You might have read about the reverse washing trend and maybe even found it intriguing, but should you really apply conditioner before shampoo?
If you’ve been struggling to give your thin, limp hair some volume or added moisture, you probably also read that this reverse washing routine could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
This doesn’t actually work, though.
Think of your skincare routine for a moment. Would you ever wash your face just after applying your moisturiser?
If you did, your cleanser would have to work overtime to clean your face properly and it would remove the product you’ve just applied.
Applying conditioner before shampooing your hair is the same concept.
Why should you use shampoo and conditioner?
Shampoo cleanses your hair and is designed to remove oils and product build up.
Conditioner nourishes your hair leaving your hair cuticles sealed, so that your hair can feel soft and retain colour and shine for longer. Apart from your hair, a good conditioner should also moisturise the scalp, to help keep it flake free and comfortable.
Now, if shampoo is applied as the second step in your hair care routine, after conditioner, the nourishing and active ingredients you’ve just applied are removed by the shampoo. In this order, the “good” ingredients for your hair also get washed away.
When should you apply conditioner?
As it turns out, the traditional shampoo-first routine is still the best way to go. That’s because we want to first remove any impurities or oil build-ups before applying a moisturising conditioner.
If your conditioner is not giving your hair the moisture benefits it needs, or even making your hair feel too heavy or flat, it’s time to switch conditioners - not routines. You could be using the wrong conditioner for your hair type.
If you don’t know where to start, give Head & Shoulders Classic Clean conditioner a try. It’s suitable for most hair types and the active ingredients not only moisturise your hair deeply, but it also gives you lasting protection against dandruff.
If you realise you need more intense moisture, try Head & Shoulders Suprême Moisture.