As for why that is? “Shampoo removes grease and dirt but it also strips the hair of its natural oils that keep the hair moisturized,” she says. On that note , another common mistake is not rinsing conditioner thoroughly enough once you’re done. “So be sure to rinse well,” she says.
4. And leave-in conditioner
“I think leave-in conditioners are often forgotten,” Bronwen Robinson, senior stylist at New York City’s Suite Caroline Salon, tells Glamour. “Traditional conditioners and hair masks are great and do add moisture and protection for the hair, however, much of it is still rinsed away in the shower. Leave-in conditioners come in spray, lotions, serums or cream form to suit the needs of different textures.”
A good rule of thumb to find the best product for you? “Generally, sprays are good for finer hair, creams and lotions are good for medium to coarse textures, and serums may need to be tested. Play around to see what suits the texture,” Robinson says. “Leave-in’s can protect the hair from heat and environmental damage, add much needed moisture which calms frizz and can seal the cuticle to help the hair look shiny, be stronger and prevent fewer color molecules from escaping.”
5. Using low-quality products
But of course, the quality of conditioners and shampoos matter too. “Use the shampoos and conditioners your colorist recommends,” says Robinson. “It’s a shame to spend money on getting your beautiful tones and color application and not spend money on preserving the work with products designed to do so.” Some of Suite Caroline’s preferred products and lines include R+Co, Christophe Robin, and Olaplex. For an affordable drugstore option, try the L’Oréal Paris’ Everpure line.
6. Conditioning hair that’s too wet
I know we’ve talked a lot about how to properly apply conditioner, but it’s a more complicated process than you’d think. “Another hair care no no is applying conditioner onto lengths without squeezing out water first,” says Kim. “Hair is a fiber, squeezing out the excess water before applying conditioner allows the conditioner to penetrate instead of rolling off hair that’s saturated with water.”
7. Washing hair with super hot water
This one is sad, but it’s true: Washing hair with very hot water isn’t great for your hair, skin, or hair color longevity. “This is a major no no, especially when you have color-treated hair,” Williams reiterates. “Hot water burns your scalp and hair, and causes dryness and damage,” adds Mena. “I mean, you wouldn’t put your hands in boiling hot water, would you? Why would you do it with your hair?”
8. And without brushing it first
Mena strongly suggests brushing your hair before you wash your hair to avoid brushing through more tangles than needed while it’s wet. “It’s a really smart thing to do because you get rid of any tangles, so then when you’re in the shower and you’re conditioning and washing, you don’t have that many to brush out when it’s wet,” he says. “Then there’s just so much less you do after shower.” And less yanking on wet, fragile hair, of course.
9. Brushing wet hair with the wrong brush
Another benefit to brushing through your hair prior to showering? How much easier it makes to brush through your hair while it’s wet over all. “A big one is when clients with long hair don’t use a detangling brush in the shower,” says Williams. “If you have long hair you should always use a detangling brush with conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends!” Williams is especially fond of the Tangle Teezer brushes.
