For those of us who grew up with shampoo in a bottle, shampoo bars are a relatively new hair care product and can be quite intimidating.
However, shampoo bars are quite easy to use and this blog is dedicated to illustrating some shampooing techniques.
Why Is A Shampooing Technique Important?
Shampoo bars contain extra oils and butters to nourish your hair. If you do not lather up really well, you will have areas that remain coated with the soap oils, which will make it look “gummy.”
If you are used to commercial shampoo and shampoo twice, you will have already noticed that the second wash produces a lot more lather. The first wash is mixing with the dirt and excess oil in your hair so the second wash is working on cleaner hair. The same is true for our shampoo bars.
So lather up and then be sure to rinse, rinse, rinse!!!
Also since shampoo bars are so gentle, it may take a while to remove all of the silicones and petroleum-based products used on your hair for years but once you do, you'll notice your hair are shiner and healthier than they have ever been.
Technique #1: Use The Bar Directly On Your Hair.
One of the most important steps is to begin with thoroughly wet hair, be sure that the water saturates your hair all the way down to the roots.
Gently rub wet the oblique part of your Hibar shampoo bar directly onto your hair from scalp to ends in a combing motion. Continue to add water as you create the lather.
Cover each section of your hair. Gently massage scalp and hair, adding more water as needed, until a good lather forms.
To prevent tangles, be sure to always work from the top down, don't pile your hair on your head and use your fingers like a comb, not a mixer.
If you rub the shampoo bar directly on your hair, remember you are washing your hair with superfatted soap.
The most common trouble spot, especially for people with long hair, is at the nape of the neck.
It is very important to work the shampoo into your hair with water and really build up a good lather on your head so there are no patches of soap left on your hair.
Lathering up also allows the dirt and extra oils to be washed away.
Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse and rinse again, the rinsing should take longer than the washing and lathering time. If your hair is long or thick, lift up sections of your hair to ensure that all of the shampoo bar residue is rinsed clean.
Repeat if necessary.
Technique #2: Create The Lather in Your Hands
This is probably the best technique if you are new to shampoo bars, having adjustment issues or have long or thick hair.
Use your hands, a puff or a sponge to create a foamy lather, and only use the lather to wash.
This technique helps prevent pockets of soap in your hair that can make hair feel tacky.
One of the most important steps is to begin with thoroughly wet hair then rub the wet shampoo bar between your wet hands or puff to create a nice lather.
Using your fingers like a comb, smooth the lather down the length of your hair. If you the lather is not foamy enough, add more water.
Gently massage it into the scalp and hair, as you would with a bottled shampoo.
Work up a really good lather
Then rinse your hair very well. If your hair is long or thick, lift up sections of your hair to ensure that all of the shampoo bar residue is rinsed clean.
Repeat if desired.
You can wash your hair with shampoo bars every day if you desire! It cleans thoroughly without drying or coating your hair or scalp. Dry and style your hair as normal.
What to do if you have long hair
Men and women with short hair seldom have hair adjustment problems. People with long hair have to experiment a bit to find the technique that work best for them and their unique hair type.
This below is the technique we suggest to adopt if you want to wash your long hair with a shampoo bar.
- tie your long hair into a loose ponytail
- thoroughly wet your hair
- wet the shampoo bar and rub the oblique part of your Hibar shampoo bar across the top of your head in strokes from front to back until you have covered the entire scalp area.
- massage your entire scalp in a combing motion to work up a really good lather. You don't have to rub the bar or work the lather on the length of your hair, rinsing the lather off will be enough for most people to keep the length cleaned.
- take out your ponytail and rinse very well while rubbing your fingers through your hair to be sure that all of the shampoo is rinsed away.
It might take a while for some people to get use to shampoo bar and its easy to think that liquid commercial soap will clean your hair better.
But if you give yourself sometime to get adjusted to it, you'll see how practical shampoo bars are in terms of size, lifetime and for travelling.
And last, but not least, you are treating your hair with only natural ingredients and it will slowly help you getting rid of all the build up given by commercial shampoo to the point you don't even need to wash and condition your hair everyday!
