How to wash your hair

1. Brush your scalp before you wash your hair to stimulate circulation and remove dry skin cells. a shampoo brush has bristles with a lot of give that massage your scalp without tugging your hair.

2. Choose a shampoo that suits your hair type and condition – dry, oily, fine, normal or coarse. Then factor in any chemical treatment: coloured, highlighted, lowlighted, straightened or permed. Change your basic haircare products as the condition of your hair changes.

3. Wet hair thoroughly. dispense a blob of shampoo into your hands, rub hands together lightly and then apply to your hair, concentrating on your scalp, then squeeze shampoo down to ends (the length doesn’t require as thorough a cleansing). Rinse well. repeat.

4. How often should you wash? Take the cue from your hair. If you’re using the correct shampoo for your hair type, it shouldn’t matter whether you wash your hair every day, or every second or third day.

5. If you use styling aids, cleanse your hair and scalp thoroughly every two weeks with a clarifying shampoo. Your hair will have more body and be far more manageable.

6. Touching or brushing your hair distributes the natural oils, making it appear ‘dirty’ sooner. So if you want your hair wash to last, don’t touch or brush it more than necessary.

Tip: If your hair is very dry, chemically treated or sensitised, apply conditioner or a hair treatment oil to the ends before you wash.