In the midst of searching for some hot new hair looks, I ran across a headline in Glamour Magazine, which read “Reverse Hair Washing.” And I was like, what the? Well, being the want to know all about beauty, I did some further investigation. Including speaking to Barbie's Beauty Bits go to beauty friends, and here is what I found out…
The Reverse Hair Washing Method
The premise behind reverse hair washing is to help reduce the residue that remains in your hair from the conditioner. Going about it the “normal” way so to speak, when you wash with shampoo first and then use conditioner, most people end up not completely rinsing out the conditioner. When this happens, you end up weighing the hair down, which in some cases can cause your hair to become lifeless, flat or, have no volume. Reversing gives you all the benefits of a great conditioner, minus the residue, leaving you with locks of volume and bounce!
So how do you do this?
- You want to make sure that you get your hair thoroughly wet.
- Disperse the conditioner throughout your hair.
- Keep it in your hair for a few minutes. So, I recommend doing this in the shower, when you can go and shave your legs, etc.
- After about 5 minutes, you want to apply the shampoo, WITH THE CONDITIONER STILL in your hair. The shampoo is what helps to remove the conditioner.
- Wash and rinse as normal.
IMPORTANT Tips: If you have a lot of product in your dirty hair, it will seem to be a daunting ordeal at first. This is what I learned.
- You must brush your hair before washing it. Doing this will loosen any hair product(s) you have in your hair, along with helping to detangle. It will also allow you to work in the conditioner more easily!
- You must make sure your hair is very wet.
- Use a great conditioner; you get what you pay for when it comes to conditioner. So if you want cheap looking hair, use cheap conditioner. Otherwise, I recommend a higher-end product. (Sorry but this is one of those products you get what you pay for)
- The conditioner needs to stay on the hair for at least 5 minutes. A quick in and out won’t do the job.
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How Often: Considering I'm new to this, I don't think this is something that you implement every time you wash your hair. Instead, you want to apply as a Sunday hair wash, as conditioning your hair after shampooing does have some significant benefits IF YOU USE IT THE CORRECT WAY!
So
I have only tried this twice. Therefore, I am not making any claims about whether this is a good idea. But I like to know has anyone else inserted reverse hair washing into your hair routine? It is just a fad, or do you do it all the time? Does it work long term?
UPDATE: Since I've put up this post, with the idea of wondering, "does this premise work," I have received some great feedback on both sides, so thank you. The bottom line, to say this is something you should be doing all the time, is not a good idea as I mentioned when I first tried this method myself. For the best hair results, you need to use professional quality products the way they instruct. Doing so is going to make your hair healthier and more manageable, and depending on the brand can eliminate the build-up issue. (which is the premise behind the reverse hair washing, to remove the build-up)
PER SOME stylists who have messaged me: "The purpose of shampoo is to eliminate dirt and oil from the hair. The purpose of a conditioner is to add moisture in and any benefits depending on the type of conditioner you use. If your hair is weighing down, you need to use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks (see the Sunday shampoo below for this). And if you don't use products on your hair and it still weighs down, you're not spending enough time rinsing the conditioner out. I recommend using professional products and NOT from Walmart or Target. They do not carry the same kind of "professional products." You get what you pay for as we say. If you want healthy hair, you've got to take care of it, and it starts with using the correct products."
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I've heard the term but haven't really known what it meant. I'm going to try this!
ReplyDeleteI get keratin treatments, so I always have special things I need to do to keep up with it and make it last longer. Totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea. I've been washing my hair the wrong way for years! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteWhat! I had no idea. I need to try this now. I've always done it the opposite way, I thought that was really ho to do it! Oops
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to give this a try. I use a lot of hair product, so this might be just the thing to help my hair. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about this. I'm going to start washing my hair like this for a while and see how it works.
ReplyDeleteWell now. This is a first I've heard - kinda makes sense though especially keeping the conditioner on while you shampoo. I'm going to try it.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm going to try this and see because it does sound interesting. Noticed any difference after two washings yet?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea about this! I’ll try it to see if it actually works!
ReplyDeleteI guess I wash my hair wrong too!
