Shamp Like a Champ: How to Wash Your Hair the Right Way

For many men, Shampoo and Conditioner are an afterthought. We reach for whatever passes our look and smell test in the grocery store aisle—nothing in a purple bottle and nothing that smells too flowery, right?

That might work for a lot of guys, but the Shampoo and Conditioner you use plays a significant role in getting your hair to do what you want it to do. This becomes increasingly more true as your hair gets longer.

In fact, You may not even realize that the hair on your head could be softer, lighter, and easier to style if you’ve never ventured past your run-of-the-mill supermarket offerings. In other words, changing how you wash and condition your hair can completely change how you feel about your hair.

We get it—who the hell has time to think about what they’re washing their hair with? It doesn’t help that today’s marketplace is loaded with Shampoos, Conditioners, and other hair products that help consumers deal with dirty hair.

To help prevent you from getting lost in the wash, we put together this in-depth guide on the right ways to use Shampoo, Conditioner, and ultimately get your hair looking and feeling better than it ever has.

WHAT SHAMPOO DOES

Shampoos are designed to take care of the skin beneath your hair. A healthy scalp leads to healthy hair.

The scalp, like the rest of your skin, produces sebum, the body’s natural oil. Sebum coats the outer portion of each hair strand and helps give it a healthy shine. However, an excess accumulation of sebum causes strands to stick together and leave your hair looking overly greasy with a dull appearance.

Sebum also attracts dirt, pollen, and other particles that stick to hair strands. Shampoos contain detergents, which work as surfactants (surface-active-ingredients), that carry sebum and dirt away from hair strands when you rinse your hair after shampooing.

So, why not just use regular liquid detergent on your hair? Because standard soap or dishwashing detergents may clean your hair, but don’t include ingredients that help replace the protective coating on hair as Shampoo does.

Additionally, Shampoos often include ingredients that help produce a lather. Contrary to what many people think, a Shampoo’s lather doesn’t contribute to its cleaning or conditioning power. But many consumers appreciate the foamy feeling of a good lather, even if it has nothing to do with cleansing your hair.

TYPES OF SHAMPOO

Shampoos have come a long way in the past century, and part of the journey involves creating products that serve specific needs. For instance, if you have dry hair, there’s a shampoo out there for you, and the same can be said if you’re flake-prone.

Shampoo for normal hair
Most men can use Shampoo for normal hair because they’re generally gentler and won’t strip oils from the hair and scalp. Shampoos for people with normal hair provide a pleasant cleansing experience while offering a bit of conditioning. They clean just enough for average sebum production.

Shampoo for oily hair
Shampoos for oily hair include ingredients that help remove excess sebum from the scalp and hair follicles. They have minimal conditioning agents—if any. However, good oily hair Shampoos don’t wholly strip oil from the scalp. Using Shampoo designed for oily hair on a not-so-oily scalp results in hair that is dry and itches.

Shampoo for dry hair
Also known as moisturizing Shampoos, dry hair Shampoo consists of formulas designed to add moisture to the hair. You shouldn’t use them if you have normal, non-dry hair because they can leave hair too oily and weigh down the hair follicles.

2-in-1 Shampoo
Two-in-one Shampoos provide both cleansing and conditioning. They contain a bit more Conditioner than mild Shampoos, such as Shampoos for normal hair, and can work well on fine hair that requires a gentle cleanser and a small dose of conditioning. 2-in-1 products are generally not as effective as individual Shampoos and Conditioners.

Clarifying Shampoo
The primary purpose of clarifying Shampoo is to remove the build-up of products from the hair and scalp. These work well for greasy or limp hair that’s weighed down with oil and hair products. Clarifying Shampoos tend to be harsher than other types, so you shouldn’t use them more than once a week.

Volumizing Shampoo
As its name suggests, volumizing Shampoo adds volume and thickness to hair by opening up the hair cuticles to encourage growth. They’ll add body to your hair.

Neutralizing Shampoo
Neutralizing Shampoos serve to balance your hair and scalp’s pH level. Styling products can throw your hair’s natural pH out of whack, so a neutralizing Shampoo helps restore the balance while helping make your hair healthier overall.

Medicated Shampoo
Medicated Shampoos help relieve the scalp of infections, itching, and scaling and are typically prescribed by dermatologists, although you can purchase some of them over the counter. They include active ingredients such as tar, sulfur, or salicylic acid, as examples.

