Shampooing and brushing

Shampooing and brushing long hair requires special techniques that not only make it easier for you but also cause less damage to long hair.

If you require a shampoo, use a gentle, all hair-type shampoo. With damaged or chemically treated hair, a moisturizing shampoo should be used, followed by a weekly, deep penetrating conditioner. There are several products available from professional haircare companies, and the choice is a matter of personal preference.

When shampooing your hair, apply shampoo to the scalp only, and then massage the entire scalp area using small circular motions. Now, rinse the hair while working the shampoo through to the ends. This is usually all that's required to cleanse the ends, since the primary goal is to clean the scalp without tangling the ends of the hair. Following this shampooing technique will cut down on the time needed for detangling and combing the hair.

Towel blot the hair by placing the towel over sections of the hair. Start at the top and squeeze as you work your way down. Do not rub. Rubbing will not remove excess water, but will instead create matting of the ends.

Change the towel whenever it gets too wet. Expect to use several towels.

At this point, a leave-in conditioner is strongly recommended. Use of this product will make combing the hair much easier. It also helps hold moisture in the hair when the hair is exposed to the heat of the sun, or the cold, drying weather of winter.

To comb long hair, start at the ends and gently work out the tangles while moving up one inch at a time. A large toothed, bone comb is effective in detangling the hair when it is wet. If the hair is clean and dry, a large paddle brush works well. Use the same technique of starting at the bottom and working up in 1" increments.

Now it's time to dry the hair. If you use a blowdryer, run your fingers through the hair from the scalp to the ends while you dry. Always go in the direction of the cuticle layer, not against it. If you need to save some time, sit under a hairdryer for about 5 minutes to remove excess water.