ReplyDeleteWow! So glad you found this in your research - I know I'll be trying this out this morning :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm, interesting idea. I do not use products with numbered ingredients because most of them are made overseas by slaves in chemical sweatshops. I haven't used regular shampoo or conditioner in half a decade because it's all residue! Check out DR. Bronenr's and baking soda for shampoo and apple cider vinegar as a conditioner :)
ReplyDeleteWHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT! I am going to try this asap! I do agree about getting what you pay for. I have switched over the years to higher shampoos and man what a difference, plus I feel you use less? SO cost wise it really isn't that bad.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have tried reverse washing once or twice, but I don't remember the outcome. I'll definitely try it again, though!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of reverse hair washing. I will have to try this out. I am always up for trying new things.
ReplyDeletereallY? i never thought that it was the right way.gonna try like this
ReplyDeleteI'll try it tomorrow. Sounds like it makes good sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of washing your hair this way! I'll have to try this out very soon!
ReplyDeleteI've never of this before but sounds neat. I will try this from now and see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteWow, interesting. I have to say that I have never heard of that before. I'll have to give it a try sometime. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat's a neat concept. I went sans shampoo altogether (which you can Google "no poo method") but I keep screwing it up for review purposes or if I'm stuck in the shower and someone's removed the baking soda. I'm not dead set on it but it's nice to think my hair will be healthier as a result. This has given me something else to consider though.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried reverse hair washing. But now that you've mentioned, maybe I'll try it. It's pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteWell, it does sound interesting. I can see how it might be good for people with very fine hair. My hair though, is not fine and I need that conditioner at the end to keep the frizzies at bay.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of reverse hair washing. I will be trying this tomorrow when I take my next shower.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried reverse hair washing before! Maybe I'll give it a try and see how it affects my hair. :)
ReplyDeleteThe reverse hair washing is new to me. Looks like a great way to start your valentines day. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried this before and it's the first time I've heard of it. I'd love to give reverse hair washing a try.
ReplyDeleteI think it matters in the kind of hair you have. For AA women, our hair needs conditioner and the shampoos strip it. Conditioners build our hair follicles and make it shine.
ReplyDeleteI heard recently to use the conditioner first also. I think it was on Dr. Oz. They said if you use your conditioner first ON DRY HAIR, the hair absorbs it better. The water fills the hair cuticle
ReplyDeletewhich doesn't leave room for the conditioner to absorb as well. Rinse hair. And lastly, shampoo and rinse.
I have a cosmetology license, and during school we studied heavily on the biology of hair itself and how shampoo and conditioner works on the hair. If you use professional products correctly your hair will be healthier and more manageable. The purpose of shampoo is to remove dirt and oil from the hair. The purpose of conditioner is to add moisture in and/or any benefits depending on the type of conditioner you use. If your hair is weighing down you need to use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks. And if you don't use products in your hair and it still weighs down you're not spending enough time rinsing the conditioner out. I recommend using professional products from a salon and not from Walmart or target. They do not carry the same kind of "professional products" . You get what you pay for as she says. Want good healthy hair, you've got to take care of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a licensed cosmetologist and I've been in the industry for some time now. In addition to what the above my comment says, if you feel your conditioner is heavy, you need to spend more time rinsing thoroughly or you need to get a conditioner that is right for your hair type and texture. When you shampoo your hair, the pH of your hair and scalp is thrown off. Ideally, your natural pH should be between 5.5-7.5. Depending on brand, this is thrown off by shampoo to become too acidic or too alkaline which will cause dryness, damage, breakage, tangling, etc. The conditioner helps balance your pH out (which is why it's important to use corresponding poo/cond) and it helps seal and smooth out the cuticle to prevent frizz, dullness, and other undesirable results. Besides that, if you put conditioner on dry or before shampoo, it won't be able to penetrate as deep due to styling products and natural oils and the fact that your cuticle isn't slightly open from shampooing. There's a reason why you do step one and step two. Use a professional brand based on a professional recommendation and rinse thoroughly and you will have no need to "reverse shampoo."
ReplyDeleteI did this today and had 2 compliments on my hair which is just a straight, nothing special, shoulder length bob. I also have "oily" hair and by the evening my bangs start to look dirty, but not tonight! Will try this again and see what happens. :)
ReplyDeleteI tried this and it does work. What people need to understand as this is not an alternative to everyday hair washing. I found that doing it once a week makes a big difference in my hair. But I will continue with the other days to do it the old way....