Dandruff Shampoo
Dandruff Shampoos have been around for decades and are formulated to prevent dandruff symptoms—i.e., the white flakes, itching, and flaking associated with it. Note: dandruff is often confused with a dry scalp, so make sure you have dandruff before using a dandruff Shampoo. Symptoms include thicker flakes than your average dry scalp and cause an irritated scalp—not a dry scalp, which a moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner could quickly resolve. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to check in with a dermatologist and get their expert opinion.

Colored hair Shampoo
If you color your hair, it’s best to use a Shampoo designed for it. Most are sulfate-free and tend to provide conditioning, much like Shampoos for dry and damaged hair. Some even come with color boosters.

Dry Shampoo
Dry Shampoo comes in a powder or fast-drying spray that gives you the appearance of clean hair without water. It also comes in paste form, although powders and sprays are the most commonly-used options. Dry Shampoo absorbs excess oils and can help add volume to your hair. Moreover, it helps eliminate the odor that might linger on your hair and is usually available in either an unscented or fragrance option.

Shampoo bars
Like soap, Shampoo can also come in bar form. Unlike soap, however, a Shampoo bar is specifically formulated to cleanse your hair. Using any old bar soap on your hair would be drying and likely cause unwanted build-up. The Beardbrand Utility Bar is excellent for washing your hair if you prefer Shampoo bars or want more of an all-in-one approach to your shower routine.

Biotin Shampoo
Biotin Shampoos are marketed with claims of slowing down or reversing hair loss. When taken as a supplement, biotin effectively supports healthy hair growth, but not beyond your hair’s genetic capabilities. There is still little scientific evidence on whether biotin Shampoo helps reverse or slow down hair loss or thinning. That said, it doesn’t hurt to try.

DHT blocking Shampoo
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen sex hormone that contributes to hair growth, muscle gain, fertility, etc. DHT is a natural bi-product of testosterone, and everyone has it to some degree. DHT is one of the main culprits behind male pattern baldness. In theory, DHT blocking Shampoo helps slow male pattern baldness by inhibiting or blocking DHT from getting into the hair root. As with biotin Shampoo, there is little evidence that DHT blocking Shampoos stops hair loss unless the hair loss is caused by a skin condition such as dandruff or psoriasis.

HOW CONDITIONER WORKS AND WHY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Your hair strands consist of a cuticle layer. When it’s healthy, it gives hair a natural shine. Cuticle flakes—making up the cuticle layer of the 120,000+ hair strands found on an average scalp—look best when they lay tightly against one another.

However, when the cuticle layer begins to wear down, hair begins to look limp or frizzy as the flakes no longer lay tightly together. And that’s when it’s an excellent time to reach for a Conditioner.

WHAT CONDITIONER DOES

The typical bottle of hair Conditioner doesn’t include a long list of ingredients, but it does contain cationic surfactants, which do most of the work for conditioning hair. A positive charge at one end of a cationic surfactant molecule binds to the negative charge on a hair strand with such force that the surfactant surrounds the strand while covering the cuticle flakes.

Meanwhile, a small amount of acid found in the Conditioner makes the cuticle flakes press tightly against each other to help hair feel smooth again. Other chemicals and oils found in Conditioners help balance your scalp and hair’s natural pH level. The latter helps determine how dry or greasy your hair looks; adding Conditioner to naturally oilier hair will only make it look greasier.

The Conditioner’s oils help to detangle your hair. A good Shampoo will clean your hair but may leave your hair knotted, the oils in Conditioners act as lubricants to smooth out the knots and tangles. Oils cover the hair strands to make styling more manageable and less damaging. Some oils, such as coconut and olive oil, can even improve the hair’s elasticity while making it feel softer.

A Conditioner may contain humectants that work by attracting water to the hair and preventing it from escaping. If your hair gets frizzy, especially when it’s humid, a Conditioner with humectants can provide a solution.

Other Conditioners contain proteins that form a protective coating over damaged hair strands. Some of these Conditioners reportedly repair hair, but that’s something of a misnomer because the repair isn’t permanent.

The bottom line is that a Conditioner’s ingredients work together to replenish moisture, smooth out hair, and make it easier to style. It also helps to give your hair a healthy appearance, not one that’s dull and lifeless.

