Hello dear friends! We are the “Scissors by Effi” team here in beautiful Corfu and we welcome you to our blog. As professional hairdressers, our daily lives are full of discussions about how to achieve the perfect color, the ideal haircut, and of course, how to keep our hair looking great.
And do you know what the foundation for all of this is? Something we all do, but few do it perfectly right: washing our hair.
Yes, I know! It sounds so basic. “Effie,” many of our clients at the salon say to us, “what am I doing wrong when washing my hair?” And yet. Our experience at the “Scissors by Effi” salon has shown that most problems—dryness, breakage, oiliness, dullness—start right there. Proper care doesn’t start with expensive masks; it starts with how we handle our hair at its most vulnerable moment.
Proper hair washing isn’t just a cleansing process. It’s a ritual that lays the foundation for healthy hair. If you do it wrong, it’s like trying to build a beautiful house on shaky foundations. So let’s take a look at the 5 tragic mistakes we see repeated and unwittingly destroying your hair.
Table Of Contents
Mistake #1: You’re Using the Wrong Shampoo (or Too Much)
This is the most common mistake. How many times have you picked up a shampoo from the supermarket because it smelled good or because it promised “ultimate shine”?
The “One Size Fits All” Trap
Shampoo is not for the hair. Shampoo is for the scalp. This is the number one principle for healthy hair. Many of our clients come to us with dry, dehydrated ends but oily roots. What do they do? They buy a harsh shampoo for oily hair. The result? The scalp becomes irritated and produces even more oil to defend itself, while the ends become like straw.
Proper care requires a diagnosis. You need a shampoo that balances your scalp (e.g. for oily, dry, sensitive) and a conditioner or mask that targets your needs (e.g. hydration, reconstruction, color protection). Hair washing should be personalized.
How Much Shampoo Is “A Lot”?
The other big issue is quantity. We’ve seen customers empty almost half the bottle into their hand, thinking that a lot of lather equals cleanliness. Wrong! A lot of lather often just means a lot of sulfates that strip the hair of its natural oils.
For most hair, a dime-sized amount of shampoo is enough. If you feel like it hasn’t been cleaned, the problem isn’t the amount, but perhaps the technique or frequency. Proper hair washing with a professional product doesn’t need to be excessive. Proper care is about quality, not quantity.
Here at Scissors by Effi in Corfu, we always take the time to analyze your hair type before we even get near the water. Why? Because the right product is 50% of the battle for healthy hair.
Mistake #2: Bathing with Hot Water
Ah, who doesn’t love a hot shower at the end of a long day? It’s relaxing, right? Unfortunately, what relaxes you can also stress your hair.
The Enemy of Color and Moisture
Hot water is destructive to hair. It acts like steam that opens the hair cuticles wide. When the cuticles are open, what happens?
- Color Runs Out: If you have color-treated hair, hot shampooing literally washes out the color molecules from inside the hair shaft. Your expensive balayage or rich dye ends up down the drain.
- Moisture Evaporates: Hot water removes everything, including the valuable natural oils that keep hair hydrated and supple.
The result? Dull, frizzy hair that breaks easily. This is not proper care; it’s sabotage. Constantly washing your hair with hot water is one of the main reasons why hair fails to grow long and stay healthy.
The Ideal Temperature
What’s the solution? Start washing your hair with lukewarm to warm water. Hot enough to help the shampoo work and dissolve oil, but not so hot that it burns your skin.
And the secret of the pros? The final rinse. After rinsing out your conditioner or mask, turn the water to cold (as cold as you can stand!) for 30 seconds. This “shock” closes the hair cuticles, “locks in” moisture and treatment, and adds incredible shine. It’s the ultimate finish for healthy hair.
Mistake #3: Rough Rubbing and “Plucking” Hair
Let’s be honest. How do you wash your hair? You put on shampoo and then you gather all your hair mass on top of your head and start rubbing it together furiously, right?
Stop. Immediately.
Why It’s Destructive
Hair is at its weakest and most vulnerable when it’s wet. The structure of the hair is “loose.” When you rub it roughly, especially when you pull it all together at the top, you’re doing two things:
- You create knots: You cause incredible tangles. These knots then have to be untangled with a brush, breaking countless hairs.
- The Cuticle is Damaged: Friction between the wheels causes wear, breakage, and split ends.
Another part of this mistake is rubbing your nails. Many people think that “scratching” your scalp means deep cleansing. In reality, all you’re doing is damaging your scalp, causing irritation, and possibly creating micro-wounds that lead to dandruff or other inflammation.
The Correct Bathing Technique
Proper care requires gentleness. Shampooing hair is done as follows:
- Shampoo Application: Put the shampoo in your hands, rub them lightly to activate, and apply it only to the roots and scalp.
- Massage: Use your fingertips (fingertips, NOT nails) to massage your entire scalp in a gentle, circular motion. This stimulates blood circulation (helps with growth) and cleanses effectively.
- Rinse: Let your hair flow down. As you rinse the shampoo from the roots, the lather that flows down to the lengths and ends is SUPER-enough to cleanse them. No need to scrub your ends!
This healthy hair technique reduces breakage by 90% and is the secret to a successful hair wash.
Mistake #4: Skipping (or Using Wrong) Conditioner
“Effie, I don’t use conditioner because it makes my hair oily.” This is the phrase we hear at our hair salon in Corfu almost every day. And it’s one of the biggest lies in hair care.
