you wash your hair daily, you will likely only need to repeat once. Using these steps as a guide, you will be able to determine what your unique shampooing routine will be.