Your definition of what healthy hair looks like may differ from someone else's definition, but if you like the look of smoother, silkier, and shinier hair, then a Conditioner is for you.

TYPES OF CONDITIONER

Like Shampoo, not all types of Conditioner are made the same.

Instant Conditioner
Many men and women use instant Conditioners, which are meant to be applied immediately after shampooing and left in the hair briefly for a quick conditioning. You can use them daily, or several times a week, with normal hair that hasn’t suffered much damage.

Deep Conditioner
Deep Conditioners are ideal for people with dry and damaged hair, or hair that’s been over-processed. They’re even more concentrated than instant Conditioners and are designed for occasional use. A deep Conditioner’s list of ingredients typically includes oils that help hydrate the hair and provide additional nourishment.

Cream-rinse Conditioner
Cream rinses work well for detangling hair and providing heat protection for styling afterward. They tend to have a thinner consistency than other types of Conditioners.

Protein Conditioner
Protein Conditioners help to repair damage on the hair follicle. Protein reconstructors are like protein Conditioners in that they help repair damaged hair and include a moisturizing element that offers extra hydration. Reconstructors provide deep conditioning by penetrating deeply into the hair shaft and don’t just act on the hair’s surface.

Leave-in Conditioner
A leave-in Conditioner is, as its name suggests, a product you apply to freshly shampooed and conditioned hair and leave in until the next time you wash it. Leave-in Conditioners provide an additional dose of moisture and softness to hair and are ideal for anyone with thin, fine, or coarse hair that becomes brittle between Shampoos.

HOW TO SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR THE RIGHT WAY

Correctly Shampooing your hair accomplishes many things, it’s not only to keep your hair clean and fresh. It also cleans your scalp’s pores, exfoliates the scalp by ridding it of dead skin cells, and even improves blood circulation to your scalp, making for healthier hair follicles.

STEP 1: CHOOSE THE BEST SHAMPOO FOR YOU

A carpenter never begins construction on a house if he doesn’t have the right tools. The same principle applies to grooming—if you don’t have the right products, all of your efforts will fall short.

Don’t pull the least expensive Shampoo off the shelf of your favorite supermarket or drugstore with the misguided mindset of “all Shampoos are the same.” A cheap Shampoo may technically clean your hair, but it may also create problematic issues, such as moisture-depleted hair, or skin irritation. See the above section on Shampoo types for a rundown on all the different varieties.

STEP 2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

We’ll assume for the sake of argument that you plan to wash your hair in the shower. If so, keep the water warm but not too hot. Shampooing your hair under hot water can strip it of the natural oils that your hair needs to be healthy. Warm water helps open hair cuticles so they can better receive the nutrients in your Shampoo and Conditioner.

STEP 3: GET IT NICE AND WET

Make sure your hair and scalp are thoroughly saturated with water before you apply Shampoo. A wet foundation, particularly one created by warm water, will help loosen excess oil and open up the scalp’s pores to deeply penetrate your Shampoo. Applying Shampoo to hair that’s dry, or not wet enough, will likely prevent it from removing all the dirt and grime.

STEP 4: APPLY YOUR SHAMPOO

Squeeze out a dime-sized amount of Shampoo into the palm of your hand. Rub the Shampoo between your hands to work up a lather, then massage it through your hair with the tips of your fingers focusing on the scalp.

You typically don’t need to work the Shampoo onto the middle and ends of the hair strands. When you rinse, the Shampoo will travel down long hairs and remove any dirt that was missed. Hair is most susceptible to damage when it’s wet, so if you have long hair, don’t comb the Shampoo through your hair with your fingers. Just stick to massaging it into the scalp.

Don’t apply your Shampoo directly to your hair. You don’t want your Shampoo to sit in one glob on your hair before you rub it into the scalp, you’ll end up wasting product. Put a small amount of it on your palm, lather it up, and only add more if you genuinely think you need it.

Many hair experts don’t recommend using your fingernails to dig into your scalp and hair while shampooing. Why? Well, think of all the grime that accumulates under your nails, regardless of your occupation. Surgeons use a nail brush to clean under their nails before every operation. Digging your claws into your scalp may irritate it and could transfer germs, not to mention that it could yank and pull at your hair, causing hair loss.

