How to Wash Your Hair for Ideal Styling in 3 Easy Steps

Have you ever been unable to achieve your ideal hairstyle? By following a proper hair washing routine, you will be surprised at how easy everyday styling can be. In the following guide, we focus on washing, moisturizing, and drying your hair the right way to solve your styling problems. If you care about your hair, be sure to keep reading as we cover common hairstyle problems, how to solve them, and the best way to wash your hair.

3 Common Hair Care Problems that Make Styling Harder

Styling product residue, dry hair, bedhead, scalp acne, fading colour... these are some of the common problems that make everyday hairstyling harder. If you deal with any of these, read on to find out how to properly take care of your hair.

No.1: You Feel Like There’s Styling Product in Your Hair

Throughout the day, hair becomes dirty and the scalp gets coated in sebum (a naturally oily substance your body produces) as well as sweat, dandruff, styling products, and any dirt particles that may be floating around in the air.

In particular, styling products are difficult to wash out, and this build-up can lead to uncomfortable hair and scalp issues, such as acne and itchiness. Also, you may not be able to achieve your ideal hairstyle the next day, because the styling product that remains from the previous day prevents you from easily styling your hair.

No.2: Your Hair Always Feels Dry

Do you ever feel that your hair is dry and doesn't look good?

When the hair is dry, it can lose its shine, randomly curl, and spread out uncontrollably, making the ideal hairstyle seem impossible.The solution to this problem is quite simple: use a treatment product. It can return moisture to your hair and repair damaged hair cuticles in the process.

No.3: You Often Wake Up with Bad Bedhead

Sleeping on wet hair is a sure-fire way to wake up with unmanageable bedhead in the morning. Not only can it ruin your hairstyle, it takes time to fix — not something you want to deal with on a busy morning.

It’s not only important to wash your hair but also moisturize and thoroughly dry it as a part of your regular washing routine. Doing this properly is vital for achieving your ideal hairstyle.

Read on to find out how to solve your hairstyle problems.

Step 1. Wash Your Hair to Remove All Styling Products

Even the most stubborn hairstyling products need to be removed daily. If you’re using a hard-type wax, oil pomade, or a lot of hair spray that’s hard to wash out, be sure to thoroughly practice the following tips.

Pre-condition before Shampooing

Here’s a pro tip from GATSBY: to wash out all the products in your hair, apply conditioner to your dry hair before shampooing and make sure it’s evenly spread throughout your hair. You can also use a fine-tooth comb for a better effect. Then, rinse thoroughly.

By doing this, the oil in the styling products and the oil in the conditioner will mix, making it easier for the styling products to wash out.

Pre-rinse Your Hair with Clean, Lukewarm Water to Remove Dirt

This may go without saying, but clean hair starts with clean water. Just as important is that the water isn’t too hot or cold. We suggest that you start things off by wetting your hair with lukewarm water as it won’t damage or dry it out.

After wetting your hair, turn up the temperature slightly and pre-rinse it with warm water. Don’t add any soap, shampoo, or products at this time. Just spend a little time rinsing. This is important as it helps wash out all the excess dirt, debris, and hair products that the earlier steps couldn’t remove.

Massage Your Scalp with Shampoo

After pre-rinsing, apply a small amount of shampoo to the palms of your hands and create a lather. Check the bottle for the manufacturer’s recommended amount per usage. Gently massage it into your scalp. Don’t be too rough; you don’t want to hurt your scalp or accidentally pull out any hair. Use the pads of your fingers to loosen any remaining dirt, oil, and styling products. Rinse thoroughly once you have finished.

After lathering and washing, make sure that you rinse out all the shampoo. It’s not good for the hair to have liquid shampoo left in it. Spend time rinsing and, if you can, rinse until the water runs clear and there’s no more lather. This step is important for avoiding scalp acne and itchiness.

Step 2. Avoid Dry Hair by Moisturizing with Conditioner

Apply a conditioner that is formulated for your hair type. Allow it to sit for five minutes or so. This will help it soak into the hair. Rinse thoroughly, again.

It’s important to note that if you have short hair, the conditioner may not be necessary. Also, if you’re prone to hair loss or scalp issues, applying conditioner may worsen the problem, so it’s better to skip this step in those cases.

If you regularly use conditioner and still have a problem with dry hair, consider using a leave-in treatment.

Step 3. Prevent Bedhead by Drying Your Wet Hair

One of the most common reasons for bedhead is because you haven’t fully dried your hair before going to sleep. Completely drying your hair makes it easy to style the next morning. Even when the tips of your hair are dry, if the roots are still wet, it’s easy to get bedhead. So, be sure to completely dry the roots of your hair.

If you have long hair, ring out as much water as you can before leaving the shower. Then, towel-dry your hair by wrapping it in a soft towel or squeezing the remaining water out of it.

How to Maintain Colour-treated Hair

While most men will find the three steps above all that is needed to improve their hair care routine, here are some additional considerations to keep in mind if you recently dyed your hair and want to maintain its colour.

• Don’t wash your hair on the day you get it dyed
• Follow the hair washing routine above to avoid damaging your hair
• Consider using heat protection products if you’re drying your hair with a blow-dryer, because heat-damaged hair is more likely to lose its colour
• Set the blow-dryer at a low temperature to avoid heat damage
• Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible to prevent UV damage
• Use a shampoo that is designed specifically for colour-treated hair
• Avoid using harsh products like tea tree oil in your hair as this ingredient can strip away the dye

A Proper Hair Washing Routine Makes Hairstyling Easy

Above all else, achieving your ideal hairstyle requires an appropriate hair washing routine. Not only will having one help you avoid problems like scalp acne and dandruff, but you will also enjoy the benefits of the stylish appeal that comes with sporting healthy-looking locks.