You may remember recently about my desire to grow my hair a little longer, into a ‘lob’ shall we say. Well the new found length has become a bit of a faff for me and I’m finding my usual washing technique just doesn’t cut it anymore. I run out of shampoo before I reach my crown and a birds nest would be the best way to describe my tangled post-shower look. As with most tribulations in life I found myself consulting Pinterest for a solution.
Amongst the techniques already part of my daily routine; you know brushing hair before you step in the shower to stimulate circulation and the cool rinse after the wash, I found a suggestion I hadn’t come across before. The Reverse Wash. No, this doesn’t involve turning backwards to wash your hair, it’s the act of applying conditioner first and then shampooing second.
This week I’ve started off my shower by gently rubbing a blob of my usual conditioner through the ends and then a little bit to the roots. AFTER rinsing I’ve then applied a ten pence size amount of shampoo to the roots massaging in a vertical motion rather than circular.
I flipping love the effects. My tresses are definitely more volumised and less limp which I suppose must be down to ensuring the conditioner is properly removed. My hair also feels cleaner and I do think I could go an extra day without a wash! On the negative side, I’m not sure if it’s due to the effects of excessive central heating but my barnet is a tad more flyaway. I read an article where a hairdresser suggested the technique wasn’t good for your hair as shampoo apparently opens the cuticle while conditioning closes it, which I suppose could explain the static nature. I have fairly fine hair but an awful lot of it. I can’t vouch this idea would work for everyone but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Has anyone else tried this technique? What are you thoughts and have you continued doing it? Anybody fancy trying out the reverse approach or have any pearls of wisdom to share on hair washing?
I am definitely going to try this. I don’t know what’s happened to my bonce but of late after conditioning it is still an unbelievable mass of tangles! I have naturally curly hair but it’s never been like this before. I did change the brand I was using and have wondered if that was it but I changed back and it’s still so tangled. Maybe the vertical massage might help?!
Ace tip as always. Will report back on my progress!
Hello lovely, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought using conditioner first would mean more tangles but it seemed to be the opposite. Though obviously I have swapped from a circular massage to a vertical too. Either way – happier hair!
Do make sure you report back! x
I tried this after a friend said its how she kept her locks so lovely. I’ve never looked back since, it definitely works for those with fine hair! It’s now just normal to me 🙂
I’m so late to the party Jenny! I’d never heard of it before.
My hair is vile, ginger and wire like. Not helped by excessive back-combing and heating. Could RMS do something on scrunchies please? I really want to rock one but not sure of a socially acceptable way for a 30-something to do so. Fearne Cotton has it down but I can never achieve that messy bedhead look properly!
This is quite cute Pamela – http://uk.pinterest.com/pin/224617100138510788/
I have been ‘reverse washing’ my fine hair for about 6 months and I have found it has much more volume! However I will be trying the vertical massage technique you suggest……… Here’s to bouncier looking hair!
Hi Eleanor, so glad you’re sticking with it. Bouncy hair is great 😉 x
I have very fine long hair which has a tendency to go greasy easily, so I wash it every day. It seems that since being pregnant it just gets so knotty – so much so that even my tangletease can’t sort it out and I end up giving up and ramming it into a clip! I don’t know if this is to do with being preggers or just that it has got a bit longer but it’s so annoying. I don’t tend to use conditioner because it just made it so “thin” and lank (plus I was copying Charlotte!). I did try this condition before shampoo lark a while ago and can’t say I noticed much difference, but I only did it once or twice. I think I’ll try again and persevere – now its so knotty it might help.
It’s worth a try Victoria. I love a beauty tip where you don’t have to buy anything new to give it a whirl.
I’m going to try this tomorrow morning. Love a bit of a routine shake up! One quick (and potentially silly) question… I assume you wet your hair as normal and then apply the conditioner? xx
Not silly at all Sam. Yep a good old warm rinse to start with and then condition the wet hair x
@Lauren – totally cute. But how does one achieve that messy look because my hair is like wire!
I’m going to be trying this too! Sounds like the shampoo will last longer too if not using as much of it? I’ve got a hair appointment tomorrow and I don’t know what to do, I am getting bored again but am awful at styling so need low maintenance! The salon washes always make my hair look awesome but I can never get it the same at home, I refuse to accept that is purely down to using a £30+ shampoo and conditioner??
I’ve fallen for that Kitty and bought the salon shampoo in the past – have never achieved the same results.
I do think it’s down to the scalp massage they give you and the fact they seem to rinse for ages. If only we could have someone to wash our hair everyday!
I have shared the blog with everyone in my ofice today – we are all going to try it! How have I not heard of this before?!
I know Jane, I feel I’m very late to find out about this too! Hope it goes well for you all. Don’t forget to come and report back! x
I’ve only ever done this by accident! You know when you pick up the wrong bottle and dohh… Although sometimes I do sleep with coconut oil in my hair in a bun and wash out with shampoo which I guess is the same sort of thing but I still always condition afterwards as well – I need to be brave and try this. My hair is just so long though and gets so knotty, especially in these winter months when there are constantly coats and scarves on. Think it may be the fact that haven’t had a hair cut in 8 months… (time to text my hairdresser!) So this method really means no conditioning after?!
No conditioning after. You’ve already done it! x
I have never tried this, but I might give it a whirl just to see the effect – although I do have very thick hair so not sure if I want more volume!
I have also read multiple times that shampoo is a waste of time and all you really need to do is condition… Anyone tried that one?! I tend to go through far more conditioner than shampoo, so I feel like I might as well eliminate the latter!
Hi Jo, I’ve read about the no shampoo theory but I’m yet to try it.
My hair is mega fine so I am definitely going to try this! Lauren, my hair is also fairly flyaway – I combat this my smoothing it down with a tumble dryer sheet (yep – think Bounce) after I’ve dried it. Sounds weird but I promise it works! You can use the same sheet a few times before you need a new one. x
You learn something new every day Tracy! I’m just using hairspray sprayed on to my brush at the moment to tame the static. I’ll have to give Bounce a try! x
I have quite long fine hair but lots of it. I’m going to try this tomorrow but at the moment, I always brush my hair with a tangle teezer hair brush before entering the shower, shampoo and then when I’ve applied conditioner, I brush it through with the tangle teezer again before rinsing the conditioner off.
I could never get along with a tangle teezer when my hair was shorter but I love it now! Such a genius invention.
My hair is soon fine (but I have lots of it) and although I have tried the above, I find the easiest thing is to use NO conditioner… shock horror. I maybe give my hair a treatment twice a year, but apart from that I just use shampoo. It means my hair is a little tangled when I get out of the shower, but it is in so much better condition and ironically, not as fly-away.
Hi Jess, I tried no conditioner today and still fly-away unfortunately. Charlotte favours the no conditioner approach too x
I tried this yesterday! I can report that it was way less tangled (normally always have this proper birds nest tangle in the same spot every time but it was nowhere to be seen). I’ve not noticed a massive change in volume, but hair does feel lighter and swooshier (is that a word?). I did have a fair bit of static which I don’t normally get, and today hair was still much lighter and required little to no dry shampoo. I’m interested to see what it will be like tomorrow, as this is normally when it starts looking like it needs another wash! x
Hi Kitty, swooshier is a great word – I know exactly what you mean! Let me know how it goes tomorrow x