STEP 5: RINSE YOUR HAIR

It’s essential to give your hair a proper rinse when you’ve finished shampooing it. Not adequately rinsing is a common mistake many men make—when you don’t rinse your hair thoroughly, you leave behind a build-up of Shampoo, gunk, and grime that can cause irritation, itchiness, flakiness, and even dandruff.

You don’t want to rush through the rinse. Shampoo can get left behind on your scalp and even on the hair behind your ears. Also, remember that men are at a higher risk for developing dandruff, and the accumulation of unrinsed products can bring on a snowstorm of white flakes if you’re not careful.

Does the water’s temperature matter for rinsing hair? It can. As we mentioned above, hot water is a no go. If you will be applying Conditioner after washing, go ahead and rinse with warm water, so the hair cuticles remain open. If you’re not going to be applying Conditioner, rinse with cool water. Cool water helps close the pores and seal in moisture. As a general rule, use cool water for your final rinse.

STEP 6: REPEAT (MAYBE)

Shampoos often include a step in the instructions that say, “Rinse and repeat.” Most hair products maintain some level of water resistance. Doing an initial wash with a dime-sized amount of Shampoo helps breakdown product build-up and excess oil. The first wash doesn’t produce as much lather as a second wash, so the “repeat” is often recommended.

The question of whether or not you should give your hair a second wash comes down to how long your hair is, how dirty it is, and what kind of products you use in it.

If you have short hair and your build-up of daily grim is minimal, you’ll likely be just fine skipping the second lather unless you only wash your hair once or twice a week. For those with longer hair, a second wash can make a substantial difference to your hair's cleanliness. A second wash is a good idea if you use hair styling products like pomade, putty, or wax.

You can try switching up your routine as well—once a week, try the rinse and repeat method, and for the other times, follow steps 1-5. Your routine will be unique to you, so you’ll find your own habits for success with a little trial and error.

TIPS FOR WASHING LONG HAIR

The techniques you use for your hair depend on several variables, including the length of your hair. Washing long hair is different from washing short hair and requires additional maintenance types to remain healthy and always looking its best. Here are some tips if you have a rocking head of long hair.

Shampoo less often We’ll discuss how often you should wash your hair in more depth a bit later in this article, but a typical school of thought regarding long hair is that you don’t need to Shampoo it every day.

While shampooing your hair less may seem counter-intuitive, you may not need to clean it every day, especially if it’s not naturally greasy or oily, and what you don’t want to do is dry your hair out by stripping it of its natural oils.

Thick, coarse, and textured hair tends to be drier, so shampooing less and letting some oil accumulate will help keep the hair moisturized, reduce frizz, and keep it from getting too poofy.

Go easy after you shower Your hair is most vulnerable when it’s wet, so show it some well-deserved TLC after you’ve washed it and are ready to step out of the shower. For one, avoid drying your hair in the usual fashion (by roughly scrubbing it with a towel) because it can damage your hair. At the least, it can make it overly frizzy.

It’s better to squeeze your hair gently to draw the excess water from it. Don’t shake your head side-to-side, like a dog drying itself off after a dip into a lake, because that can put undue stress on your hair.

Condition your hair Conditioner is your friend, and you can use it every time you shower, even if you haven’t shampooed your hair (this is known as co-washing). Rinse the Conditioner with cooler water because doing so closes up hair cuticles while sealing moisture inside.

HOW TO CONDITION YOUR HAIR

Conditioning your hair is a big part of keeping it healthy, and you’ll be pleased with the results if you take the time to condition it the right way. Here’s a look at some tips, rules, and other suggestions for conditioning your hair.

STEP 1: CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONDITIONER

You can choose a Conditioner that’s suitable for all hair types, such as our Beardbrand Conditioner, or you may decide to buy one formulated for a specific hair type. For example, you may choose a thickening Conditioner that works to strengthen fine hair, which is more prone to being weak or brittle, while dry hair calls for a nutrient-rich formula that keeps your hair and scalp well-moisturized.

[button link="https://www.beardbrand.com/products/shampoo-conditioner-set" text="Shop Shampoo & Conditioner" ]

Properly using Conditioner can be the difference between great looking hair, and hair that you want to pull out. Here’s how to use it correctly.

STEP 2: Wring your hair of excess water

After you’ve finished shampooing your hair, wring out any excess water. Doing so helps ensure that your Conditioner will stick to hair follicles, allowing it to fully absorb and soak in without just running off.

