For many men, a bath is incomplete without a hair wash. However, shampooing your hair every day might not be necessary unless you are a sports person or you workout every day or you are generally sweaty (in which case we definitely recommend a daily wash). Surprising as it sounds, there are many boo-boos that you unwittingly commit while washing your hair. Here’s a complete list:

Not wetting your hair enough
Mornings are always a rush and having leisurely showers is out of question. However, slapping on shampoo when your hair is not wet or is only partially wet is not going to do you any good. It’s the same as trying to wash a greasy utensil without soaking it in water first. Wetting your hair adequately is the first step to a good hair wash.

Lather is not imperative
The mantra – the more the product lathers, the more cleansing it is – is flawed. Shampoos that contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or ammonium lauryl sulphate(ALS) and foaming agents lather a great deal but dry your hair out by stripping it off its natural oils and colour. Use SLS-free shampoos. Lather the shampoo in your hand and then apply it to your hair. Also, work your head around the fact that lather does not equate to clean hair.

Hot showers
A hot shower is just the way to end a hard day at work. But, scalding hot water is more harmful than helpful for your hair and skin; an extremely damaging habit, you are better off using lukewarm or cold water. Wet your hair and shampoo it with lukewarm water and wash off conditioner with cold water. This helps to tighten your cuticles leaving you with shinier hair.

Applying conditioner to sopping wet hair
The water in your hair will dilute your conditioner affecting its efficiency leading to product wastage. Ideally, you should squeeze out excess water from you hair and then apply conditioner to the length and tips (not on the roots for sure).

It’s a simple rule guys. Shampoo your roots and condition your length. Only your roots need cleansing to wash away dust and grime. Massage your roots with your fingertips (not your nails) without scrubbing the length of your hair. Your length can do without shampooing unless you use heavy styling products regularly.

Using just about any shampoo
All those different shampoos available in the market are there for a purpose and no, it isn’t a marketing gimmick. Coloured hair needs a clarifying shampoo to clear excess product build up and oil from the hair. Similarly, if you use a lot of styling products on a daily basis, you need a shampoo that efficiently clears build up. Clogged hair follicles will make your scalp and hair greasy. Certainly not the look you are aiming for. Pick products that specifically address the needs of your hair and scalp.

Rubbing wet hair vigorously with a towel
Want frizzy hair? Keep doing that. Rubbing wet hair with a normal towel vigorously creates a lot of friction between the two. It only helps in entangling hair and leading to breakage and massive frizz. Instead, squeeze the water out of your hair and wrap a microfiber towel or an old cotton T-shirt over your head. Pat dry but don’t rub.

BDST: 1632 HRS, Nov-16, 2014