How Much Shampoo to Use for your Hair Type

How Much Shampoo to Use for your Hair Type

There’s more to washing your hair than just lather, rinse, repeat. We’ve got all the details on washing your hair, including how much shampoo to use per wash and how often- plus the best shampoos for your hair type.

What Role Does Shampoo Play in Hair Care

One-size-fits-all does not apply when it comes to washing your hair. The way you wash your hair makes all the difference in how it looks, feels and behaves. In fact, if you’re not shampooing based on your hair type, you could be setting yourself up for a bad hair day. The purpose of shampoo is to cleanse the hair and scalp of dirt, oil, and other debris, while making strands soft, manageable and ready to style. But it's important to use the right formula and amount for your hair type. If you’ve ever found yourself in the shower asking “how much shampoo should I use?”, you’ve come to the right place. Because we’re telling you the optimal way to wash your hair according to your hair type.

How Shampoo Works on Different Hair Types

Wondering how much shampoo and conditioner to use? Different hair types require varying levels of care. So just like with your other products, how much shampoo to use depends on your hair. From fine, to thick, curly, straight and colored, here’s how to shampoo based on your hair type.

Shampooing Straight hair

If you’ve got straight hair, you know that by the second or third day post-shampoo, it starts to look oily. if you’ve got fine, straight strands you may need to wash every, or every other day. Thicker, straight hair can usually make it to day three. Choose a lightweight shampoo and rub a dime-sized amount directly into your scalp, and evenly through the length of your hair before rinsing it off.

Shampooing Thick and Curly Hair

Wondering how much shampoo to use for thick hair? Thick and curly haired people share the same routine here. These types require less shampooing, since oil does not build up quickly on these hair types. Twice a week is enough for thick and curly hair. Choose a moisturizing formula if you have thick hair and a shampoo for curly hair if you’ve got curls. Work a quarter-sized amount into your roots and down to your ends thoroughly, before rinsing.

Shampooing Long hair

The longer your hair, the older and drier the strands. so washing more than twice or three times a week will strip the oils from your scalp, making your already dry hair drier. Start with a quarter-sized amount of a moisturizing shampoo , and adjust based on length. Massage it into your scalp and down the length of your hair, before rinsing completely.

Shampooing Fine Hair

If you have fine hair, oil builds up fast and your strands look greasy easily, causing your hair to look lifeless and limp. Wash fine hair as often as needed, even if that means daily. Dilute a quarter-sized amount of a volume shampoo to your scalp, washing down to your ends and then rinse.

Shampooing Colored Hair

Hair that’s been bleached or color-treated requires special care when it comes to your shampoo routine. Washing frequently not only dries out your hair but it causes your color to fade prematurely. Every third day, use a color-safe shampoo and apply it to your scalp and down to your ends. Rinse with cool water to help seal the cuticle and preserve your color.

Proper Technique for Applying Shampoo

Washing your hair is the most important part of your hair care routine. It might sound as simple as lather, rinse, repeat, but being careless with the way you wash can lead to dehydration, breakage and scalp issues. These are the most common hair washing mistakes to avoid for healthy hair.

-Over or under washing

-Not detangling your hair first

-Using hot water

-Using the wrong shampoo for your hair type

-Using too much shampoo

-Not focusing on your scalp

-Not rinsing the shampoo out thoroughly

-Skipping conditioner

How to Pair Shampoo With Conditioner

Your product line-up on wash on wash day includes shampoo, a conditioner and at the very least a leave-in conditioner. Conditioner replenishes the moisture lost during the shampoo process, and seals the hair cuticle. This keeps your strands looking smooth and feeling strong. If you’ve got fine or color-treated hair choose a gentle conditioner. If you’ve got thick, curly or damaged hair, try a heavier, cream conditioner. Make sure to follow every shampoo with a conditioner. Apply a leave in conditioner as your final step, or move on to your next products if you follow the LOC or LCO methods.

Frequently Asked Questions:

In addition to how much shampoo to use, which formula is best for your hair type and what type of conditioner to follow with, there’s a few more points to touch on. Here are the answers to a few common questions when it comes to washing your hair.

Is Shampooing Twice Necessary and When Should this be Done?

The double shampoo method- or shampooing twice in the same wash- is a hair hack to remove excess oil and debris. It’s only necessary if you have an oily scalp, greasy hair or a buildup of styling products. If you have dry, damaged, color-treated, or otherwise fragile strands, double shampooing will likely be too drying.

How Often Should Hair Be Shampooed?

There is not a standard answer here, as different hair types have different care needs- washing included. How often you use shampoo depends on your hair and its oil levels, and how much styling product you use. If you’ve got fine hair, an oily scalp or use a lot of products daily, you may need to wash every day or every other day. Thicker hair and curls should be shampooed once or twice a week.

Tips for Efficient Shampoo Usage

Wondering how much shampoo to use in a more eco-friendly way? These tips will help you use shampoo efficiently and wash your hair sustainably.

1. Choose biodegradable formulas with recyclable packaging

2. Use slightly less than recommended on the label

3. Apply shampoo directly to your scalp so as not to lose any by lathering in your palms first

4. Lather thoroughly to activate your shampoo’s ingredients

5. Consider switching to a shampoo bar to reduce plastic waste

Ensuring Quality Hair Care with Davines Shampoo Collection

The way you wash your hair matters. If you’re not shampooing based on your hair type, you could be negatively affecting how your strands look, feel and behave. When it comes to the best formula, how much shampoo to use and how often to wash your hair, follow our tips for healthy hair and use only quality shampoos made from high grade natural ingredients. Never compromising on our vision of sustainable beauty, all of our formulas are produced with energy entirely from renewable sources. And all of the products are carbon neutral, and the bottles are made with post-consumer recycled plastic.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

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How Much Shampoo to Use for your Hair Type

What Role Does Shampoo Play in Hair Care