STEP 3: Apply your Conditioner

One of the most important things to know about using a Conditioner is that you only need to apply it to your hair's ends, not down to the scalp as you do with Shampoo. Applying it to the ends ensures that you’ll coat the oldest and generally most damaged part of the strand, and reap all of the hair Conditioner benefits.

Working your Conditioner to the scalp and roots could clog hair follicles and cause an increase in oil production. The amount of Conditioner you use depends on the length of your hair. You’ll need more of it if you have long hair.

STEP 4: Let it set

The longer you leave your Conditioner in, the more benefits it can have for your hair. You can always rinse it out immediately if you don’t have much time, but your hair won’t be as soft and shiny as it could be if you leave it in for a minute or two after applying it.

STEP 5: Rinse it out

Like with Shampoo, you’ll want to rinse out the Conditioner from your hair thoroughly. If your hair still has an “oily” feel, it probably means you haven’t rinsed all of the Conditioner from it. Rinse with lukewarm or even cold water.

HOW OFTEN TO WASH & CONDITION YOUR HAIR

There’s no right answer to how often every individual should wash and condition his or her hair. What one expert says could be contradicted by another’s opinion. The goal is, however, to maintain clean hair with a healthy moisture balance.

Excessive shampooing can dry out your hair and deplete it of its natural oils. Not washing your hair enough can leave it greasy and dirty.

Should I wash it daily?
Unless your hair is overly greasy, there’s probably no need to wash it every day. For people whose scalps produce an average amount of oil, the greasy feeling that comes with waiting too long between washes may not even come on until the third day.

Some experts say that, even if you have a particularly greasy scalp, sweat a lot, or have super thin hair, you can still get away with washing your hair every two days. In any case, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy layer of sebum.

Your hair texture matters
Your hair texture is something else to keep in mind when determining how often to wash your hair because texture affects how quickly your scalp’s sebum works its way from the roots to hair follicles' tips. If you have coarse or curly hair, it takes longer for sebum to spread, which means you can get away with not washing your hair as often as someone with fine, straight hair.

When to wash your hair daily
There are cases in which washing your hair every day isn’t such a bad idea.

• If you have an excessively oily scalp.
• If you work a job where your hair is exposed to excess dirt and other materials, you can consider washing your hair every day, or at least wetting and massaging your scalp to help loosen oils while exfoliating dead skin cells.
• Many other situations and occupations may require you to wash your hair daily, kitchen worker is another example. This work exposes you to grease that may build-up in your luscious locks during the day.

When to wash your hair less
Not washing your hair every day helps your scalp replenish its sebum supply without letting your hair become too dry. If your hair isn’t overly oily, and if you work in an occupation that doesn’t expose you to too much dirt, grime, and sweat, you may be able to wash your hair two to three times a week.

If nothing else, you should give your hair a thorough rinse on the days you don’t wash it because it will help wash away any build-up of sweat and dirt. Then again, a bit of sweat helps your hair’s texture, so go with your gut on how much body sweat is too much.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CONDITION YOUR HAIR?

To start, you should use a Conditioner anytime you wash your hair. But in general, you should condition your hair most days of the week. How often you use a Conditioner depends on several variables unique to you.

If you have longer hair, it makes sense to condition it more often because the tips of hair follicles are not only older but more exposed to pollutants and other potential damage.

Use a Conditioner more often if your hair is thick, dry, or damaged by the sun, chlorine, or coloring your hair.

You should condition less often if your hair is short, or naturally thin and oily. Use a Conditioner that hydrates your hair. Keeping it nourished and well-moisturized will also help prevent split ends and strengthen the hair to avoid future breakage.

You should still use a Conditioner if you have oily hair, but probably don’t need it as often.

BEARDBRAND SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Here at Beardbrand, we take a whole-body approach to grooming. The Beardbrand product ethos is to create products that work with your body’s natural chemistry. You won’t find parabens, silicones, or sulfates in our products. Beardbrand Shampoo & Conditioner is no exception.

Many men don’t realize just how big an impact the products they use have on their ability to achieve the hairstyle they’re after. If you’ve only used cheap products to clean your hair, we’re confident that Beardbrand Shampoo & Conditioner will give you the cleanest, softest, healthiest hair of your life.