ReplyDeleteI've been in the beauty industry for years. AND DOING THIS is not going to harm your hair. It does have some great temporary results. But the premise behind shampooing and conditioner is defeated if choose this as your everyday hair washing method. you'll dry your hair out. I do this every once in a while when I want thick full hair, but I do it as a temporary fix.
ReplyDeleteThe steps I wash my hair in:
ReplyDelete1. I only shampoo my scalp using with a quarter size dollop of shampoo.
2. Rinse.
3. I only condition the ends of my hair.
4. Rinse.
Perfect hair, always.
I actually just tried this yesterday and I have to say this really works! I have thin, moderately frizzy hair and conditioner no matter what kind always weighs down my hair making it look oily and flat. When I used the conditioner first and then the shampoo it gave my hair the shine and didn't take away any volume! I was loving my hair all day.
ReplyDeleteI have done this, but rinsing out the conditioner before shampooing works better. Also instead of a clarifying shampoo, working about a tablespoon of damp baking soda thru shampooed hair and then rinsing will work. Very shiny, too. Only do this weekly though.
ReplyDeleteI have been using conditioner to shampoo with for a few years now, works great. You just have to make sure that the conditioner you use does not have silicons or plastics in it, those polymers can cause breakage, scalp and hair problems because they buildup on the hair and scalp.
ReplyDeleteThis is new to me.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of reverse hair washing before.
I'm getting more curious about it.
Interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteThis is really fascinating! I am going to try it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting idea! I'll have to try it. I definitely have no body to my hair, so maybe it will help!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea this was a thing at all! I've always washed my hair before conditioning it. I'll have to give this a try. Very intersting.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of reverse hair washing. I am going to give it a shot and see how it works.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of reverse hair washing. Sounds like an interesting idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. I have never heard of reverse hair washing. I actually like the conditioner residue, lol - it makes my hair feel soft. I guess to each their own.
ReplyDeleteI don't use conditioner but I would like to try this inverse method. Maybe it will work for me!
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely have to try this. My hair is in horrible condition.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried this, but it's worth a shot! Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I have never heard of reverse hair washing before. I'm going to have to try this and see how it works.
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for the hair washing tip. I definitely am going to try it tonight when I was my hair. .
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn’t know about this. I definitely plan to do this when I wash my hair tonight.
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know about this. I definitely plan to try this tonight when I was my hair.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try this sometime and see how it works for me.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this looks likes great idea to use reverse hair washing.
ReplyDeleteI might have to try this out. I'm curious now! I had never heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteI am just about to wash my hair so these ideas will be used pronto. I will do the reverse hair method and see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteWell, now I'm curious. I'm going to have to test it out.
ReplyDeleteI've tried this before, it just doesn't work for my hair type sadly!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting way to wash your hair. I will have to try it.
ReplyDeleteOoo! I am going to try this and share this with my daughter. She has long thick hair, I can imagine that it's hard to remove all the conditioner. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow! We have no idea! This is really new learning. We should try washing our hair this way.
ReplyDeleteI totally get the point why it seems better. And leaving the conditioner slightly unwashed seems to cause hair fall?
ReplyDeleteWow. I can't wait to try this reverse wash. It seems better.
ReplyDeleteThis is a new way to wash hair. It's always shampoo and conditioner for most people but this reverse hair washing is worth the try.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of reverse hair washing before. I am careful to wash out all my conditioner.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've heard of reverse hair washing. I will give it a try. -LYNNDEE
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard about this reverse method but co-washing i. using only conditioner. I will try out this method and compare
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I heard of reverse washing. I have to try this. I am going to take your advice and get a good hair conditioner. If I want my hair to look good and healthy, I should not scrimp on the price of hair products!
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting, I’ve done a similar method to this before.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really interesting idea. I am down to try out new ideas.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about reverse hair washing, usually shampoo first and then conditioner second. I will try reverse hair wash and let you know how it turned out for me.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of peole doing this. It is interesting. You are right most people don't rinse all the conditioner out of their hair. Like you said, you get what you pay for with shampoo and conditioner.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing this actually for a long time, I put the hair conditioner first before the shampoo. And I really feel it's better that way, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteI could totally see myself doing this. I don't even use conditioner any more because it makes my hair look flat, greasy and basically disgusting. It is nice to have a strategy that could work!
ReplyDelete