The Work of Conditioner
Let’s be clear: Shampoo and Conditioner are a team. One doesn’t work without the other.
- Shampoo Opens: The job of shampoo (due to its alkaline pH) is to open the hair cuticles to cleanse deeply.
- Conditioner Closes: The job of conditioner (due to its acidic pH) is to close these scales, “seal” moisture, and smooth the surface of the hair.
If you only do a hair washing, you leave the hair cuticles open. Your hair is exposed, dehydrated, tangled, and frizzy. Skipping conditioner is not proper care; it’s like leaving the house without closing the door.
The Correct Use to Avoid “Oilying”
So why does your hair get oily? Because you’re putting it on wrong!
Conditioner, unlike shampoo, never gets into the roots. Your scalp produces its own natural oils, it doesn’t need additional hydration from conditioner.
Proper conditioner care is done like this:
- Drain your hair thoroughly of excess water after shampooing.
- Put a small amount of conditioner in your hands.
- Apply it from the ears down, emphasizing the ends, which are the oldest and most damaged part of the hair.
- Run your fingers or a wide-toothed comb through to get it all over.
- Leave it on for 2-3 minutes (or as long as the instructions say).
- Rinse very well.
If you follow this method, you will have healthy hair that is soft and moisturized, without a trace of greasiness at the roots. The hair washing is a two-step process. Never skip the second step.
Mistake #5: Roughly Drying with a Towel
You’ve finished the perfect hair washing. You’ve used the right products, the right temperature, and the right technique. And then…
You get out of the shower, grab the fluffiest bath towel you have, and start rubbing your hair furiously to get it dry quickly. Or, even worse, you wrap it tightly in a “turban” on top of your head.
The Destruction of Friction
As we said, wet hair is fragile. Friction from a towel (especially classic bath towels with thick fibers) is the worst. It causes instant frizz by breaking the cuticle and creating split ends.
Tightly wrapping your hair in a turban, on the other hand, pulls on the roots (causing hair loss from traction) and breaks the hair exactly where the towel “crushes” the hair.
The Correct Drying Technique
What we do at the “Scissors by Effi” hair salon and recommend to everyone is the “Blotting” technique.
- Drain: With your hands, gently squeeze your hair into the shower to remove most of the water.
- Dab: Instead of rubbing, take your towel and gently press (dab) the hair, section by section.
- Change Your Towel: The ideal solution for healthy hair is to replace your bath towel with a microfiber towel or even an old cotton t-shirt. These fabrics are much softer and absorb water without causing friction.
Proper care doesn’t stop with rinsing out the conditioner. The way you dry your hair is just as critical as the actual hair washing. You can find more hair care tips from trusted sources, like the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Key Takeaways
Washing your hair properly is an art, but you can easily become an expert! If we were to keep only the basics from our article, they would be these:
- Shampoo is for the Skin: Choose it based on the needs of your scalp (oily, dry, sensitive).
- Conditioner is for the ends: never the roots. It is necessary to “seal” the hair after the hair washing.
- Warm, Not Hot: Protect your color and moisture. Do a final cold rinse for shine.
- Massage, Don’t Rub: Use your fingers (not nails) to massage the roots. Let the lather cleanse the ends.
- Blot, Don’t Rub: Gently dry with a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
At our salon, we love questions! Let’s answer some classic questions about hair washing.
How often should I shampoo my hair?
This is the million dollar question! The answer is: It depends. If you have very oily scalp, washing your hair daily with a mild, balancing shampoo may be necessary. If you have dry, curly, or damaged hair, 2-3 times a week is ideal. Over-washing your hair strips away natural oils and leads to a vicious cycle of oiliness or dryness. Listen to your hair.
Is “double shampooing” (two applications of shampoo) necessary?
We at “Scissors by Effi” highly recommend it, especially if you don’t shower every day.
The 1st hand: This is the “pre-cleansing”. It dissolves styling products (hairspray, mousse, etc.), dust and heavy oiliness. It may not produce much foam.
The 2nd hand: This is the main cleansing. With a smaller amount of shampoo, you will see rich lather, as now the shampoo works directly on the now clean scalp. This ensures that the proper care is done in depth.
How do I know if my shampoo is suitable for proper care?
Your hair will tell you. If after washing your hair your scalp feels “pulling”, itchy or your hair feels “dry” and brittle, your shampoo is probably too harsh. If, on the other hand, your hair feels heavy or “dirty” right after drying, it may be too rich. Healthy hair should be elastic, light and clean.
Why is my hair not healthy even though I follow these tips?
Hair washing is the start, but proper care is the whole cycle. You may need a professional treatment at the salon for deep repair. It could be the heat from your flat iron or blow dryer (are you using a heat protectant?). It could be your diet or stress. Achieving healthy hair is a marathon, not a sprint.
A Final Word from Our Team…
Hair washing is your own, personal moment of care. It’s 10 minutes you spend on yourself. It’s worth doing it right!
Here at Scissors by Effi, in the heart of Corfu, our philosophy is that healthy hair is the foundation for every great style. Proper care starts at home, and we are here to give you the right tools and knowledge.
If you feel like your hair needs a fresh start, come see us. Let’s do a scalp diagnosis together, find the perfect products for you, and show you firsthand how a proper hair wash can transform your look.
With love and care,
The Scissors by Effi Team