Put an end to scent confusion
What happens when you use Shampoo & Conditioner in one fragrance and then style your hair with a product in a completely different fragrance? You end up smelling all discombobulated. It’s confusing—it’s scent confusion.

We’ve worked hard at Beardbrand to formulate a full line of products for hair, beard, and skin in six awesome fragrances. In fact, we have 11 unique products available in all Gold Line fragrances, and 10 in all Silver Line fragrances:

• Shampoo & Conditioner
• The Utility Bar
• Beard Wash & Beard Softener
• Beard Oil
• Utility Balm
• Mustache Wax
• Styling Balm
• Sea Salt Spray
• Eau de Parfum(Gold Line only)
  
  

No matter what your preferred fragrance—Beardbrand has you covered from the top down.

SCENT CONFUSION™

BEARDBRAND SHAMPOO

Beardbrand Shampoo creates a gentle lather and rinses out cleanly while keeping your hair well-hydrated. It won’t generate a lot of build-up as you get with Shampoos that include silicone, or that make your hair oily and greasy. You also don’t have to worry about over-cleansing your hair and stripping it of its natural oils while leaving it too dry, flaky, and frizzy.

Beardbrand Shampoo is suitable for all hair types, including fine, thick, coarse, curly, wavy, straight, oily, dry, and dyed.

Key Ingredients
Maintaining a healthy scalp is an integral part of keeping hair clean, nourished, and looking its best. The ingredients in Beardbrand Shampoo were selected because of their ability to care for your scalp without throwing off your body’s natural chemistry.

Shea Oil
Shea butter is easily absorbed into the hair. It is rich in vitamins A and E, which helps restore the skin’s elasticity and relieve conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It is also great for protecting skin and hair from environmental damage (i.e., pollution, sun, and free radicals).

Apricot Oil
Apricot oil has been proven to cure many skin diseases such as dandruff, furuncle, and acne vulgaris. It absorbs into the skin quickly, providing both nourishing and protecting properties. Apricot Oil is known to soothe eczema, and it’s packed with mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins (A, B1, B2, and B6), making it great for dry skin.

BEARDBRAND CONDITIONER

We don’t want to split hairs, but we think Beardbrand Conditioner is the best on the market. The shea-butter based formula hydrates, nourishes, and repairs damaged hair. With regular use, your hair will take on a healthier appearance without feeling heavy or weighted. The result is healthy, shiny hair that is easier to shape into your desired style.

Beardbrand Conditioner is suitable for all hair types, including fine, thick, coarse, curly, wavy, straight, oily, dry, and dyed.

Key Ingredients
Maintaining a healthy scalp is an integral part of keeping hair clean, nourished, and looking its best. The ingredients in Beardbrand Shampoo were selected because of their ability to care for your scalp without throwing off your body’s natural chemistry.

Shea Oil
Shea butter is easily absorbed into the hair, and in addition to its many skin benefits noted above, it’s also excellent at helping hair stay nourished.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Castor oil is excellent at conditioning, preventing split ends, and softening hair while adding a healthy shine.

WHY NATURAL SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONERS ARE BETTER

You may be comfortable using a Shampoo or Conditioner that contains harmful chemicals, or maybe you really don’t give much thought to it. It could be that you think your hair looks great anyway. But consider the following before shopping for Shampoo and Conditioner next time.

Natural products are gentler
We’ve already discussed this in various ways, but it’s worth repeating: the chemicals found in many hair products can damage your hair, especially if it’s already a bit fragile.

They’re better for your health
It’s hard to keep Shampoo and Conditioner from finding its way to other parts of your body when you rinse it off, which means your skin is coming into contact with the harsh chemicals found in many Shampoos.

Plus, your skin can absorb those chemicals, and they may lead to a variety of other health issues unrelated to your hair’s health.

They may help boost hair growth
While Shampoo doesn’t necessarily make your hair “grow,” chemical-laden Shampoos can put you at a greater risk for hair loss because they irritate oil glands and reduce hair follicles' size, and dry out the scalp.

Natural Shampoos, meanwhile, contain ingredients that create a healthier environment for hair to thrive and, subsequently, grow in. Tea tree oil, grapefruit extracts, and coconut oil are among the ingredients often found in natural Shampoos that may aid in hair growth.

