Top tips from a hairdresser: How to get a healthy scalp and gorgeous hair

A healthy scalp is clean, moisturised, free of dandruff and flakiness, with a balanced sebum production and definitely no signs of itchiness. And how can you achieve this? 

Shampoo and double cleansing

Choose your shampoo and other hair products carefully on the basis of the specific needs of your scalp and hair. Ideally, consult your picks with your hairdresser, who knows what’s best. But how should you use your amazing new shampoo correctly?

Always wash your hair twice. During the first wash, the hair cuticle opens up to allow you to wash away any impurities and residual styling products. You may also notice that the shampoo doesn’t lather up as much because of the build-up of impurities. The second wash allows you to penetrate deeper, cleansing the scalp and hair thoroughly.

How to wash your hair properly

Wet your hair and don’t use hot water. It can make your scalp overly dry and cause itchiness and dandruff. Depending on the length of your hair, apply the necessary amount of shampoo into the palms of your hands. Less really is more in this case, and if you find that the shampoo doesn’t lather up, add more water. Rub the shampoo between your palms and massage it gently into your scalp. The primary aim of shampoo is to cleanse the scalp.

“Don’t be too harsh on your hair while you’re washing it; you could cause unnecessary tangles and breakages. The foamy residue when rinsing shampoo is more than enough for clean hair,” advises the hairdresser Adéla Dolejší from the Růžová 15 salon. Then rinse off the shampoo and repeat the process. For perfectly clean hair, the final shampoo cleanse should take at least one minute.

When your hair needs a pick-me-up but you don’t have time to wash it, spray it with dry shampoo. Let it sit for a while and then comb through your hair with your fingers. This will make it look way better. 

“I recommend spraying dry shampoo onto clean hair immediately after washing and blow-drying – it’ll stay fresh for longer. If you spray dry shampoo onto hair that’s already greasy, you’ll weigh it down more, making it even more oily. But keep in mind that the frequent use of dry shampoo clogs the scalp, which stops it being able to breathe,” warns Adéla.

Conditioner and the right way to use it

Conditioner is the second step in your hair care routine. Never skip it. “Without using conditioner, the hair cuticle remains open, making it more susceptible to all kinds of manipulation, whether that means using a blow-dryer, hair brush or a hair band,” says the hairdresser Adéla Dolejší.

After washing, squeeze the water out of your hair with a towel. If you apply conditioner to rinsed hair that is dripping wet, it’ll become diluted, meaning you’ll have to use more of it. Then apply the conditioner into the palms of your hands and spread and work it into your hair with your palms and fingers. “Apply it from your ears down, brushing it through the lengths,” advises Adéla Dolejší. Wait a few minutes and then rinse the conditioner out of your hair. If your hair feels slippery after rinsing, you haven’t rinsed it well enough. 

Hair masks – Use hair masks as a deep treatment for your hair. They can last several washes, so, depending on how often you wash your hair, you may only need to use them once every 14 days. Always read the instructions that come with each mask. Some can be used straight after shampooing and a conditioner must be applied to reseal the hair. Others can close the hair cuticle without that help. In any case, always use a towel to squeeze out any moisture from your hair and brush through it before applying the mask. 

A hairdryer is a must-have

You’ll never have a healthy scalp without a hairdryer. If you don’t blow-dry your hair after washing, the top layer will dry first, with the bottom layer being left until last. This will create a humid environment at the roots. Imagine the mycelium that mushrooms grow from in a forest. Not a very pretty picture, is it? And this moist environment can cause fungal infections, dandruff, excessive sebum production and other unpleasant scalp issues. 

To achieve the perfect blow-dry, you need a good-quality hairdryer, a heat protectant and a hair brush.

“Always use your hairdryer with a concentrator nozzle. Blow-dry your hair until it’s almost dry with the help of your fingertips. Then divide it into sections and continue with a brush,” explains the hairdresser.

Try these simple steps for hair and scalp health! They’re not complicated, and if you stick to them, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous hair.