They pack a one-two punch
Natural Shampoos can prevent your hair from becoming too greasy and too dry. While that may seem like a tall task, they don’t contain silicone, causing an excessive build-up leading to greasy roots, or other harsh chemicals that dry hair out.

They’re eco-friendly
Washing the chemicals found in many Shampoos down the drain means they end up in the environment. Sulfates, silicones, and other synthetic ingredients can cause damage to the environment. You don’t have to worry about that with organic ingredients that naturally decompose.

Make sure that your Shampoo doesn’t contain silicones, sulfates, phthalates, and parabens if you want to ease the burden on the environment.

They may actually help save you money
While many natural Shampoos cost a bit more than mass-produced shampoos containing many chemicals, you may opt to buy salon Shampoos that address specific issues, such as overly-oily and dry hair, or dandruff. Those Shampoos can get a bit pricey and may not give you the results you were hoping for.

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER MYTHS

This isn’t as much of a myth as some others because it depends on what brand and type of Shampoo you use. If you use the right product with the right ingredients, Shampoo can help to re-moisturize your hair.

Too much shampooing makes your hair fall out
Most humans lose up to 100 hairs per day, whether they Shampoo it or not. Shampooing simply dislodges the hair that was ready to fall out in the first place.

You should always Shampoo your hair before conditioning it
Not necessarily. Some experts suggest that you switch the order now and then, especially when you want exceptional volume. It’s OK to condition your hair first to give your ends an extra bit of shine and health and then Shampoo your roots for volume.

You should always try to get your hair “squeaky” clean
You may want to ditch your Shampoo if it’s making your hair squeaky clean. After all, if your hair is clean enough to squeak, it probably means that your Shampoo strips hair strands of their natural protective oils.

Conditioner repairs split ends
Conditioners don't “repair” split ends. They can temporarily coat the hairs, but the only way to remove split ends is by getting a trim. Instead, a Conditioner helps prevent them from forming because it moisturizes and protects hair.

Conditioner weighs down hair
People with fine hair may think, or have heard, that Conditioner will weigh their hair down if they apply too much of it. Many cheaper Conditioners contain silicones because they coat the hair shafts and give an appearance of smooth, shiny hair. However, silicones attract more dirt and debris, making hair feel heavy and weighed down. Silicone is more challenging to wash out, so it requires a Shampoo with heavy surfactants. This leads to a cycle of excessive washing with harsh surfactants that strip the hair, making it weaker and less healthy. Your best bet is to stick with a Conditioner free of silicones.

You’ll notice immediate positive results from your Conditioner
You won’t experience its full impact until after several uses, which is also true of Shampoo.

Want to talk about Shampoo & Conditioner, or need some grooming and style advice? Shoot us a message at support@beardbrand.com, or Text "STYLE" to 512-879-3297 for a free personalized consultation. We’ll be happy to help you out.

Keep on Growing.

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TL;DR

To help prevent you from getting lost in the wash, we put together this in-depth guide on the right ways to use Shampoo, Conditioner, and ultimately get your hair looking and feeling better than it ever has.

1. Pick the right Shampoo for you. Most men can get away with a Shampoo for normal hair, but if your scalp is extra oily, or conversely, extra dry, you want a Shampoo built to handle those conditions.
2. Yes, you want a Conditioner too. Conditioner is crucial in keeping your hair moisturized and nourished. This becomes exponentially more important as your hair grows longer.
3. Wash your hair with Shampoo in warm water, not hot water. Warm water helps open cuticles allowing more nutrients in. Focus on massaging the Shampoo into the scalp. Shampoo is for your scalp, more than your hair. A healthy scalp leads to healthy hair.
The rinse and repeat method is generally a good idea, but you can probably skip a second wash if you have short hair, wash frequently, and don’t use hair styling products.
4. Apply Conditioner to the middle and tips of your hair strands. Allow it to sit for a minute or two before rinsing.
5. Use cool water for your final rinse. This helps seal in moisture and nutrients.

You generally don’t need to wash your hair more than two or three times per week, unless you work in an environment where it is exposed to excess dirt and grime. You can, and should, use a Conditioner on days that you don’t wash your hair with Shampoo.

Want to talk about Shampoo & Conditioner, or need some grooming and style advice? Shoot us a message at support@beardbrand.com, or Text "STYLE" to 512-879-3297 for a free personalized consultation. We’ll be happy to help you out.